tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:/blogs/russian-circles-press-news?p=10
Russian Circles Press & News
2024-03-15T02:45:02-07:00
Sargent House
false
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7367379
2024-03-15T02:45:02-07:00
2024-03-15T02:45:03-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES HEADLINING EUROPE WITH REZN
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/4b89cb1b1826e3fd29aa1e57703af5df00b93b18/original/4x5-all-dates-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="1350" width="1080" /><p>Russian Circles have just announced their European headline tour with REZN supporting on all shows except where noted *. We see you Ireland <3</p><p>RUSSIAN CIRCLES & REZN <br>EU/UK/IRE TOUR 2024 <br>Oct 9 Berlin, DE - Astra<br>Oct 10 Koln, DE - Kantine<br>Oct 11 Munich, DE - Keep It Low Festival<br>Oct 12 Prague, CZ - Archa<br>Oct 14 Vienna, AT - Arena<br>Oct 15 Bologna, IT - Estragon<br>Oct 17 Metz, FR - La Bam<br>Oct 18 Antwerp, BE - Desertfest <br>Oct 20 Gothenburg, SE - Monument<br>Oct 21 Oslo, NO - Parkteatret<br>Oct 22 Stockholm, SE - Slaktkyrkan<br>Oct 24 Copenhagen, DK - Vega<br>Oct 25 Aalborg, DK - Lasher Fest<br>Oct 26 Hamburg, DE - Uebel & Gefaehrlich<br>Oct 27 Maastricht, NL - Samhain Festival*<br>Oct 29 Birmingham, UK - O2 Institute2<br>Oct 30 Glasgow, UK - Slay<br>Oct 31 Belfast, N-IRE - Limelight 2<br>Nov 1 Dublin, IRE - Button Factory<br>Nov 2 Manchester, UK - Damnation Festival<br>Nov 3 London, UK - EartH<br>Nov 5 Paris, FR - Le Trianon<br>Nov 6 Rennes, FR - L'Antipode<br>Nov 7 Bordeaux, FR - Krakatoa<br>Nov 9 TBA * <br>Nov 10 Madrid, ES - Nazca<br>Nov 11 Barcelona, ES - Salamandra</p><p>All tour info and 🔗 <a class="no-pjax" href="https://linktr.ee/russiancircles" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7347639
2024-02-07T14:22:22-08:00
2024-02-07T14:22:22-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES TO PLAY SAMHAIN FESTIVAL IN OCTOBER
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/32ea537026b4cda56c0742d13d70b3df60571569/original/samhain-rc-sq.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p>Russian Circles will be playing Samhain Festival in October 2024. More European dates to come. Grab your tickets <a class="no-pjax" href="https://linktr.ee/russiancircles" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a>.</p><p><strong>EU/UK 2024</strong><br>Oct 27 Samhain Festival - Maastricht, NL<br>Nov 2 Damnation Festival - Manchester, UK</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7339515
2024-01-24T12:26:25-08:00
2024-01-24T12:26:25-08:00
DISCOGS: 6 ALBUMS THAT INFLUENCED BRIAN COOK OF RUSSIAN CIRCLES, BOTCH
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/0283ca209b3b44ec6f72f8e82cddb34f7bb0d556/original/briancook2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />“Brian Cook has been collecting records and making music for over 30 years, since forming seminal – and recently reunited – metalcore band Botch while still in high school to more recent work with Russian Circles and Sumac. A self-taught musician, his innovative bass playing with these bands and others has been hugely influential in the world of heavy music and beyond. And while his record collecting reflects that background, it also reveals a more diverse set of inspiration and influences behind his musical life. We sat down with Cook to talk about record collecting and the albums that influenced each of his musical projects.”</p><p><strong>How many records do you own?</strong></p><p>“I’d guess I have somewhere in between two and three thousand records, probably closer to three. At least a couple hundred of those are test presses and variants of records I’ve played on. I used to try to keep one of every color and pressing of everything my bands put out, but I’ve started slipping on that in recent years.”</p><p><strong>What was the first record you bought?</strong></p><p>“My first LP was Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet‘s Savvy Show Stoppers LP, bought for $2 at Jelly’s Comics in Honolulu in the early ‘90s. I was fourteen years old and obsessed with Kids in the Hall, and SMOASP did their theme song. I still have it too. If we’re including cassettes, then I actually had a bunch of ’80s Chicago albums when I was, like, ten years old. I loved Peter Cetera.”</p><p>Read the full article <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.discogs.com/digs/music/albums-that-influenced-brian-cook-bassist-botch-russian-circles/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7338127
2024-01-22T12:48:12-08:00
2024-01-22T12:48:12-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES TAKE AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND IN 2024
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/a67594e1b31a481760d30f461514e19b82046da7/original/photo-aug-23-2023-6-40-18-am-1-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />We're less than two weeks away from Russian Circles' 2024 Australia + New Zealand tour. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving will be supporting on all Australia dates. It's going to be hopping.</p><p>All dates and tickets available <a class="no-pjax" href="https://linktr.ee/russiancircles" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a></p><p>Jan 31 Auckland, NZ - Tuning Fork<br>Feb 1 Wellington, NZ - San Fran<br>Feb 2 Christchurch, NZ - A Rolling Stone<br>Feb 4 Sydney, AU - Metro Theatre<br>Feb 5 Adelaide, AU - The Gov<br>Feb 6 Perth, AU - Rosemount Hotel<br>Feb 8 Brisbane, AU - The Triffid<br>Feb 9 Melbourne, AU - Max Watts<br>Feb 10 Melbourne, AU - Max Watts</p><p>Australia support: Tangled Thoughts of Leaving</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7334603
2024-01-15T20:38:57-08:00
2024-01-16T11:00:33-08:00
DAMNATION FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES RUSSIAN CIRCLES FOR 2024
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/158639/f63187ee2036868a592003f524d7d0cb8eedce2e/original/instagram.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Russian Circles have been announced for Damnation Festival 2024. The annual heavy music festival will take place on November 2nd, 2024 at BEC Arena in Manchester.</p><p>Damnation 2024 tickets available <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.damnationfestival.co.uk/tickets" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a></p><p>The boys will also be touring Australia + New Zealand before heading to Latin America. 2024 is gonna be a big one.</p><p>All dates and tickets available <a class="no-pjax" href="https://linktr.ee/russiancircles" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a></p><p>Jan 31 Auckland, NZ - Tuning Fork<br>Feb 1 Wellington, NZ - San Fran<br>Feb 2 Christchurch, NZ - A Rolling Stone<br>Feb 4 Sydney, AU - Metro Theatre<br>Feb 5 Adelaide, AU - The Gov<br>Feb 6 Perth, AU - Rosemount Hotel<br>Feb 8 Brisbane, AU - The Triffid<br>Feb 9 Melbourne, AU - Max Watts<br>Feb 10 Melbourne, AU - Max Watts</p><p>April 3 Cine Joia - São Paulo, Brazil <br>April 5 Uniclub - Buenos Aires, Argentina<br>April 7 Blondie - Santiago, Chile <br>April 10 Ace of Spades Club - Bogota, Colombia <br>April 12 Cafe Iguana - Monterrey, Mexico<br>April 13 C3 Stage - Guadalajara, Mexico <br>April 14 Circo Volador - Mexico City, Mexico</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7286015
2023-10-11T10:26:11-07:00
2023-10-16T07:55:32-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES ANNOUNCE 2024 LATIN AMERICAN TOUR
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/158639/ba9b4f09e5f842b582790edfdd4eedcd34ffdb07/original/1x1-v2-latin-america-ad-mat.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p>Russian Circles have announced a 2024 Latin America tour. Following their January and February dates in New Zealand and Australia, the trio takes Latin America for a run of seven shows in April.</p><p>Abril 3 Cine Joia - São Paulo, Brazil<br>Abril 5 Uniclub - Buenos Aires, Argentina<br>Abril 7 Blondie - Santiago, Chile<br>Abril 10 Ace of Spades Club - Bogota, Colombia<br>Abril 12 Cafe Iguana - Monterrey, Mexico<br>Abril 13 C3 Stage - Guadalajara, Mexico<br>Abril 14 Circo Volador - Mexico City, Mexico</p><p>All tickets available 10/13 <a class="no-pjax" href="https://linktr.ee/russiancircles" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><strong><u>HERE</u></strong></a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7276262
2023-09-20T11:59:18-07:00
2023-09-20T11:59:18-07:00
DAVE TURNCRANTZ - BEHIND THE DRUM KIT
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="glqdD7K8Ijw" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/glqdD7K8Ijw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Batterie Magazine went backstage with Russian Circles' Dave Turncrantz. Check out the breakdown of his technique, his walk onstage, and more.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7270468
2023-09-08T11:23:51-07:00
2023-09-08T11:23:51-07:00
MIKE SULLIVAN - THE FULL STORY - INTERVIEW
<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="cBw42rqpVkw" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBw42rqpVkw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Check out “The Full Story” with Mike Sullivan, an in-depth video interview from <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.sixstringtales.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><u>Six String Tales</u></a>. Mike goes into the history of Russian Circles and his fellow bandmates in longform.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7262967
2023-08-24T17:50:30-07:00
2023-08-24T17:50:30-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES - NEW ZEALAND / AUSTRALIA TOUR 2024
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/158639/0034c90723fdbf96e6673c582c162c6d3756d2e3/original/366727995-841939143959892-2605859676419972149-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Russian Circles will bring their GNOSIS tour live to New Zealand and Australia in early 2024.<br>Tickets on sale now <a class="no-pjax" href="/shows" target="_blank" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Shows"><u>here</u></a>.</p><p><span>Jan 31 Auckland, NZ - Tuning Fork</span><br><span>Feb 1 Wellington, NZ - San Fran</span><br><span>Feb 2 Christchurch, NZ - A Rolling Stone</span><br><span>Feb 4 Sydney, AU - Metro Theatre</span><br><span>Feb 5 Adelaide, AU - The Gov</span><br><span>Feb 6 Perth, AU - Rosemount Hotel</span><br><span>Feb 8 Brisbane, AU - The Triffid</span><br><span>Feb 9 Melbourne, AU - Max Watts</span><br><span>Feb 10 Melbourne, AU - Max Watts</span><o:p></o:p></p><p>Support for the Australian dates: Tangled Thoughts of Leaving</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7218615
2023-05-31T16:12:21-07:00
2023-05-31T16:13:43-07:00
ALL THREE MEMBERS OF RUSSIAN CIRCLES SEE MAJOR MAGAZINE FEATURES
<p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://guitarextrememag.com/produit/numero-123/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/9ac30548c6222900f4ce0a883ad96b85d04e6956/original/guit.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p><p>Mike, Brian, and Dave were all heavily featured in the latest issues of Guitare Xtreme, Bassiste Magazine, and Batterie Magazine, respectively. Click each photo to check out the individual features.</p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://bassistemagazine.com/produit/numero-104/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/47f56b7012949586b43095371c0a566c97d19c93/original/bass.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p><p> </p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://batteriemagazine.com/produit/numero-203/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/c86fc85f75860be9cb91c00198f707acd550bcf4/original/batt.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7193138
2023-04-19T10:35:45-07:00
2023-04-19T10:35:45-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES STATION REISSUE
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/30608b82839852e25593f2198ba72af51f65364d/original/fubxa-aeaaue6q.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p>To celebrate 15 years of Russian Circles' <i>Station, </i>the record is getting the re-issue treatment. Two vinyl variants and a t-shirt are up for pre-order right now.</p><p>Pre-orders and all tour info available <a class="no-pjax" href="https://linktr.ee/russiancircles" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">here</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7188683
2023-04-12T10:22:41-07:00
2023-04-12T10:22:41-07:00
BY HUMAN HANDS: RUSSIAN CIRCLES' "STATION"
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/5eaecd6020384b64160b125c3de1e408dd793a99/original/0032028588-0.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p>The essay I wrote in my head involved having some kind of revelation while watching Russian Circles— instrumental rock stalwarts and one of my favorite bands in the world—play in Brooklyn after having completed the New York City Marathon in November of last year. That didn’t happen. Instead, I found myself in a bed in a nondescript hotel in Queens, fighting cramps and shivers, eating a burrito that seared the roof of my mouth with every bite because the unseasonable heat and humidity had desiccated my entire body. I looked up the show’s setlist the next day. They played “Youngblood.”</p><p>I can’t write that essay, but I can write this one. I grew up in a hockey town in Ohio, a few miles north of Dayton. The kids in my neighborhood turned the streets into rinks, the curbs into boards. Their dads coached them from Mite to Squirt to Peewee to Bantam to Midget. (A 2016 rule change by USA Hockey has since renamed youth hockey divisions by age group, thank goodness.) A kid from the next town over won a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics, and my orthodontist put her picture on the wall. When Sarah Palin gave a strange and fascistic campaign speech at the arena next to my high school in 2008, she greeted the crowd with a braying “Hello, hockey moms!</p><p>Full article: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://daily.bandcamp.com/resonance/by-human-hands-russian-circles-station" data-link-type="url"><u>daily.bandcamp.com</u></a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7180850
2023-03-30T09:48:44-07:00
2023-03-30T10:00:16-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES ANNOUNCE NEW UK/EU SUMMER SHOWS 2023
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/686a52e5e4f9091bce09bc6b80183f8ef64b9f5c/original/eu-summer-2023-admat.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p>Russian Circles have announced new UK/EU Summer Shows for 2023. </p><p>Tickets are available <a class="no-pjax" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Frussiancircles.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3GAsEx-ZUOVBBMU1QICJ6JjgYsAHiv2FkDsyMoEtK0sbTd4rIr-DMwbL0&h=AT0h33OJXMPsNXdwePs-98c20kcrT0Z7v0i5D6anTYGhe0aDCpfkRThVE0FMElt0-sQ4AP48gC6NH1Ia1iA6Qo0IdE5eewqq1I_xIJGd38uhNBzp1Qnxr_o7gy3E1G-VIBRFU-jPQyk_zF1q9Knd&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT0uJHxx_2kgBSQHRdQ8RTQF_YhcCpR2g6DSWhyRAcUVf-wyhoh2gU7qlkzMh5YJ7ZpEPY5tgeH-c74f1C0d7FZvbeIVKIsAVQJtASfnz60mtbe0QDBUW39aXM9kQD5ai4Io5SPlJHsPr7AgJ4cVKKUZQpjJpPQ74riVs9wVSTNUZAJ579M6PklClZZNOeBZU7_4sjdSOc4T" data-link-type="url"><u>here</u></a>.</p><p>Jul 28 Karlsruhe, DE - P8 +<br>Jul 29 Neuensee, DE - Rock Im Wald Festival <br>Jul 31 Budapest, HU - Durer Kert +<br>Aug 1 Velenje, SL - Metal Days Festival <br>Aug 2 Milan, IT - Magnolia +<br>Aug 3 Feldkirch, AT - Poolbar Festival<br>Aug 5 Beelen, DE - Krach Am Bach Festival<br>Aug 6 Tilburg, NL - 013 +<br>Aug 7 Hamburg, DE - Knust +<br>Aug 8 Dresden, DE - Beatpol +<br>Aug 9 Jaromer, CZ - Brutal Assault Festival <br>Aug 11 Le Locle, CH - Crock' Alt Festival<br>Aug 13 Kortrijk, BE - Alcatraz Festival<br>Aug 14 London, UK - Heaven ^<br>Aug 15 Newcastle, UK - University ^<br>Aug 16 Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall ^<br>Aug 17 Bristol, UK - ArcTanGent ^<br>Aug 19 Carhaix, FR - Motocultor Festival</p><p>Support Bands:<br>+ Crouch<br>^ Wiegedood</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7171935
