Russian Circles is a band from my home town, Chicago. While living in Chicago, I never really got into them. I thought their music was interesting, it just wasn’t outstanding enough at the time, or I just didn’t have the appreciation that I have for them now.

They recently released a new album, Station, building on their first album Enter. Station is a much more organized version of their brand of music, which is instrumental with a metal influence. A three piece band, including a drummer, guitarist and bassist, they have a much more epic sound then one would assume such a small band could emit. This new level of intricacy could be due to the (temporary?) replacement of the old bassist with Brian Cook, most notably know for his part in the band These Arms are Snakes.

The concert itself was an all ages show at a small venue in Chapel Hill, NC, The Local 506. The venue is a members only club due to NC law that in order to sell liquor without food at a bar, it must be members only.

The opening band, Daughters, is a metal band. They had a good set, minus the singer who during the show drooled on himself and threw water on himself and when he shook his body over the audience and I got water in me, I was not sure whether it was spit, sweat, or dirty drinking water. In my personal opinion the band could do just as well without the vocalist.

Russian Circle’s set, however, was amazing. They had a miraculous ability to follow their recorded music very closely, it was almost as if I was listening to a mastered recording. The drummer is immensely talented, and his talent is highlighted constantly through solos in the songs and unusual drumming.

They did not interact or speak with the crowd, but this was not necessary anyways as most of their set was uninterrupted with pauses- they mostly played through their set non stop.

Below is a video clip I took of their song Carpe, off of their first album Enter.