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Russian Circles at The Parish, New Orleans (02/10/14)
photo credit: Russian Circles
Setlist
‎information from setlist.fm
Tour Dates
02/11 Tallahassee, FL @ Rehab #
02/12 Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub # 02/13 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum # 02/14 Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Theatre # 02/15 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl # 02/17 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle # 02/18 Washington DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel # 02/19 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts # 02/20 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom # 02/21 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East # 02/22 Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus # 02/23 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar # 02/24 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop # 02/25 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig # 02/27 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock# 02/28 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room # 03/01 Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre # 03/02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge # 03/03 Boise, ID @ Neurolux # 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s * 03/05 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * 03/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American* 03/09 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah * 03/10 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre * 03/12 Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom * 03/13 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad * 03/14 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory * 03/15 Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar * 03/16 Chicago, IL @ Metro * # w/ KEN Mode, Inter Arma * w/ Helms Alee, KEN Mode Read More
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Set within a 15th century Germanic corridor, where gothic murals depicting Sirens of old swirl in an orgy of clouds and fire on the ceiling, and Renaissance bust-portraits exemplifying the seven deadly sins line the walls, is a venue fitting for the barrage of charged post-metal to come. The Parish at The House of Blues in New Orleans is host for one of my favorite instrumental acts, Russian Circles.
The first time I ventured to see them live was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at The Spanish Moon. At the moment I arrived I saw the band members standing outside the entrance along the sidewalk with all of their equipment strewn about on the street, crumpled into heaping masses of mangled metal and plastic. Their trailer turned over on the interstate en route to the venue and churned their precious amps and equipment like paper into homogenous rubble, -including the fan in which drummer Dave Turncrantz utilizing so elegantly while he plays, charming the senses like a true shaman of syncopated passages. However disappointed, Japanese sludge-pop pioneers Boris, filled the vacuum with respiring ambience playing for twice as long and lulling my senses into a howling abyss.
Having seen them eventually, with restored gear, at One-Eyed Jacks in New Orleans about a year ago, I got more than I even expected. Knowing this time what to expect I was fanboy ecstatic!
The opening band Inter Arma pounded out an hour’s worth of ambient doomscapes which enthralled the masses of bearded 40 year old men into a nodding Samadhi. A paraphrasing of their album “Sky Burialâ€, and a momentous first occasion of my hearing them, I was washed away in their set.
The second act KEN Mode, began with a rumbling girth of sound which would perfectly accompany a sinking Galleon on its journey to the New World, swiftly degraded with the vocal assault of front man Jesse Matthewson. However well produced their recordings may be, the vocals not only didn’t translate well, but the antics of band members on stage was embarrassing as the pumped their fists (as if in solidarity) and gave renouncing “thumbs-down†gestures towards the audience. I took a seat and gazed raptly at the Flemish paintings above and below me, while rehydrating to prepare for what I knew was yet to come…
After an enduring prelude, the main-dig, Russian Circles approached the stage. With a minimalist light show, and an unbelievable clarity in sound which I’ve yet to find comparison, they delivered in waves, -commanding presence and reverie in the ears and hearts of the beholders. It was sensational watching the crowd, some who may not have known their music prior, slowly melting away their reservations –falling victim to the Shamanic odyssey which unfolded within the quick fills of Dave Turncrantz pummeling and juicy rhythms. Even a group of girls, one which looked astonishingly like Chelsea Wolfe (whom accompanies vocals on the final track of their new album ‘Memorial’), began gyrating and swaying in abandon…
Guitarist Mike Sullivan effortlessly looped the crowd into his anthem-like praises, carrying the necessary walls of melodic overtones as the drumming -with its undeniably groovy cadence, seethed with the elixir of master Alchemists. The whole trio that is Russian Circles, is just that, a fraternity of seasoned Druids that compels the senses into repose as the body sways and contorts the viscosity of sound. I found myself, stumbling like a drunkard, adrift with fathoms down, lost and exceeded in expectation…
They closed the show with the monstrous “Burialâ€, which is featured on Memorial. Leaving all who attended, bewildered and exalted in post-metal bliss…
The first time I ventured to see them live was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at The Spanish Moon. At the moment I arrived I saw the band members standing outside the entrance along the sidewalk with all of their equipment strewn about on the street, crumpled into heaping masses of mangled metal and plastic. Their trailer turned over on the interstate en route to the venue and churned their precious amps and equipment like paper into homogenous rubble, -including the fan in which drummer Dave Turncrantz utilizing so elegantly while he plays, charming the senses like a true shaman of syncopated passages. However disappointed, Japanese sludge-pop pioneers Boris, filled the vacuum with respiring ambience playing for twice as long and lulling my senses into a howling abyss.
Having seen them eventually, with restored gear, at One-Eyed Jacks in New Orleans about a year ago, I got more than I even expected. Knowing this time what to expect I was fanboy ecstatic!
The opening band Inter Arma pounded out an hour’s worth of ambient doomscapes which enthralled the masses of bearded 40 year old men into a nodding Samadhi. A paraphrasing of their album “Sky Burialâ€, and a momentous first occasion of my hearing them, I was washed away in their set.
The second act KEN Mode, began with a rumbling girth of sound which would perfectly accompany a sinking Galleon on its journey to the New World, swiftly degraded with the vocal assault of front man Jesse Matthewson. However well produced their recordings may be, the vocals not only didn’t translate well, but the antics of band members on stage was embarrassing as the pumped their fists (as if in solidarity) and gave renouncing “thumbs-down†gestures towards the audience. I took a seat and gazed raptly at the Flemish paintings above and below me, while rehydrating to prepare for what I knew was yet to come…
After an enduring prelude, the main-dig, Russian Circles approached the stage. With a minimalist light show, and an unbelievable clarity in sound which I’ve yet to find comparison, they delivered in waves, -commanding presence and reverie in the ears and hearts of the beholders. It was sensational watching the crowd, some who may not have known their music prior, slowly melting away their reservations –falling victim to the Shamanic odyssey which unfolded within the quick fills of Dave Turncrantz pummeling and juicy rhythms. Even a group of girls, one which looked astonishingly like Chelsea Wolfe (whom accompanies vocals on the final track of their new album ‘Memorial’), began gyrating and swaying in abandon…
Guitarist Mike Sullivan effortlessly looped the crowd into his anthem-like praises, carrying the necessary walls of melodic overtones as the drumming -with its undeniably groovy cadence, seethed with the elixir of master Alchemists. The whole trio that is Russian Circles, is just that, a fraternity of seasoned Druids that compels the senses into repose as the body sways and contorts the viscosity of sound. I found myself, stumbling like a drunkard, adrift with fathoms down, lost and exceeded in expectation…
They closed the show with the monstrous “Burialâ€, which is featured on Memorial. Leaving all who attended, bewildered and exalted in post-metal bliss…
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