2023-03-15T07:10:14-07:00
2023-03-15T07:32:01-07:00
The heaviest guitar sound of 2023? This studio-shaking Russian Circles live session is a must-watch for distortion fans
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/c01ff5b88f1af07949a943416520eb02df589995/original/screenshot-2023-03-15-at-15-02-20.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/c36835c086c5327dc5220e27194201725aed6b9a/original/t8twztmegeks6rhypajh4f-1920-80-jpg.webp/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p>Last year, Russian Circles unleashed <i>Gnosis</i>, their heaviest album yet. But even by those standards, Audiotree’s Chicago studio had no idea what was in store when the trio dropped by for a three-song live session.</p><p>Interspersed with interview segments, the 25-minute video offers a rare intimate look at Mike Sullivan, Brian Cook and Dave Turncrantz’s apocalyptic post-metal onslaughts, delivered across three <i>Gnosis</i> tracks: <i>Betrayal</i>, <i>Conduit</i> and <i>Gnosis </i>itself.</p><p>The musicianship is jaw-dropping, but Sullivan’s tone even more so: a spiritually aggressive tone that maintains clarity without ever losing its doom-metal edge.</p><p>Full article: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.guitarworld.com/news/russian-circles-audiotree-session-tone" data-link-type="url">www.guitarworld.com</a></p><p> </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7168257
2023-03-09T10:39:57-08:00
2023-03-09T10:39:57-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES: FROM NOTHING AUDIOTREE SESSION
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/bd364d1687a001015643aa835ac48a3d15dc12e9/original/fn-album-art-russian-circles-alt.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><blockquote><div>From the moment they stepped out of their multiple Uhauls, fresh off a half-completed US tour, it was clear how seasoned the men in Russian Circles were to the rigorous load-in load-out process. It was still warm in Chicago, despite it being October. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe the fact they weren’t loading into a venue, but the cheerful nature of this band was palpable. It felt odd, in a way, to hear a band that is known for being instrumental, be so vocal. Their guitarist, Mike Sullivan, was quick to share tour stories, talk about gear, and crack jokes that invigorated his band and the room. The humans behind this loud, heavy, powerful music turned out to be (in many ways) total goofballs.</div></blockquote><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><blockquote><div>During soundcheck, the amplification literally shook the studio. It’s difficult to translate how loud this band actually is without standing directly in the room. What was most impressive was their precision without the use of a click-track—a common tactic for louder bands—how clear it was that this band were masterful at listening to themselves and each other simultaneously. One breathing unit in harmony with itself.</div></blockquote><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><blockquote><div>To be this seasoned, have nearly 20 years in the game, and still be able to push the bar with this repetitive loud rock music is a feat. There’s a lot of derivative that has stemmed from this band’s sound, and a lot of new sounds that have been inspired by it. Russian Circles continues to be the force to be reckoned with in post-metal, and demonstrates exactly what it takes to stay in and be the absolute best band they can be.</div></blockquote><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;"> </div><blockquote>
<div>Check out Russian Circles on Audiotree From Nothing!</div>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_oYQnv4Bsg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align:center;"> </div>
<div> </div>
<p><strong>RUSSIAN CIRCLES </strong>& CULT OF LUNA<span> </span></p>
<p>CO-HEADLINE TOUR 2023<span> </span></p>
<p>+ Svalbard supporting<span> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>March 17 Copenhagen, DK - Store Vega<span> </span></p>
<p>March 18 Berlin, DE - Huxleys (SOLD-OUT)</p>
<p>March 19 Wiesbaden, DE - Schlachthof<span> </span></p>
<p>March 20 Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Ronda<span> </span></p>
<p>March 21 Brussels, BE - AB (SOLD-OUT)</p>
<p>March 22 Paris, FR - Olympia<span> </span></p>
<p>March 23 Stuttgart, DE - Wizemann<span> </span></p>
<p>March 24 Lausanne, CH - Les Docks<span> </span></p>
<p>March 25 Ljubljana, SI - Kino Siska<span> </span></p>
<p>March 27 Vienna, AT - Arena<span> </span></p>
<p>March 28 Munich, DE - Muffathalle<span> </span></p>
<p>March 29 Prague, CZ - Roxy<span> </span></p>
<p>March 30 Krakow, PL - Studio</p>
<p>March 31 Warsaw, PL - Progresja<span> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>UK SHOWS</strong></p>
<p><strong>w/ WIEGEDOOD:</strong></p>
<p>August 14 London, UK - Heaven</p>
<p>August 15 Newcastle, UK - University</p>
<p>August 16 Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall</p>
<p>August 17 Bristol, UK - Arctangent festival</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>EU FESTIVALS 2023:</strong> <br><strong>August 3 Poolbar festival Feldkirch (AT)</strong></p>
<p>August 5 Krach Am Bach festival - Beelen (DE) <br>August 9 Brutal Assault - <strong>Jaromer (CZ</strong>)<span> </span></p>
<p>August 13 Alcatraz Festival - Kortrijk (BE) <br>August 19<strong> Motocultor Festival 2023</strong> - Carhaix-Plouguer (FR)</p>
<p>Tickets: russiancircles.com</p>
<p><br> </p>
</blockquote>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7163609
2023-03-02T03:24:08-08:00
2023-03-02T03:24:09-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES ANNOUNCE UK SHOWS IN AUGUST 2023
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/099771a3138ef117a12bc2f15e9cb78c1847fc6b/original/rc-uk-2023.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style='-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(5, 5, 5);color:rgb(5, 5, 5);font-family:system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:auto;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;'>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">
<a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.facebook.com/Russian-Circles-108054429214739/?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXQ3TIoR7Rsx4i9cvT63UETY5G1eoz1uiH4zspw4JHx1uxM8FZIWwBcO8rV-KKQMQAM5bb8IFnx96Lfe5mVQbsziXKre20_WX_CVqd4U6xhC0Pwslw6EOpGWmvEe_4Ym5ss_v_F6Tgp3UDsZfTLnPDJC1QS40nR9ec8XCNvkQHWsbWRvjg40o73UtOExzYRnxw&__tn__=kK-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>Russian Circles</span></a> are coming back to UK this summer with <span>Wiegedood</span><a role="link" tabindex="0"><span> as support</span></a>. </div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">Tickets on sale now: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.russiancircles.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3GakQQ2a8UOtU0RN8VJ2hEzTWCZGguDXcASviAofnXoJOT0u4W8ScgBgM&h=AT0Ri0jQCzz_L9saWoNuklP7X5RKa8JcQPvIJGuUnsg10ACN78giQflh9iAjcNC-52ptR_zH0QQG5Ynz5NEMR1oK7NM8CmM_iLkPnI2N_wloriy2YJWJgbjEtQ0XDPc7bbDXOXQ8oQ&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT1ZD4iIF05Wul7_EnkGugCE16Gvfk2xKccAbrqTw-yFMOkKgNcBHLZRR2QqXVKrgjSMew8PKLnRLBnAsLKuvDi8idYp5D6yX6gnHAhU6xHupQT8vjleETbVss4Ef0m56JFWa191sXeQ8NSTfnDuVat-kekpJQ9SBwx3oq_D0mS58E7_JmNng-xSYwgOXAnIjISKnd9xwqJl" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" tabindex="0"><span>www.russiancircles.com</span></a>
</div>
</div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style='-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(5, 5, 5);color:rgb(5, 5, 5);font-family:system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0.5em 0px 0px;orphans:auto;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;'>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto"> </div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">Full 2023 shows list:</div>
</div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style='-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(5, 5, 5);color:rgb(5, 5, 5);font-family:system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0.5em 0px 0px;orphans:auto;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;'>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">RUSSIAN CIRCLES & CULT OF LUNA</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">CO-HEADLINE TOUR 2023</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">+ Svalbard supporting</div>
</div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style='-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(5, 5, 5);color:rgb(5, 5, 5);font-family:system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0.5em 0px 0px;orphans:auto;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;'>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 17 Copenhagen, DK - Store Vega</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 18 Berlin, DE - Huxleys (low tickets)</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 19 Wiesbaden, DE - Schlachthof</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 20 Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Ronda (low tickets)</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 21 Brussels, BE - AB (low tickets)</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 22 Paris, FR - Olympia</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 23 Stuttgart, DE - Wizemann</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 24 Lausanne, CH - Les Docks</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 25 Ljubljana, SI - Kino Siska</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 27 Vienna, AT - Arena</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 28 Munich, DE - Muffathalle</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 29 Prague, CZ - Roxy</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 30 Krakow, PL - Studio</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">March 31 Warsaw, PL - Progresja</div>
</div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style='-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(5, 5, 5);color:rgb(5, 5, 5);font-family:system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0.5em 0px 0px;orphans:auto;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;'>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">UK SHOWS</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">w/ WIEGEDOOD:</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 14 London, UK - Heaven</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 15 Newcastle, UK - University</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 16 Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 17 Bristol, UK - Arctangent festival</div>
</div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style='-webkit-text-size-adjust:auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;caret-color:rgb(5, 5, 5);color:rgb(5, 5, 5);font-family:system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0.5em 0px 0px;orphans:auto;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:auto;word-spacing:0px;word-wrap:break-word;'>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">EU FESTIVALS 2023:</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">
August 3 Poolbar festival Feldkirch (AT)</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 5 Krach Am Bach festival - Beelen (DE)
</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 9 Brutal Assault - Jaromer (CZ)</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 13 Alcatraz Festival - Kortrijk (BE)
</div>
<div style="font-family:inherit;text-align:start;" dir="auto">August 19 Motocultor Festival 2023 - Carhaix-Plouguer (FR)</div>
</div>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7151724
2023-02-10T02:07:13-08:00
2023-02-10T02:07:13-08:00
BILL BURR ON DAVE TURNCRATZ OF RUSSIAN CIRCLES
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/159790/3260f8fbff9ce9da6fac27507c9eabab9815c4b5/original/daveturncrantz.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><p><span style="color:rgb(38,38,38);">Bill Burr talks about Dave Turncrantz of </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instagram.com/russiancircles/">Russian Circles</a><span style="color:rgb(38,38,38);"> on the latest episode of </span><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/flyonthewall/">Fly on the Wall</a>.</p><div class="video-container size_l justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="HHEvyAAj7_Q" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HHEvyAAj7_Q?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p> </p><p> </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7136464
2023-01-11T08:35:47-08:00
2023-01-11T08:35:48-08:00
THE OFFICIAL RUSSIAN CIRCLES REVERB SHOP IS NOW OPEN
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/6867dc59662447c83233d3897d0317dd45a7a56c/original/325291359-729238925141937-4468428980096506971-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>We're delighted to announce that the official Russian Circles Reverb shop is now open. All items in this shop come directly from the band, and include studio-used, road-tested guitars, cabs, drums and more. If you're a fan of Russian Circles, this is a unique opportunity to nab a piece of gear used by Mike, Brian, and Dave. </p>
<p>Shop link: <a contents="https://bit.ly/Russian-Circles-Shop-" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/Russian-Circles-Shop-">https://bit.ly/Russian-Circles-Shop-</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7131918
2023-01-03T08:28:38-08:00
2023-01-03T08:28:39-08:00
UNKNOWN GNOSIS: AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIAN CIRCLES' BRIAN COOK
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/0867079f4db45f007bc458d89bd005c4e7da6d92/original/screenshot-2023-01-03-at-17-25-48.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/2a1639e347131ffb47b712033a271fffb2100884/original/screenshot-2023-01-03-at-17-25-23.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Russian Circles' Gnosis is an exploration of space and time: it’s the bedrock blasted to bits to lay the foundation for another Brooklyn condominium. It’s the Earth pulsating around the mouth of a geyser. It’s the cold front moving in from all directions, dropping the temperature below freezing and changing the way we move through the world. The cover of the album depicts two men, isolated on a cubic column of scaffolding. Devoid of background, it leaves the viewer unhinged, but also suggests possibility: you can fill in the blanks and the structure can become whatever you want it to be. Gnosis is like that: the songs swell and expand, with room to move around. You get the opportunity to fill in those spaces, to wander the hallways of a building that never seems to have an end; to bushwhack through a cold, Northwestern forest, perpetually wet, vision blurred through the fog.</p>
<p><em><strong><a contents="Full Interview HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.invisibleoranges.com/brian-cook-interview/?trackback=twitter_mobile">Full Interview HERE</a></strong></em></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7109102
2022-11-23T10:57:18-08:00
2022-11-23T10:57:18-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL PLAY ARCTANGENT FESTIVAL AND MOTOCULTOR FEST
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/d9ebe6039ec618160c025ebcd1d8ca450c84e337/original/b-w10.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Arctangent tickets <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://arctangent.co.uk//tickets/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Motocultor tickets <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://motocultor.seetickets.com/search/all" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7104467
2022-11-17T09:27:21-08:00
2022-11-17T09:29:47-08:00
In Search Of Tone: Mike Sullivan Of Russian Circles
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/a997bb723cfcfd9ad360d171fde9a78a694abc13/original/the-sleeping-shaman-header.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/773f5a2e6c6ab016145442f43cc1815f047d5627/original/mike-sullivan-russian-circles-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>This interview series started as something small I thought I could get advice from a few guitarists on how to play guitar. I did not think I’d be getting actual advice on how to better my tone from one of my all-time favorite guitarists Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles. He taught me how to better set up my stereo rig and to utilize my tremolo pedal as more of a boost. He warned me I’d lose a weekend just playing guitar. Well, I lost a few weekends, hence this interview is a little late.</p>
<p><strong><a contents="Full interview via thesleepingshaman.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thesleepingshaman.com/interviews/search-tone-mike-sullivan-russian-circles/">Full interview via thesleepingshaman.com</a></strong></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7097377
2022-11-07T12:32:54-08:00
2022-11-07T12:33:46-08:00
DIG BOSTON INTERVIEW WITH MIKE SULLIVAN
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/8fe95676d19cf4b29ac2116833c6c6a135a915b4/original/dig.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Chicago instrumental post-rock trio Russian Circles are an incredibly loud band. When guitarist Mike Sullivan, drummer Dave Turncrantz, and bassist Brian Cook get together, the decibels are raised to massive levels, the syncopation is tight like a double knot, and the senses are surely going to feel something.</p>
<p>Read the full interview on <a contents="Dig Boston" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://digboston.com/the-dig-interview-mike-sullivan-from-russian-circles/" target="_blank">Dig Boston</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7080679
2022-10-13T10:34:15-07:00
2022-10-13T10:34:16-07:00
Russian Circles Full Feature in Distorted Sound
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/84f89297a1677c4dc6fadc9007c6d08166180371/original/russian-circles-2022-1.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />It seems extraordinary to think that RUSSIAN CIRCLES have been playing and creating music for nearly two decades. With seven studio albums and their debut EP going all the way back to 2004, the band have had an eighteen year career that feels like it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. In that time, there’s been a definite development of their style and sound, moulding their heavy, drone soundscapes into monstrous dirges that rage and consume. We caught up with Mike Sullivan about the mindset of the new record Gnosis and getting the barebones of creating music.</p>
<p>Read full feature on <a contents="Distorted Sound" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distortedsoundmag.com/russian-circles-the-bloom-of-cataclysmic-clarity/" target="_blank">Distorted Sound</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7062053
2022-09-16T14:20:21-07:00
2022-09-16T14:54:47-07:00
INTERVIEW: RUSSIAN CIRCLES ON PANDEMIC LIFE AND ARENA TOURS
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/70c307af1aa26437f69e7f127151289fb1a72d99/original/cover-1242-6c2710ad6be857ce13652584a194aea9.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/f3a33b6c04b3f13387faa8832bd136fbd55accad/original/rcportraits-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles’ eighth full-length studio album, Gnosis, is officially out via Sargent House. It’s a record that was very much shaped by the COVID-19 shutdown, the band forced to embrace new approaches to songwriting with the prospect of touring put on hold. The result finds them leaning into their heavier tendencies while still maintaining the wide sonic landscape the instrumental three-piece is known for. </p>
<p>Guitarist and founding member Mike Sullivan answered some questions for us regarding the record’s sound, the writing process, recording in two different locations and touring with some of heavy rock’s biggest names.</p>
<p>Full Interview via <a contents="newnoisemagazine.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-russian-circles-on-pandemic-life-and-arena-tours/" target="_blank">newnoisemagazine.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7049252
2022-08-30T08:05:09-07:00
2022-08-30T08:05:09-07:00
GNOSIS: THE BEST METAL ON BANDCAMP AUGUST 2022
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/1c9e3b6ead875f2202a2b5e7ddc406205abddbe3/original/screenshot-2022-08-30-at-17-02-42.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="" /><a contents="Full list via bandcamp.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-metal/the-best-metal-on-bandcamp-august-2022">Full list via bandcamp.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7049250
2022-08-30T08:00:58-07:00
2022-08-30T08:00:58-07:00
How wild gear changeups, Irish guitar lessons and "way too much" Boss Metal Zone helped Russian Circles make their heaviest album yet
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/2b015794443e69fa0795c67fbcc13c1a65daa662/original/screenshot-2022-08-30-at-16-59-51.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/aa3bdebb3bde74ebf0d2704e373a80e805b4711d/original/screenshot-2022-08-30-at-17-00-29.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/6548d1915363511a7dffdbde3ab02def555f02ee/original/q9lksbelmaf2mrsx5zfk6m-1920-80.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles have come back swinging from the pandemic. Their new record, Gnosis, is their most unapologetically heavy yet. That's saying something, because their last album, 2019's Blood Year, was already crushing. </p>
<p>There's an even greater directness to Gnosis. It builds on their trademark blend of post-metal, black metal atmospherics, and calculated use of dissonance. Pure metallic catharsis is no longer confined to just the climax of a track, but forms the bedrock of many of the strongest riffs on the record. </p>
<p>From the lead track Conduit on, there's a singularity of purpose to Gnosis. It pummels the listener not simply with riffs, but riffs with a strong melodic hook. It's not an undynamic record, either. In fact, thanks to the deft hand of Kurt Ballou on production, the mix has room to breathe in between the hammer blows.</p>
<p><em><strong><a contents="Full interview via Guitarworld.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.guitarworld.com/features/russian-circles-mike-sullivan-gnosis?fbclid=IwAR26g99zIzNhHRYFbx-kBjyUv_caY9pLRXsLuFLv6XOU4nbb31WMe3vvFoQ">Full interview via Guitarworld.com</a></strong></em></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7062094
2022-08-12T15:00:00-07:00
2022-09-16T14:54:47-07:00
With Russian Circles guitarist Mike Sullivan mainlining At The Gates and Pantera, the band’s new record Gnosis might be their heaviest yet
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/8d5599e86880c79631a708f82ce04735dfd9b1f1/original/guitar-com-og-image-1200x600.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/73d6951902d2f1668cb9e60f40f0a70dcd63e44c/original/mikeeee.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>“It’s not an ‘Yngwie’ sense of classical,” Russian Circles’ guitarist Mike Sullivantells us. “It’s more symphonic. Especially with layering and looping. You can create something you can hum, that can be stuck in your head – not just thrashing.”</p>
<p>Clunky genre labels like post-rock, post-metal and instrumental progressive sludge have always done Russian Circles a disservice. There’s a classical feel to their arrangements – just not in the way you might think. Their eighth album, Gnosis, is as crushingly dense and devastatingly emotional as ever, sweeping between heavy, droning textures, pummelling riffs and gorgeous clean passages.</p>
<p>Full interview via <a contents="guitar.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://guitar.com/features/russian-circles-new-album-gnosis-mike-sullivan-at-the-gates-pantera-hiwatt/?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=" target="_blank">guitar.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7036568
2022-08-12T08:12:20-07:00
2022-08-12T08:12:20-07:00
Russian Circles’ Cloud of Uncertainty: Interview with Brian Cook
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/4135c555c6c2f84b0b84e034d4363c6a6601b699/original/screenshot-2022-01-21-at-14-49-57.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/0fb696bab7637202d5cd2d28aa335cf96642c9d0/original/slcoz3wi.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Russian Circles</strong> are in their element onstage. The trio of Mike Sullivan, Brian Cook and Dave Turncrantz thrive on the chemistry that comes from sharing the same proximal space, building intensity from the physical act of performance. That’s not always easy to do as an instrumental band, but through years of touring and honing that psychic musical connection, Russian Circles have grown into a formidable live presence. If you’ve seen them, you definitely remember it. </p>
<p>That very fact led to a conundrum for the band once Covid shut down all live music in 2020, canceling their tour behind their then-new album Blood Year and having to rethink their approach to creating something as a band. They ended up doing something they’d intended to do a long time ago, and began to work on their own individual home studio setups, and from there they let the ideas flow—crafting music from scratch, from a distance, but coming together on a common wavelength even without the luxury of a shared space. </p>
<p>Gnosis, out this month via Sargent House, is a surprisingly physical and menacing album in spite of the distance. It’s the most urgent they’ve sounded in years, capturing something undeniably visceral. Yet for how dark and turbulent this set of songs is, Cook says that being able to work freely and on their own schedule—with no expectations beyond the opportunity to make something—made it unusually satisfying to throw themselves into. </p>
<p>“Having deadlines and things like that sometimes is a good motivator, but with a record like this where there was no real deadline, just writing for the sake of enjoyment, knowing that the future was a question mark, that’s kind of the way I feel a band should operate or artists should operate,” he says. “I’m not working on a schedule, just doing it because it comes naturally. In a year of a lot of negativity and bleak outlooks, it was this really reassuring and optimistic reminder that we can mix things up, and do things in a way that feels like it’s creating a better reflection of who we are.” </p>
<p>We spoke to Cook about Russian Circles’ new album Gnosis, capturing live energy via remote files, and personal growth.</p>
<p><strong><a contents="Full interview via Treblezine.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.treblezine.com/russian-circles-interview-cloud-of-uncertainty/">Full interview via Treblezine.com</a></strong></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7036406
2022-08-12T04:00:44-07:00
2022-08-12T04:00:45-07:00
“THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR HAVING SOMETHING SOUND GNARLY”: RUSSIAN CIRCLES’ MIKE SULLIVAN ON OLD-SCHOOL DEATH METAL, KURT BALLOU’S PEDAL COLLECTION AND HIS ENORMOUS HIWATT RIG
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/dab106db1750f4a92a58c5015ead0c44894c6154/original/screenshot-2022-08-12-at-12-57-21.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/c39773b223baa655825122786794e247cf8afd91/original/russian-circles-mike-sullivan-2560x1625.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>“It’s not an ‘Yngwie’ sense of classical,” <strong>Russian Circles</strong>’ guitarist Mike Sullivantells us. “It’s more symphonic. Especially with layering and looping. You can create something you can hum, that can be stuck in your head – not just thrashing.” </p>
<p>Clunky genre labels like post-rock, post-metal and instrumental progressive sludge have always done Russian Circles a disservice. There’s a classical feel to their arrangements – just not in the way you might think. Their eighth album, Gnosis, is as crushingly dense and devastatingly emotional as ever, sweeping between heavy, droning textures, pummelling riffs and gorgeous clean passages. </p>
<p>Their symphonic approach means melodic clarity is essential – throughout all the intensity, the band’s three members are always audible. Mike Sullivan’s guitar, Brian Cook’s bass and Dave Turncrantz’s drums are given room to breathe, both through deft arrangements and meticulous production. </p>
<p>Gnosis was tracked in two studios. The drums were recorded in Chicago’s Electrical Audio, with Sullivan and Cook playing live alongside Turncrantz’s takes. “I don’t think there were any songs to a click,” says Sullivan of the process. “There’s one that’s synced to a syncopated delay on the guitar, that was it. Compared to previous records, it was more, ‘no click, just jamming’ – just playing what felt good.”</p>
<p><strong><a contents="Full interview via guitarworld.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://guitar.com/features/russian-circles-new-album-gnosis-mike-sullivan-at-the-gates-pantera-hiwatt/">Full interview via guitarworld.com</a></strong></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7034595
2022-08-10T02:07:35-07:00
2022-08-10T02:07:35-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES RELEASE FIRST EVER MUSIC VIDEO FOR TITLE TRACK OF FORTHCOMING ALBUM
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PUf9_1jsCyY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Russian Circles</strong> have released their first ever music video for the title track of their forthcoming LP Gnosis, available next week, August 19th, via Sargent House. The Centerpiece of the album “Gnosis” begins with a slow-build exercise in krautrock methodologies—drones, guitar arpeggios, cosmic synth, hypnotic drum patterns—that eventually explodes into the wall-of-sound bombardment Russian Circles are known for. The accompanying video, directed/edited by Joe Kell, is full of dark imagery driving towards the actual definition of the word “Gnosis.” The band explains: </p>
<p>“Gnosis is a special song that has grown with us over a number of years. The main theme of the song was reconceptualized so many times that it provided nearly endless arrangement options. It's rewarding to see such a minimal song idea evolve into one of our most dynamic and fully-realized songs to date. </p>
<p>When discussing a concept for the video, we agreed we wanted cinematic footage of nature and humanity. Ultimately, we wanted the video to feel fresh and inspiring despite dealing with a dark theme. Similarly, we wanted to compel viewers to rewatch the video and get something new from each viewing. Somehow, editor Joe Kell masterfully made this all happen.” </p>
<p>Gnosis eschews the varied terrain of those past works by employing a new songwriting technique. Rather than crafting songs out of fragmented ideas in the practice room, full songs were written and recorded independently before being shared with other members, so that their initial vision was retained. While these demos spanned the full breadth of the band’s varied styles, the more cinematic compositions were ultimately excised in favor of the physically cathartic pieces.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/7013642
2022-07-13T04:44:11-07:00
2022-07-13T04:44:11-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES RELEASE NEW SONG “BETRAYAL”
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/0a2496aab9a1f0f44a58ea33d63ad7951519edef/original/russian-circles-william-lacalmontie-img2764.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles have released a new song from their forthcoming LP Gnosis available on August 19th via Sargent House. Perhaps the heaviest song on the album, Betrayal is a five-minute unmitigated assault and follows the first single “Conduit”. Both singles show how the Chicago stalwarts have created their most fuming and focused work to date—an album that favors the exorcism of two years’ worth of tension over the melancholy and restraint that often colored their past endeavors. </p>
<p>Gnosis eschews the varied terrain of those past works by employing a new songwriting technique. Rather than crafting songs out of fragmented ideas in the practice room, full songs were written and recorded independently before being shared with other members, so that their initial vision was retained. While these demos spanned the full breadth of the band’s varied styles, the more cinematic compositions were ultimately excised in favor of the physically cathartic pieces.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_LejGrzqLaQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6995109
2022-06-16T02:49:48-07:00
2022-06-16T02:50:38-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES ANNOUNCE NEW LP GNOSIS
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/20b5ae902037a9a42876af8ff6d6ddf8e389dd11/original/gnosis-cover-3000x3000.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Heavy instrumental greats <strong>Russian Circles</strong> have announced a new LP <strong>Gnosis</strong> available August 18th via <strong>Sargent House</strong>. Listen to the relentless first single “Conduit”. Gnosis, their eighth album, eschews the varied terrain of their past works as it razes a path through the most harrowing territory of their sounds by employing a new songwriting technique. Rather than crafting songs out of fragmented ideas in the practice room, full songs were written and recorded independently before being shared with other members, so that their initial vision was retained. While these demos spanned the full breadth of the band’s varied styles, the more cinematic compositions were ultimately excised in favor of the physically cathartic pieces. The album was engineered and mixed by Kurt Ballou at God City with additional tracking done at Chicago’s Electrical Audio. </p>
<p>The band has also announced a 40 date world tour including US headline dates and EU co-headline dates. Kicking off September 15th in Minneapolis the US portion will make stops in Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, DC, Brooklyn and more before wrapping November 12th for a home town Metro Chicago show. In March of 2023 the band will continue their dates in the EU with Cult of Luna. See full dates below.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/32afebe227866f0027a5f74cd39503d89a2702ce/original/rc-gnosis-tour-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6995201
2022-06-14T07:10:00-07:00
2022-06-16T06:57:20-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES CO-HEADLINE EU TOUR 2023 WITH CULT OF LUNA
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/e502d5372d1fde1b8979ad81dc84d779e2da65ea/original/288040532-10167007688155529-5823284733324948560-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Russian Circles return to Europe in 2023 for their co-headline tour with Cult of Luna, and Svalbarduk as support. </p>
<p>Tickets on sale Wednesday 15th June @ 9AM CET. </p>
<p>Full dates EU 2023: </p>
<p>March 17 Copenhagen, DK - Store Vega </p>
<p>March 18 Berlin, DE - Huxleys </p>
<p>March 19 Wiesbaden, DE - Schlachthof </p>
<p>March 20 Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Ronda </p>
<p>March 21 Brussels, BE - AB </p>
<p>March 22 Paris, FR - Olympia </p>
<p>March 23 Stuttgart, DE - Wizemann </p>
<p>March 24 Lausanne, CH - Les Docks </p>
<p>March 25 Ljubljana, SI - Kino Siska </p>
<p>March 27 Vienna, AT - Arena </p>
<p>March 28 Munich, DE - Muffathalle </p>
<p>March 29 Prague, CZ - Roxy </p>
<p>March 30 Krakow, PL - Studio </p>
<p>March 31 Warsaw, PL - Progresja </p>
<p>Tickets: <a contents="russiancirclesband.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com">russiancirclesband.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6974144
2022-05-18T11:14:51-07:00
2022-05-18T11:14:51-07:00
Brian Cook : From Torment to Glory
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/248003f16ed8c9014d7604319761a1a530860085/original/brian-cook-russian-cirlces-interview.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>After his beloved gear was stolen during a recent tour, the bass pedal guru quickly found the music world rallying around his band Russian Circles. </p>
<p>Through the entirety of his three-decade career, <strong>bassist Brian Cook</strong> has made a name for himself by delivering brutal and powerfully effected tones while creating innovative music across heavy genres. Based in Seattle, Washington, Cook got his start with his influential mathcore band Botch in 1993, until the group disbanded in 2002. He then went on to form the experimental post-hardcore outfit, These Arms Are Snakes until he was recruited by Chicago instrumental rockers Russian Circles in 2007. As of recent, when he’s not in the studio or on the road with Circles, he’s busy playing in his sludge metal trio Sumac and releasing solo material under the moniker Torment & Glory, whose debut album We Left a Note with an Apology was released back in August of 2021. The thread through all his numerous projects is his distinct playing, his creative riffs, and his wild use of effects, which he expertly hones in ways that few bassists can. His prized gear – including his rare basses, amps, and many obscure pedals – has all been hand-selected throughout his impressive career, which is why he was devastated when he was robbed of it on his most recent tour.</p>
<p><strong><a contents="Full interview via&nbsp;earthquakerdevices.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.earthquakerdevices.com/blog-posts/brian-cook-from-torment-to-glory">Full interview via earthquakerdevices.com</a></strong></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6937125
2022-03-31T12:52:32-07:00
2022-03-31T13:05:47-07:00
Mike Sullivan featured in the new issue of Guitar World
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/dfcd23b45b7e835b2d0e98debcebb464961f12fd/original/fpm4dtxvebo3rjw.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Mike Sullivan is featured in the new issue of Guitar World as one of the 30 instrumental guitarists with something to say.</p>
<p>Get the new issue: <a contents="https://www.guitarworld.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.guitarworld.com">guitarworld.com</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/93c044400c7fe0ceb4192ada2f726402a82f71c9/original/fpm4dtzvedmjimm.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6915954
2022-03-07T09:50:53-08:00
2022-03-07T09:52:13-08:00
MEMORIAL AND GUIDANCE REISSUES
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/dd14a18bfb1e5abfe4223a9aa4d8ef18d4a693a4/original/274950428-10166682235000529-5967317810504889305-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Russian Circles ‘Memorial’ and ‘Guidance’ new reissues are now available at Hello Merch and Evil Greed. </p>
<p>Some vinyl will be on Russian Circles European tour dates and Roadburn Festival. </p>
<p>Pre-orders and all tour info: <a contents="linktr.ee/russiancircles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://linktr.ee/russiancircles">linktr.ee/russiancircles</a></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/6d1488095f644cc57bf749febd6a2f73307b1311/original/274891659-10166682234985529-3554928135128755443-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6844706
2021-12-17T15:56:48-08:00
2021-12-17T15:56:48-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES CHICAGO SHOW MOVED TO NEW DATE
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/968bcefa45285190fc00e4db3b3483900b8d2d32/original/268897336-458962162257594-7773423196966819365-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Due to a hand and neck injury, a member of Russian Circles is undergoing physical therapy and has been advised by his doctor to avoid practicing and performing while he works to address these injuries. Unfortunately, our Lincoln Hall dates fell within the rehabilitation timeframe, so we have rescheduled these shows into one on April 10th, 2022. Tickets for the January 13th and 14th shows will be honored for the new date. Refunds are available if you can not attend the April 10th date. </p>
<p>Support for the show will be REZN</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6839731
2021-12-13T15:25:10-08:00
2021-12-13T15:25:10-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES ANNOUNCE NEW SHOWS WITH SYSTEM OF A DOWN, KORN
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/1bbc3e1e859533aff29ca04195fa768567b61d70/original/soad-newdates.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>After a postponement last October, Russian Circles' Los Angeles shows in support of System of a Down and Korn have been rescheduled to February 4-5, 2022 at Banc of CA Stadium. Additional shows have also just been added on 1/31/22 and 2/1/22 in Phoenix and San Diego, respectively. For tickets and info, head over to <a contents="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows">https://russiancirclesband.com/shows</a>.<br><br> </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6787214
2021-10-26T07:55:22-07:00
2021-10-26T07:55:22-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES WILL PLAY ROADBURN 2022. HELMS ALEE WILL JOIN THEM ON THEIR EU TOUR 2022
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/03bdeccb2daa24683950c6cfc69280d6eb2b1704/original/figtrvlg.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles will play Roadburn festival as part of their European tour 2022 with Helms Alee.</p>
<p>Tickets/Info: <a contents="russiancirclesband.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com">russiancirclesband.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>RUSSIAN CIRCLES /HELMS ALEE EUROPE 2022</strong> </p>
<p>04/14 Prague, CZE – Lucerna Music Bar </p>
<p>04/16 Monthey, SWI – Pont Rouge </p>
<p>04/17 Zurich, SWI – Rote Fabrik </p>
<p>04/18 Munich, GER – Technikum </p>
<p>04/20 Esch Sur Alzette, LUX – Kulturfabrik </p>
<p>04/22 Paris, FRA – Bataclan </p>
<p>04/23 Orleans, FRA – Astrolabe </p>
<p>04/24 Nantes, FRA – Warehouse </p>
<p>04/26 Toulouse, FRA – Metronum </p>
<p>04/27 Biarritz, FRA – Atabal </p>
<p>04/28 Madrid, SPA – Sala Mon </p>
<p>04/29 Porto, POR – Hard Club </p>
<p>04/30 Lisbon, POR – Lisboa Ao Vivo </p>
<p>05/01 Sevilla, SPA – Sala Custom </p>
<p>05/03 Barcelona, SPA – La2 </p>
<p>05/05 Milan, ITA – Circolo Magnolia </p>
<p>05/06 Rome, ITA – Orion Club </p>
<p>05/07 Bologna, ITA – Tpo </p>
<p>05/09 Rijeka, CRO – Pogon Kulture </p>
<p>05/10 Budapest, HUN – Durer Kert </p>
<p>05/11 Vienna, AUT – Flex </p>
<p>05/12 Leipzig, GER – Conne Island </p>
<p>05/14 Lohr Am Main, GER – South Of Silence </p>
<p>05/15 Berlin, GER – Astra </p>
<p>05/17 Gothenburg, SWE – Musikenshus </p>
<p>05/18 Stockholm, SWE – Slaktkyrkan </p>
<p>05/20 Oslo, NOR – Parkteatret </p>
<p>05/21 Copenhagen, DEN – A Colossal Weekend </p>
<p>05/22 Hamburg, GER – Gruenspan </p>
<p>05/23 Koln, GER – Die Kantine </p>
<p>05/24 Antwerp, EL – Trix </p>
<p>05/26 Athens, GRE – Gagarin 205 *NO HELMS ALEE</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/1139cae3415c0b428dfcf2007ee943221cc9117a/original/russian-circles-2022-euro-tour-admat-ig-def.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6782752
2021-10-21T08:47:47-07:00
2021-10-21T08:47:47-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES: TWO NEW SHOWS IN JANUARY 2022 IN CHICAGO
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/8c614da33a3ee14db70f2a275e82d9a2d32336d2/original/rc-chicago.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Russian Circles will play two shows on January 13-14, 2022 in Chicago. </p>
<p>Tickets on sale now: <a contents="https://russiancirclesband.com&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com">https://russiancirclesband.com </a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Russian Circles shows 2021/2022: </strong></p>
<p>10/22 Banc of California Stadium - Los Angeles, CA </p>
<p>10/23 Banc of California Stadium - Los Angeles, CA </p>
<p>01/13/2022 Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL </p>
<p>01/14/2022 Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>EUROPE 2022 </strong></p>
<p>04/14 Prague, CZE – Lucerna Music Bar </p>
<p>04/16 Monthey, SWI – Pont Rouge </p>
<p>04/17 Zurich, SWI – Rote Fabrik </p>
<p>04/18 Munich, GER – Technikum </p>
<p>04/20 Esch Sur Alzette, LUX – Kulturfabrik </p>
<p>04/22 Paris, FRA – Bataclan </p>
<p>04/23 Orleans, FRA – Astrolabe </p>
<p>04/24 Nantes, FRA – Warehouse </p>
<p>04/26 Toulouse, FRA – Metronum </p>
<p>04/27 Biarritz, FRA – Atabal </p>
<p>04/28 Madrid, SPA – Sala Mon </p>
<p>04/29 Porto, POR – Hard Club </p>
<p>04/30 Lisbon, POR – Lisboa Ao Vivo </p>
<p>05/01 Sevilla, SPA – Sala Custom </p>
<p>05/03 Barcelona, SPA – La2 </p>
<p>05/05 Milan, ITA – Circolo Magnolia </p>
<p>05/06 Rome, ITA – Orion Club </p>
<p>05/07 Bologna, ITA – Tpo </p>
<p>05/09 Rijeka, CRO – Pogon Kulture </p>
<p>05/10 Budapest, HUN – Durer Kert </p>
<p>05/11 Vienna, AUT – Flex </p>
<p>05/12 Leipzig, GER – Conne Island </p>
<p>05/14 Lohr Am Main, GER – South Of Silence </p>
<p>05/15 Berlin, GER – Astra </p>
<p>05/17 Gothenburg, SWE – Musikenshus </p>
<p>05/18 Stockholm, SWE – Slaktkyrkan </p>
<p>05/20 Oslo, NOR – Parkteatret </p>
<p>05/21 Copenhagen, DEN – A Colossal Weekend </p>
<p>05/22 Hamburg, GER – Gruenspan </p>
<p>05/23 Koln, GER – Die Kantine </p>
<p>05/24 Antwerp, EL – Trix </p>
<p>05/26 Athens, GRE – Gagarin 205</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6769862
2021-10-08T07:01:45-07:00
2021-10-08T07:01:45-07:00
IN SEARCH OF TONE: BRIAN COOK OF RUSSIAN CIRCLES
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/f9db7b6a88f99de66d0f28d392b38dfb2e8ddac3/original/brian-cook-russian-circles-1-photo-by-lee-edwards.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />I first heard of Russian Circles a few years back and although I wasn’t a fan of instrumental music, they quickly changed my mind. Fast forward a few years and I learned of SUMAC and their fantastic intensity. Brian Cook playing bass in both bands came as a surprise but really shouldn’t because the level of musicianship in both bands requires one incredible musician and he fits that bill.</p>
<p><a contents="Full interview via&nbsp;thesleepingshaman.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thesleepingshaman.com/interviews/search-tone-brian-cook/">Full interview via thesleepingshaman.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6754352
2021-09-22T13:16:18-07:00
2021-09-22T13:16:18-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES IN STUDIO RECORDING LP8
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/9318bd5bd120059adf5d0533f8e2729069fea0ab/original/242006718-401341371353007-3848110448657441868-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles are recording at Electrical Audio again with Kurt Ballou on the board. Album will come via Sargent House in 2022.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/a54da73c7e13935787070a31de46114b68fa144b/original/241797247-401341494686328-4305497933917995685-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/3ffc44cfd4eccd0d652d4292dd7112db87ad589b/original/242094080-401341434686334-4047823125786279942-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/1dec7656523615d8e69f50c715724d331382ad50/original/241997376-401341534686324-6067554950867750348-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6754337
2021-09-22T13:13:24-07:00
2021-09-22T13:13:24-07:00
INTERVIEW: MIKE SULLIVAN ON SCRATCH THIRD GEAR PODCAST
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/fbdf388502f7a2f1557e967fa5bea249b1aa6580/original/242573742-406006567553154-6999261515558283874-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Check out the interview with Mike Sullivan and The Life and Times on Scratch Third Gear podcast: <a contents="https://linktr.ee/scratchthirdgear" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://linktr.ee/scratchthirdgear">https://linktr.ee/scratchthirdgear</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6711570
2021-08-09T15:07:05-07:00
2021-08-09T15:07:05-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES WEST COAST SHOWS WITH SYSTEM OF A DOWN & FAITH NO MORE
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/2df663dee9cc8b39b38e501e0c783fadc03c6e91/original/soad-multidates-1080x1350.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/home" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will play a handful of west coast shows this October in support of <a contents="System of a Down" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://systemofadown.com/splash/" target="_blank">System of a Down</a> and <a contents="Faith No More" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fnm.com" target="_blank">Faith No More</a>. Pre-sale begins Wednesday 8/11 @ 10 AM PST (pre-sale password will be posted on System of a Down's <a contents="website" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.systemofadown.com" target="_blank">website</a>). General on-sale begins this Friday 8/13 @ 10 AM PST.</p>
<p><a contents="Tickets and info can be found HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">Tickets and info can be found HERE</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6682507
2021-07-08T11:21:01-07:00
2021-07-08T11:21:01-07:00
MIKE SULLIVAN INTERVIEWED ON SONGWRITING MALPRACTICE PODCAST
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/8014313509aa9589ed17e88ca6eb8aed6d976abf/original/screen-shot-2021-07-08-at-11-10-10-am.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Episode 54 of The Noise Feed's "Songwriting Malpractice" podcast is out now and features an in-depth discussion about songwriting with Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles. Links to the episode below, or wherever you get your podcasts:</p>
<p><a contents="SPOTIFY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6okHAr5WNQebNXOWIj4CeK?si=nLf8EIHWSRaMmRVgg-N3HA&dl_branch=1" target="_blank">SPOTIFY</a><br><a contents="APPLE MUSIC" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/songwriting-malpractice/id1514529140" target="_blank">APPLE MUSIC</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6638719
2021-05-24T09:08:13-07:00
2021-05-24T09:08:13-07:00
INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN COOK // INTERVIEWSWITHCHRIS.COM
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/d2b0432a23c5cd3a910babc03fd309fdfda69e38/original/191531344-331494068337738-5339974344046929371-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Brian Cook of Russian Circles discusses with ‘Interviews with Chris’ Podcast what he listens to when he’s pumping iron at the gym, his favorite soft rock ballads, how he started playing bass, finding structure in daily life, the origins and influences of his upcoming solo album, how to move past doubt during the writing process and more.</p>
<p>Listen to the full episode <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.interviewswithchris.com/episodes/episode-16-brian-cook?fbclid=IwAR0NcJ6QeAqpCPRI1ekkNGuGOkThOY7jr6FDA6BJQrstcEzOdmAB7UTuolg">here</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="safari-extension://C852CC6D-2F67-4793-BF27-CF5F99C45B16/93980a39/holaIconWhite.svg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" id="hola-icon-globe" style="top: 511px; left: 140px;" /></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6632366
2021-05-17T05:36:18-07:00
2021-05-17T05:36:18-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES: BLOOD YEAR EUROPEAN TOUR 2022
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/0c9131047d39dd39a27db59719520a9c4c6ea30e/original/2022-ig-russian-circles-euro-tour-admat.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles 'Blood Year European Tour' 2022. </p>
<p>Tickets for all shows are on sale: <a contents="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows">https://russiancirclesband.com/shows</a> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>14/04 Prague, Cz - Lucerna Music Bar </p>
<p>16/04 Monthey, Ch - Pont Rouge </p>
<p>17/04 Zurich, Ch - Rote Fabrik </p>
<p>18/04 Munich, De - Technikum </p>
<p>20/04 Esch Sur Alzette, Lux - Kulturfabrik </p>
<p>22/04 Paris, Fr - Bataclan </p>
<p>23/04 Orleans, Fr - Astrolabe </p>
<p>24/04 Nantes, Fr - Warehouse </p>
<p>26/04 Toulouse, Fr - Metronum </p>
<p>27/04 Biarritz, Fr - Atabal </p>
<p>28/04 Madrid, Es - Sala Mon </p>
<p>29/04 Porto, Pt - Hard Club </p>
<p>30/04 Lisbon, Pt - Lisboa Ao Vivo </p>
<p>01/05 Sevilla, Es - Sala Custom </p>
<p>03/05 Barcelona, Es - La2 </p>
<p>05/05 Milan, It - Circolo Magnolia </p>
<p>06/05 Rome, It - Orion Club </p>
<p>07/05 Bologna, It - Tpo </p>
<p>09/05 Rijeka, Hr - Pogon Kulture </p>
<p>10/05 Budapest, Hun - Durer Kert </p>
<p>11/05 Vienna, At - Flex </p>
<p>12/05 Leipzig, De - Conne Island </p>
<p>14/05 Lohr Am Main, De - South Of Silence </p>
<p>15/05 Berlin, De - Astra </p>
<p>17/05 Gothenburg, Se - Musikenshus </p>
<p>18/05 Stockholm, Se - Slaktkyrkan </p>
<p>20/05 Oslo, No - Parkteatret </p>
<p>21/05 Copenhagen, Dk - A Colossal Weekend </p>
<p>22/05 Hamburg, De - Gruenspan </p>
<p>23/05 Koln, De - Die Kantine </p>
<p>24/05 Antwerp, Be - Trix </p>
<p>26/05 Athens, Gr - Gagarin 205</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6627417
2021-05-11T04:49:50-07:00
2021-05-11T04:49:50-07:00
JUST ANNOUNCED: RUSSIAN CIRCLES WILL PLAY A COLOSSAL WEEKEND IN MAY 2022
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/2c191105735371bccef1bad0fad224e2e655d8c7/original/184946379-10165689048015529-3885718555334723679-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Russian Circles will play 'A Colossal Weekend' Festival in Copenhagen in May 2022. </p>
<p>More info: <a contents="https://m.facebook.com/events/754772485234577/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://m.facebook.com/events/754772485234577/">https://m.facebook.com/events/754772485234577/</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6627418
2021-03-20T05:00:00-07:00
2021-05-11T04:58:43-07:00
BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM SHOWS RESCHEDULED
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/b81af6d5fca53fc6217399c706c5d5e8acc912e2/original/161437365-10165235708915492-3197654690341143391-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>These Banc of California Stadium shows with System Of A Down, Korn, Faith No More and Helmet are now rescheduled to October 22 & 23. Existing tickets will be honored accordingly.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6627419
2021-03-15T05:00:00-07:00
2021-05-11T05:00:03-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES MERCH RESTOCKED
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/11cc365e3fe8ee572ae18d50d7c4e0405285bb8b/original/161335266-10165226788480492-4974413328596367236-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Merch restocked and available at Hello Merch and EU/UK EVIL GREED. </p>
<p>US: <a contents="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles">https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles</a> </p>
<p>EU/UK: <a contents="smarturl.it/EGrussiancircles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/EGrussiancircles">smarturl.it/EGrussiancircles</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6627420
2021-03-01T05:00:00-08:00
2021-05-11T05:02:22-07:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES HAVE A BEER
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/5e58cf6a8cfcd88ff27f0f1f04ee8983eac81e0a/original/156235978-10165166949040492-3672500564893115915-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>“RUSSIAN CIRCLES, a Black Pilsner. Clean and drying with complex, noble hops that balance the refined delicate roast. A harrowingly gloomy and bittersweet take on a classic, minimalistic beer. Crisp, dry, Post Lager.” - <a contents="Wayfinder Beer" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Wayfinder+Beer&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8">Wayfinder Beer</a> art by Orion Landau.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6348963
2020-06-10T13:00:50-07:00
2020-06-10T13:00:50-07:00
Russian Circles Black Lives Matter Raffle - Instruments, Test Pressings, & More
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/sargent-house-raffle"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/9dc288b531ca52f5e54e021fe777b130b2845e1b/original/emmaruthmikesullivanjazzmaster.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Sargent House will be holding a raffle to help contribute to various Black Lives Matter organizations and will be selling many exclusive items from various members of the Sargent House family.</p>
<p>Russian Circles has contributed several instruments and test pressings, all of which can be found <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/sargent-house-raffle">HERE</a>. Entries are unlimited and are all going to a great cause.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6327005
2020-05-22T16:45:33-07:00
2020-05-22T16:45:43-07:00
Russian Circles w/ System of A Down, Korn Rescheduled
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/586eebfc2b61f50e352e5d1f52eb37177200b2fb/original/eyomwa0vaaarzvn.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Happy to announce the rescheduled dates for <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> Los Angeles shows supporting System of a Down, Korn, Faith No More & Helmet have been confirmed for May 21 & 22, 2021. Existing tickets will be honored for the new dates. </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6252869
2020-03-17T17:02:15-07:00
2020-03-17T17:02:15-07:00
Russian Circles Euro Tour Merch Available Now
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/7748e3c8efae2377dcbb1ed477679bbc7ad57360/original/89589857-10163577986870529-5620355514480197632-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"We had so much great new merch for what is now our postponed tour in Europe. If anyone out there is safely in a position to purchase any of this we would be extremely grateful. To those that can’t we understand completely."</p><!-- more -->
<p style="text-align: center;">All of these items and more are currently available in our EU shop <br>We also have a fully stocked store in the USA all stores ship worldwide <br>some merch is even available in Australia </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">EU/UK:<a contents="EU Shop" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://evilgreed.net/collections/russian-circles" target="_blank"> http://evilgreed.net/collections/russian-circles </a><br>USA: <a contents="USA Shop" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles" target="_blank">https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles </a><br>AUSTRALIA: <a contents="Australia Store" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesaustralianstore.bigcartel.com">https://russiancirclesaustralianstore.bigcartel.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6245916
2020-03-11T15:00:33-07:00
2020-03-11T18:01:36-07:00
POSTPONED: RUSSIAN CIRCLES EUROPE TOUR 2020
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/435c81cc0b1d4a8806da0849f8d4b49181207972/original/rc8.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><strong>EU TOUR IMPORTANT UPDATE: </strong><br>We're really sorry to inform you that due to the COVID19 situation in Europe, Russian Circles European tour 2020 with Torche has been postponed. Roadburn Festival is still confirmed. You can read a message from Brian, Mike and Dave below. </p>
<p>"It’s with heavy hearts that we’re announcing the postponement of our European tour with Torche due to the increasing government pressure to limit public events in the wake of the coronavirus. We’ve been watching the day-by-day developments closely and all the patterns seem to indicate that the measures imposed by countries like Italy will likely be the model for most of Western Europe in the next few weeks, effectively cancelling the majority of our shows. We have already had several concerts cancelled on us and we’ve been asked to postpone our performances by several additional promoters. Ultimately, we anticipate that the situation will get worse before it gets any better. Beyond government restrictions, we also have to consider the health of our audiences and the people working our shows. We’ve played shows with broken fingers. We’ve played shows with vomit buckets hidden behind our amps because members of the band we’re dealing with stomach flus. We’ve played shows days after members have come out of surgery. We’ve played through any number of physical, emotional, or financial hardships, but unfortunately we have to make an exception this time around. It pains us to postpone the tour, but for the sake of our audience, our colleagues in the clubs, and ourselves, we feel it’s best to reschedule the tour for later in 2020. That said, we are keeping our fingers crossed that the situation improves in time for Roadburn Festival in mid-April as we are still planning on performing as scheduled. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused anyone but we will be back soon. Stay safe and take care of each other."</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6227499
2020-02-25T14:09:47-08:00
2020-02-25T14:10:10-08:00
Russian Circles on 10 INSTRUMENTAL BANDS WHO ARE KILLING IT WITHOUT VOCALISTS // Alternative Press
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.altpress.com/features/best-instrumental-rock-bands/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/9c95081212e1f362a93f69a3129c46034a158e92/original/2076309.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/e1582073f78957644e2cf732079501e86e817355/original/screen-shot-2020-02-25-at-2-04-05-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a>From prog metal to jazz-influenced rock to tech death and more, instrumental bands are just as capable of crafting incredible songs. Take a look below at 10 instrumental bands killing it in the scene right now.</p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank"><span class="font_large"><strong>Russian Circles</strong></span></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="79btD88nFbY" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/79btD88nFbY/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/79btD88nFbY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>...Russian Circles are a fantastic example of an act who don’t need vocals to take their music to new heights. The post-metal band, who features members of Botch, Sumac, These Arms Are Snakes and more, create massive droning soundscapes that draw you in with sinister atmospheres, making them a perfect match if you’re into bands such as Neurosis or Isis.<br> </p>
<p><a contents="Full feature via Alternative Press" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.altpress.com/features/best-instrumental-rock-bands/" target="_blank"><em>Full feature via Alternative Press</em></a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6201876
2020-02-03T07:47:21-08:00
2020-02-06T11:25:20-08:00
May 22 & 23 at Banc of California Stadium
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http:///russian-circles"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/5668a235639dd69ba8a10987687a68ce5aef9494/original/lnla-systemofadown-1080x1080.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>Russian Circles</a> will be performing at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, May 22 & 23 with System of a Down, Korn, Faith No More & Helmet. Tickets go on sale Friday 02/07 <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www1.ticketmaster.com/system-of-a-down-los-angeles-california-05-22-2020/event/0A00583CC6244FBE?_ga=2.132468238.1466263727.1580755200-1721984117.1579638050" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6099427
2020-01-14T11:49:02-08:00
2020-01-14T11:50:59-08:00
“QUARTERED“ & "SINAIA" FAR OUT Audio Tree Session
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/197aac84af8721450059f1c6ba83f3617aa0d9b1/original/audio-tree.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="3wDw-W9S0j4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/3wDw-W9S0j4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3wDw-W9S0j4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="noApRfRztHs" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/noApRfRztHs/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/noApRfRztHs?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">RUSSIAN CIRCLES PERFORM “QUARTERED“ & "SINAIA" <br>AT MAYSLAKE PEABODY ESTATE IN OAK BROOK, IL.</span></strong></h3>
<p><br>"Russian Circles is an iconic instrumental post metal band signed to Sargent House. They're known among their peers for gargantuan riffs, precisely dialed in gear and smashing constructions that yield catharsis for all who listen. Check out the killer performance by Russian Circles recorded at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oakbrook, IL."<br><br>Listen <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/ATFO-Russian-Circles" target="_blank">HERE</a> // Behind the scenes photos and more on <a contents="Audio Tree" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://audiotree.tv/farout/russian-circles" target="_blank">Audio Tree</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074061
2019-12-09T14:55:40-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:00-08:00
Russian Circles: Post-rock’s most stalwart forces – Live Feature // Gazette Musicale
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gazettemusicale.com/live/2019/russiancircles?fbclid=IwAR0VIgoxYinVhZq0Efg8S5F0UWWjZYPVqmXr7BfpvbxPejhvcCF6ZjEEcDU" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/92dcf13bb9ac0f539973c2bb343f9e2ef085cd82/original/gazette-musicale.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/60e67a755c5c2afd21d47a4064f8a0d7c8764881/original/safe-image.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gazettemusicale.com/live/2019/russiancircles?fbclid=IwAR0VIgoxYinVhZq0Efg8S5F0UWWjZYPVqmXr7BfpvbxPejhvcCF6ZjEEcDU" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/fb74d5b9a7bba3706b82914338bace0fa2c392b7/original/afcortes-gazette-musicale-rc-wide.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="Via Gazette Musicale" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gazettemusicale.com/live/2019/russiancircles?fbclid=IwAR0VIgoxYinVhZq0Efg8S5F0UWWjZYPVqmXr7BfpvbxPejhvcCF6ZjEEcDU" target="_blank">Via Gazette Musicale</a></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> named their 2016 album <em>Guidance</em> in reference to the uncertainty of the future. It was a fitting title for the times, with the album coming out a few months before America’s tumultuous presidential election, but it was intended more as a reference to the band’s own absence of a blueprint as they navigated their second decade as a band than as a social commentary. If there were questions as to how to move forward as a musical unit or individual doubts as to how to continue toiling as artists in the underground, the three years of relentless touring on the album only served to reinforce the Sisyphean struggle of artists. </p>
<p>With the release of their latest record <em>Blood Year</em> through Sargent House, Russian Circles continue to remind the world why they have reigned as one of post-rock’s most stalwart forces. The Chicago trio have always pushed volume and timbre to absolute limit and beyond, but <em>Blood Year</em> finds Russian Circles at their most brutalizing. </p>
<p>Capturing the lightning-in-a-bottle verve of their live storied shows, Blood Year thrives with its organic feel and rampant energy. Showcasing Brian Cook’s grinding bass lines, Mike Sullivan’s deep-diving guitar leads, and Dave Turncrantz’s pounding rack and floor toms, Blood Year finds Russian Circles in the midst of pushing past their already astronomical limits of timbre and volume. Completing the formula is Kurt Ballou’s engineering prowess and Steve Albini’s world-famous wonderland Electrical Audio.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074062
2019-11-25T11:15:08-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:00-08:00
Blood Year on Revolver's 25 Best Albums of 2019
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/25-best-albums-2019#14-russian-circles-blood-year" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/239a45bf7f0da07d383011813ab6a34073f599d7/original/revolver-logo.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/25-best-albums-2019#14-russian-circles-blood-year" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/1c3b22f5a9638649edda229c39fb384c48bb8d6e/original/screen-shot-2019-11-25-at-10-55-18-am.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/25-best-albums-2019#14-russian-circles-blood-year" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/5e663866389cf7ab9cf823a2f326fba09b41e8e4/original/russiancircles-bloodyear.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<h3>14. Russian Circles - Blood Year </h3>
<p>Chicago-based instrumental post-everything powerhouse <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> just keep getting better and better — and on their seventh album, <em>Blood Year</em>, heavier, too. Jaw-clenched psychedelic bombast is seemingly the name of the game here, yet the trio — which notably features ex-Botch/These Arms Are Snakes bassist Brian Cook — never sacrifices subtlety and dynamics, pulling the rapt listener through dramatic swells and cataclysmic crashes. <em>F.P.</em></p>
<p><br><i><a contents="Full feature on Revolver" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/25-best-albums-2019#14-russian-circles-blood-year" target="_blank">Full feature on Revolver</a></i></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074063
2019-11-11T13:59:03-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:01-08:00
Podcast Interview with Russian Circles' Dave Turncrantz // Crash Bang Boom Drumming
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/crash_bang_boom_podcast/159_dave-turncrantz-russian-circles" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/fbe3611dec445fd2bcf7a393112df9c55c4297a3/original/screen-shot-2019-11-11-at-1-44-27-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/709026490&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>Russian Circles drummer <a contents="Dave Turncrantz" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/dave-turncrantz" target="_blank">Dave Turncrantz</a> talks the process of recording their amazing new record <em>Blood Year,</em> his work with Riddle of Steel and the small scene they operated in, how to describe your band to cops/border patrols, the unshakable John Stainer influence, knowing when to slow down parts for musical impact, Meshuggah ruling live, Dave's fascination with Black Metal, the specific room at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio Studio that Dave recorded drums in for BY, studio momentum and nailing songs in two takes, leaning on protools to minimize takes and how the first couple takes are always the best, copper, brass, steel, aluminum snares, and other gear nerdery, blast beats, bedroom kits, rehearsal spots in NY, Russian Circles experience opening for Tool, tune bots & more!! </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074064
2019-10-25T11:20:00-07:00
2020-01-14T11:52:01-08:00
Russian Circles Interview With Philthy Mag
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://philthymag.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/16b03fa6671d31ed7005b08aae41712652ae9d12/original/logo-272.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.philthymag.com/russian-circles-just-write-good-songs-and-bash-them-out-as-hard-as-you-can-sun-at-ut/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/ff2bf47a79bc960870fbb7e1b2af1c78a82c339f/original/screenshot-2019-10-25-10-55-26.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Although they’ve apparently been trying to slow their touring, shortly after the August release of their seventh studio LP, <em>Blood Year</em>, Chicago post-metal instrumental trio <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> quickly returned to the road. The band spent the second half of September touring with support from their local peers in FACS, and they’re currently on a run of dates with support from doom metal outfit Windhand, which will have them at Union Transfer this Sunday, October 27th. Blood Year, which was released on Sargent House, has the band attempting to replicate the energy of their live show – which has made its mark on the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection a number of times over the years – and has been largely regarded as their most aggressive record yet. Yesterday I got a chance to chat with Russian Circles bassist Brian Cook about their latest sounds… among other things. </p>
<p>Izzy Cihak: Since this is a Philadelphia-based publication, I’m curious about your thoughts on the city. You’ve played here a bunch of times. </p>
<p>Brian Cook: I’ve always found Philly to be interesting in that when I first started touring with hardcore bands back in the mid-‘90s it was one of the few cities where people actually lived in the city center, and one of the few cities where we’d actually play downtown. We’d never play LA; we’d play Orange County. We’d never play in Manhattan; we’d play in New Jersey or out on Long Island. And now as we’ve seen people re-populating city centers over the last two decades, we’ve watched all these major cities go through these dramatic makeovers, but Philly keeps its gritty character. I like that aspect of city… it seems immune to the whitewash of commercialism. </p>
<p>READ THE FULL INTERVIEW <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.philthymag.com/russian-circles-just-write-good-songs-and-bash-them-out-as-hard-as-you-can-sun-at-ut/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074065
2019-10-10T01:00:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:02-08:00
Russian Circles Japan Tour February 2020
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/a665b48d11a78d3bf776eab450080cc1e481c6db/original/russian-japan.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be heading to Japan with support from <a contents="heaven in her arms" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://heaveninherarms.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">heaven in her arms</a> in February 2020. More dates & tickets available <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/">HERE</a>.</p>
<p>FEB 22 Tokyo at O-Nest <br>FEB 23 Nagoya at Huck Finn <br>FEB 24 Osaka at Conpass <br>FEB 25 Tokyo at Fever</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074066
2019-10-08T02:00:00-07:00
2020-03-06T16:32:19-08:00
Russian Circles European Tour 2020 With Torche
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/ce66ec74119a7c097c556203874dc4ea3d473f89/original/russian-circles-euro-admat-2020.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be heading to Europe in 2020 with support from <a contents="Torche" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.torchemusic.com/" target="_blank">Torche</a> on select dates. Tickets will be available starting October 10th <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
<p> </p><!-- more -->
<p>Russian Circles 2020 Europe </p>
<p>Tour w/ Torche </p>
<p>MAR 12 Antwerp, BE @ Trix </p>
<p>MAR 13 Paris, FR @ Bataclan </p>
<p>MAR 14 Orleans, FR @ L’Astrolabe </p>
<p>MAR 15 Nantes, FR @ Warehouse </p>
<p>MAR 16 Biarritz, FR @ Atabal </p>
<p>MAR 18 Porto, PT @ Hard Club </p>
<p>MAR 19 Lisbon, PT @ Lisboa Ao Vivo </p>
<p>MAR 20 Sevilla, ES @ Sala X </p>
<p>MAR 21 Madrid, ES @ Copernico </p>
<p>MAR 23 Barcelona, ES @ LA2 </p>
<p>MAR 24 Toulouse, FR @ Le Rex </p>
<p>MAR 26 Esch-Sur Alzette, LU @ Kulturfabrik <br><br>MAR 27 Monthey, CH @ Le Pont Rouge <br><br>MAR 28 Dornbirn, AT @ Spielboden</p>
<p>MAR 30 Rijeka, HR @ Pogon Kulture </p>
<p>MAR 31 Budapest, HU @ Durer Kert </p>
<p>APR 01 Vienna, AT @ Arena </p>
<p>APR 02 Prague, CZ @ Lucerna Music Bar </p>
<p>APR 03 Berlin, DE @ Astra </p>
<p>APR 04 Leipzig, DE @ Conne Island </p>
<p>APR 06 Munich, DE @ Technikum </p>
<p>APR 07 Zurich, CH @ Rote Fabrik </p>
<p>APR 09 Koln, DE @ Die Kantine </p>
<p>APR 10 Hamburg, DE @ Gruenspan </p>
<p>APR 11 Copenhagen, DK @ Vega </p>
<p>APR 12 Oslo, NO @ Inferno Festival </p>
<p>APR 13 Stockholm, SE @ Slaktkyrkan </p>
<p>APR 14 Gothenburg, SE @ Musikenshus </p>
<p>APR 16 Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival </p>
<p>APR 18 Istanbul, TR @ Zorlu Center PAC studio * </p>
<p>APR 19 Istanbul, TR @ Zorlu Center PAC studio * </p>
<p>APR 21 Athens, GR @ Piraeus 117 Academy * </p>
<p>Russian Circles Only *</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074067
2019-10-01T11:36:35-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:03-08:00
"Blood Year" Review Via Big Music Geek
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/c5150a1c59f06b28be3aff5c677e96094b4a7809/original/russian-circles-prague-hr-img-9682.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="Big Music Geek" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bigmusicgeek.com">Big Music Geek</a> has posted a stellar review of <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/">Russian Circles</a> 2019 album "Blood Year", which can be read in full <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.bigmusicgeek.com/reviews/russiancircles.html">HERE</a>. </p>
<p>In the not-too-distant past, when one discussed 'instrumental' Heavy Metal acts, thoughts would invariably turn to the most obvious of choices à la Karma To Burn, Pelican, Sunn O))). However, when guitarist Mike Sullivan and bassist Colin DeKuipe (both formerly of the woefully-unsung Dakota/Dakota) joined forces with former Riddle Of Steel drummer Dave Turncrantz as Russian Circles, the resulting sonic ingenuity would leave an immediate, long-lasting impact on the sub-genre(s) as a whole. After amicably parting ways DeKuipe (and recruiting ex-Botch/These Arms Are Snakes bassist Brian Cook) following the release of their full-length debut Enter (2006), the group quickly solidified their reputation as a bona fide creative force not be ignored via a series of universally-praised offerings. Now, with the issuance of the touted Blood Year, their latest--and quite possibly greatest--offering to date now upon us, they at last appear poised for unprecedented global recognition. </p>
<p>On the stellar Blood Year (2019), an expertly assembled seven song collection of instrumental Progressive Heavy Metal, each track, beginning with the maddeningly infectious gem “Hunter Moon” and the relentlessly pummeling first single “Arluck”, immediately command the rapt and undivided attention of even the most jaded and unimaginative of listeners, myself most definitely included. Effortlessly flexing their woefully-underrated creative muscles early and often, the group yields a series of initial auditory offerings that are as impressive as they are thoroughly satisfying. While not necessarily groundbreaking and not yet legendary, the group easily exceeds even the most optimistic of expectations--many of which were unrealistically lofty following the well-deserved successes of Guidance (2016) and Memorial (2013). Maintaining an artful, never precarious balance of power and melody, the group lays the foundations for the undisputed and virtuosic mastery that soon follows. </p><!-- more -->
<p>Continuing with the shimmering exercise in fuzz-tone riffage that is “Milano” and the deliciously 'gloomful' tome “Kohokia”, the airtight--to say the very least--combination of guitarist Mike Sullivan, bassist Brian Cook (ex-Botch and These Arms Are Snakes, among others) and drummer Dave Turncrantz steamrolls ahead like the well-oiled machine they so obviously are. Firing on all cylinders early and often, the group delivers a punishing, multi-dimensional barrage of blistering fretwork and imaginatively punishing rhythms that have personified their career. Wasting little--if any--time reinforcing (and, in some cases introducing) their already painstakingly-documented penchant for thunderous, albeit occasionally thought-provoking, instrumentation, the lack of vocals free the listener to further expand their emotional and intellectual consciousness. Engulfing their uniquely rabid constituents in a swarming 'sonicscape' that shamelessly harkens to a bygone era, the group boldly forges ahead.</p>
<p>Produced by the acclaimed Kurt Ballou (Converge, Kid Kilowatt, Blue/Green Heart) at renowned Chicago, Illinois-based Electrical Audio (Foxy Shazam, Soil, Ted Yoder), other standouts, including the all-too-brief--yet highly-effective lament “Ghost On High” and the equally impressive rumbling closer “Quartered”, only serve to further reinforce their LEFTful position within the hierarchies of the sub-genre. Maintaining their reputation for crushing, if not outLEFT smothering, compositions while wisely refraining from resting on their laurels, Blood Year 'hits' far more than it 'misses', making it one of the finest new releases of the rapidly waning year. Perhaps the group's most accessible and, as a result, thoroughly enjoyable yet, much of the group's prolonged success can be attributed to the ceaseless honing of their already razor-sharp chops. Although it may appear as if I'm providing the group with exaggerated ovation, rest assured these truly are among their finest in-studio moments. </p>
<p> But is it really that good? Absolutely! Ultimately serving as an fitting addition to their already impressively sprawling catalog, the majority--if not all--of the lastingly memorable wares contained herein are guaranteed to leave both die-hard Enter (2006) era completists and clueless newcomers alike begging for more. While quite obviously not for everyone (regardless of 'personal tastes', vocals, are often a large and important aspect of mass appeal), the end result(s) of the group's more-than-considerable efforts are once again nothing short of extra of extraordinary and deserve to be treated accordingly. Love 'em or loathe 'em, this is quite possibly as good as instrumental Heavy Metal gets. Needless to say, if you've once again found yourself in search of a refreshingly forthLEFT alternative to the painfully mindless din and clatter that is so often force fed en mass, then this, my friends, might just be the high-octane cure-all for what it is that ails you. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074068
2019-09-23T11:38:31-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:03-08:00
Russian Circles At Roadburn 2020
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/b812f3ae52d6cd88bf5a3b74255f1c16fd702de1/original/russian-social.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/">Russian Circles</a> will be joining the 2020 lineup of <a contents="Roadburn" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://roadburn.com/">Roadburn</a>, curated by <a contents="Emma Ruth Rundle" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.emmaruthrundle.com/">Emma Ruth Rundle</a>. Tickets available <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://roadburn.com/tickets/">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074069
2019-09-09T12:35:06-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:03-08:00
New Live Video at ArcTanGent & Tour
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="2L6FkemaJeo" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2L6FkemaJeo/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2L6FkemaJeo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles">Russian Circles</a> perform "Arluck" at ArcTanGent on August 15, 2019.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Video by Jordan & Austin Peters</p>
<p>Russian Circles' N American Blood Year tour starts next week. Tickets: <a contents="russiancirclesband.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com">russiancirclesband.com</a> </p>
<p>SEP 11 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon * <br>SEP 12 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center * <br>SEP 14 Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman * <br>SEP 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumos * <br>SEP 17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * <br>SEP 19 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall * <br>SEP 20 Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura * <br>SEP 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom * <br>SEP 23 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile * <br>SEP 24 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf * <br>SEP 25 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater * <br>SEP 28 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall * <br>OCT 18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme + <br>OCT 19 Detroit, MI @ El Club + <br>OCT 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace + <br>OCT 21 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount + <br>OCT 23 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace + <br>OCT 24 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair + <br>OCT 26 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw + <br>OCT 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer + <br>OCT 29 Washington, DC @ Union Stage + <br>OCT 30 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry + <br>NOV 01 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall + <br>NOV 02 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre + <br>NOV 03 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade + <br>NOV 04 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's + <br>NOV 06 Houston, TX @ The Secret Group + <br>NOV 08 Austin, TX @ Levitation (Sargent House show) <br>NOV 09 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company w/ Cave In & Helms Alee <br>NOV 11 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall + <br>w/ FACS * <br>w/ Windhand +</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074070
2019-09-05T17:20:23-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:03-08:00
Interview on The Making Of 'Blood Year' // Stereoboard
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/225107/9?fbclid=IwAR0OVRViVHv6WxTmoplpHL4R1GI9yiaKKs83b7-JvkSBkuU-N9dJORVKXeI" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/a75c8f29617ca5bdc9567ff800430236187de966/original/stereoboard-logo.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/225107/9?fbclid=IwAR0OVRViVHv6WxTmoplpHL4R1GI9yiaKKs83b7-JvkSBkuU-N9dJORVKXeI" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/103079bd3d6627624cd6026f8257b7daecbd4d1e/original/screen-shot-2019-09-05-at-5-12-18-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/225107/9?fbclid=IwAR0OVRViVHv6WxTmoplpHL4R1GI9yiaKKs83b7-JvkSBkuU-N9dJORVKXeI" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/dec09ce73a3f98b9da48645091b35f88f8d4dee4/original/russian-circles-js-210519.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Russian Circles have long excelled at creating dynamic prog-rock soundscapes by expertly exploring how live loops, tonal ranges and captivating post-metal melodies can open up a world of musical possibilities for a band. But with each new album comes a loaded question: do you push things even further or pull them back? Russian Circles chose the latter for ‘Blood Year’. </p>
<p><strong>With the new record you said you wanted to make a more stripped-down and assertive album. Did you achieve that to the extent you intended? </strong></p>
<p>MS: I feel that we made that happen, yeah. Each song stands alone by itself. We can play the songs live easier, there’s not too much overproduction, throwing all kinds of bells and whistles on the songs. They’re more direct and more immediate. It wasn’t hard to do, we just followed through with it. It was not a conceptual endeavour. </p>
<p><strong>Once a track is committed to record is that it? Or will you continue to tweak it following developments from live shows? </strong></p>
<p>MS: Once it’s recorded, that’s when it’s documented and we’ll keep it that way. We might find a little workaround, and things may change a little bit, but once the arrangement is locked in in recording we stay true to that and make sure that’s how we play it live.</p>
<p><em>full interview by Laura Johnson <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/225107/9?fbclid=IwAR0OVRViVHv6WxTmoplpHL4R1GI9yiaKKs83b7-JvkSBkuU-N9dJORVKXeI" target="_blank">HERE</a></em></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074071
2019-08-30T13:27:42-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:04-08:00
Russian Circles "Blood Year" The Best Metal on Bandcamp: August 2019
<p><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/696106ebd35b9e033fadea871d80d02801318621/original/bandcamp-daily.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/b7c2c0ba886307a688c2d4a5dfe3a6c6094a5b5e/original/screen-shot-2019-08-30-at-12-49-27-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/404521eb6b06c20952683e9ad85da30e3845becd/original/best-metal-month-1244.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=246722098/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;">Blood Year by Russian Circles</iframe></p>
<p><strong>Russian Circles </strong><br><em>Blood Year</em></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> are survivors of two scenes that dominated heavy music in the mid-’00s but have waned in cultural capital since: instrumental post-rock and Isis-style post-metal. The Chicago trio quickly rose to the top of the heap in both subgenres with their first two records, Enter and Station, and have been steadily cranking out excellent work on a regular basis since. Blood Year is an affirmation of their continued greatness. They’ve always been able to ride a groove better than most of their peers, and on Blood Year’s first proper track, “Arluck,” they lock into one of the best of their career. They don’t let up from there. The rest of the album is full of the kind of heady, propulsive instru-metal they specialize in, with plenty of dark nooks and crannies to get lost in.</p>
<p><a contents="(via Bandcamp)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://daily.bandcamp.com/2019/08/26/best-bandcamp-metal-august-2019/" target="_blank">(Full list via Bandcamp)</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074072
2019-08-23T15:03:26-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:04-08:00
Album Review: Russian Circles – Blood Year // New Noise Magazine
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/review-russian-circles-blood-year/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/65922b9f1abe75ea8ad863de979a998f1fd90f28/original/new-noise-logo.gif/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_large"><strong>Album Review: Russian Circles – Blood Year</strong><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/review-russian-circles-blood-year/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/3aed3ce219fd8788655f73d80ea27fe9f21036e0/original/5-stars.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_center border_" /></a></span></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/review-russian-circles-blood-year/" target="_blank"><span class="font_regular"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/4147ea392f8fd5010b79656c79d2be312014945c/original/bloodyear3000x.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></a></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">(<a contents="via New Noise Magazine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/review-russian-circles-blood-year/" target="_blank">via New Noise Magazine</a>)</span></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have been coasting on a surprising level of consistent excellence for a band now on their seventh release. Their previous record, Guidance, was a lovely marriage of impressive songwriting and impeccable production. I said that Russian Circles had finally delivered the album I always wanted them to write – not like they actually listened to me or anything, but these ears were particularly pleased with the results. So imagine my surprise when, nearly three years later, the trio deliver an even better record.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=246722098/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;">Blood Year by Russian Circles</iframe></p><!-- more -->
<p>Many savvy choices were made along the way that made Blood Year into the new classic it is. Wisely, the Chicago band have again chosen to work with Kurt Ballou, though some of Blood Year’s recording was completed in that famous Steve Albini Chicago studio. Ballou’s trademark urgency and “pop” is there in spades, but there’s some breathing room, some airy nature to the songs that makes them sound impossibly large. The soaring tremolo melodies and thundering bass haven’t left Russian Circles’ stable, but there’s a buoyancy, a vibrancy to these tracks that only elevates the initial experience. That word is key here, as Blood Year really does feel like an experience in post-metal majesty. Whether it’s the blackened climax to “Milano”, the skyward soaring songwriting of “Sinaia”, or the rhythmic punch of “Arluck”, there’s so much to discover here. </p>
<p>None of this is to say that Russian Circles are totally reinventing their own post-metal wheel – but that’s the point, and why this is such an enjoyable record. Blood Year feels like the trio are just operating at peak efficiency: everything is lush, crisp, and positively monumental. There’s a key storytelling arc to each song that is separate and distinct, and Blood Year is a world you want to live in, rather than just spending a requisite TV show’s 40 minutes and forgetting about it. This is memorable, mountainous music that grabs your attention from the beginning and never lets go. Russian Circles have written their magnum opus after releasing their best work to date. Who the hell knows what’s next? </p>
<p><a contents="Purchase this album here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/BloodYear" target="_blank">Purchase this album here.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074073
2019-08-23T15:02:58-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:04-08:00
INTERVIEW: Brian Cook – Russian Circles // Distorted Sound
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distortedsoundmag.com/interview-brian/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/5a1b8b2cb0c4450b69afc02dcc3ed20003a078ea/original/distorted-sound-mag.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/b19f2a77bc64db3566d38e056ee46a7c376187c5/original/screen-shot-2019-08-22-at-5-33-33-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="(via Distorted Sound)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://distortedsoundmag.com/interview-brian/" target="_blank">(via Distorted Sound)</a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_large">INTERVIEW: Brian Cook – Russian Circles</span></strong></h3>
<p>After more than a decade of work, <a contents="RUSSIAN CIRCLES" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">RUSSIAN CIRCLES</a> have created six album of highly atmospheric, weighty post metal. Since <em>Guidance</em> back in 2016, there’s been some a growing anticipation of new material, with fans relishing the three years of almost constant touring about the US and with various stints in Europe. Now, RUSSIAN CIRCLES return with their latest album, <em>Blood Year</em>. Coming off the back of that highly acclaimed back catalogue and prior to the release of their new album, we spoke to Brian Cook about the changes in the band’s tonal temperament, their changing lifestyles and what that all means for greater coherency going forward. </p><!-- more -->
<p><strong>Firstly, are you excited to have <em>Blood Year</em> almost out for release? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: Very excited. I’m jealous of all the artists back in the ’60s and ’70s who’d record an album and have it on the store shelves a few weeks later. We were finished back in February and have just been waiting for all the machinations of the business to do their thing. I guess we could expedite the process and just go full internet-only and skip all the production stuff, but I love the tactile experience of physical formats. </p>
<p><strong>How long have you been writing this record, as it’s been a little while since you brought out <em>Guidance</em>? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: Well, we’re not a traditional band in the sense of writing and rehearsing. We live in different cities, different time zones. We can’t meet up a couple of times a week to practice. So, we make a record, tour on it for a year or two, stockpile a bunch of new riffs and song fragments, and then cram all our song writing in several week-long marathon writing sessions. So, in some ways, we’ve been writing since we finished Guidance, because I’m sure our guitarist Mike [Sullivan] has been working on rudimentary ideas since we finished the previous album, but we really only buckled down and started piecing ideas together since September of last year. That said, I wrote the bulk of Ghost on High back in 2011, so maybe we’ve been writing the album for eight years. </p>
<p><strong>You’ve noted that <em>Guidance</em> was written as a response to the uncertainty of the future, what would you say the theming was around <em>Blood Year</em>? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: I think it’s important to note that we don’t write songs with a theme in mind. We compose our music based on gut feeling. Then we sit back and reflect on what we’ve made and try to figure out how it’s a reflection of our lives at the moment we made it. Guidance was written at a moment in our lives when we all knew we were on the cusp of a lot of upheaval, both in the broader context of American politics, but also in our individual private worlds. Mike was getting ready to move away from Chicago; I was trying to figure out a way out of New York City, Dave [Turncrantz] was trying to navigate the immigration process for his wife who’d moved to the States from Barcelona. We all knew our lives were going to look a lot different in a year or two’s time, and the only real control we felt was in the creative process. When we finished Blood Year, it felt like a response to the previous three years. We were all in a more stable place in our lives, but at what cost? We’d just come off the most strenuous tour schedule of our lives. We were all trying to find a balance between our personal happiness and a communal well-being. For me personally, the year leading up to recording was really tumultuous. In some ways, I was getting everything I wanted—I moved back to the Pacific Northwest, bought a house, and managed to eek out another year as a “professional” musician. But in other ways, shit was falling apart. There was some pretty intense health crises in my family. I watched several people really close to me grapple with some gnarly addiction issues. And I had to sever my ties with New York, which was a city I’d come to consider home, largely because my husband and I had to move back west to tend with ailing family members. As with <em>Guidance</em>, <em>Blood Year </em>was this thing that was completely within the realm of our control, and that was really cathartic. Writing felt like one of the few constants. </p>
<p><strong>RUSSIAN CIRCLES have toured pretty heavily from <em>Guidance</em> to now, how has been on the road for such a long time changed the way you approach your music writing for this album? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: We really just wanted to make a no-frills, heavy record. Live, we definitely tend to prefer the assertive songs to the atmospheric material, and we spent so much time on the road that we just wanted to make a record that was suited to the stage. We still wound up with a couple of mellow songs on the record, but all in all, I feel like this is the most straight-forward bruiser of an album in the band’s catalogue. </p>
<p><strong>Thinking on touring for a second, RUSSIAN CIRCLES are a band that doesn’t shy away from being on the road. Do you enjoy that constant momentum, and do you find the lifestyle change at all jarring when you come home? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: I generally feel a sense of contentment on tour. Even though there can be a lot of stress and aggravation on the road, the constant momentum is satisfying. I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing when I’m on tour. Every day has a purpose and a goal. It can be pretty jarring to get home from tour and suddenly find yourself with no schedule, no end-of-the-day reward, no commitments. I usually deal with a little mild depression when I get home from tour, just because the inertia from being in constant motion for weeks on end makes home life feel like a brick wall. But then you’re home for a few weeks and then the idea of going on tour seems overwhelming and stressful because you’ve acclimated to the pace of home. It can be tough, for sure. </p>
<p><strong>As a band, you’ve been in this together for a long number of years, do you think that the bond you have as musicians is a big part in creating impactful music, especially instrumental music? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: That’s a hard one to weigh in on because I’d be commenting on it from the lens of someone that’s entrenched in the inner band dynamic. I mean, there’s definitely a bond between us, and that yields a certain creative chemistry. But how does that bond relate to any other band dynamic? I can’t say.</p>
<p><strong>Staying on being instrumental for a second, do you find that the freedom of no lyrics means you can push harder to obtain an emotional response from your sounds, and if so, how do you go about that? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: Well, we definitely eliminate a lot of context by not having a singer. A vocalist would really pigeonhole us, stylistically. And a vocalist would also insert context through lyrics. But ultimately, most groups I’ve worked with, BOTCH and THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES for example, always crafted music before adding the vocals. So, in my mind, the instrumentation has always had to be compelling and dynamic on its own. So, in that regard, not much has changed since I was 16 years old and playing in hardcore bands. The riffs have always had to be good when you can’t fall back on a three-chord chorus with a big vocal hook to keep people riveted. But because we’re not dealing with the stylistic limitations imposed by a singer, we can push ourselves into territories that might otherwise be off-limits, and I think that adds more emotional dimension to our music. </p>
<p><strong>How do you as a band know when a track is ready? Does it ever become difficult to either refine ideas down or to stop perfecting? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: Yes. And that’s why we normally set a recording date before we’ve finished writing the material for the record, because we’ll never finish a song unless there’s an actual deadline. We never finish an outline for a song and say it’s done. It gets tweaked, rearranged, stretched, and truncated into a dozen different permutations, even in the studio. Mike almost always goes back in after we’re done tracking to add a few supplementary guitar parts. We deliberately opted to book less studio time for Blood Year so that we didn’t have the option of overthinking things. </p>
<p><strong>The feel of <em>Blood Year</em> is obviously very powerful, but it also all feels very organic with each instrument. There’s a real texture to the album as a whole – was that a conscious decision? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: There are a few things that happened on this album that might contribute to the organic vibe. As I mentioned earlier, we definitely aimed to make a more forceful record with less emphasis on the ethereal and atmospheric aspects of the band. Ever since the <em>Geneva</em> album, there’s been more and more exploration of different tones and textures, and while I’ve found that journey to be really exciting, I also feel like there’s moments where I’ve spent more time focusing on coming up with a really cool sound rather than writing a really cool part. And we’ve done more and more touring overseas where we play on unfamiliar gear and it gets really frustrating trying to figure out how to replicate all these different sounds on different backlines. There’s very little pedalboard trickery on this album, very few unorthodox textures. There are barely even any delay effects on my contributions, which is pretty unusual for this band, and even more unusual for whatever “post-” genre people wanna file us under. I really just wanna lug around less gear, so I didn’t want to add even more effects to my pedalboard. If anything, I wanted to scale back. So there’s that. </p>
<p>But a bigger component might be the recording process. There’s an undeniable magic to the old school way of recording where you throw everyone in a room together and run through a song a bunch of times until you capture that magic take where everyone is locked in, but that doesn’t really work for the way we operate. We have this unorthodox aspect of our band where a lot of our music is comprised of Mike stacking these loops of guitar riffs to make a layered, orchestral sound. And that process means that Dave isn’t the primary timekeeper- Mike’s loop pedal is keeping time. So when we record our albums, we often have reverse-engineer the songs, because in the live setting there will be a loop that’s established the tempo, but when we’re recording we have to lock in the drum parts first, so a lot of times we’ll have to figure out a tempo map and an accompanying click track for the songs to account for these guitar loops that are going to be overdubbed later. It gets tricky, and it’s a bit of a deviation from how we play live. This time around, we were committed to tracking everything together, so the process of having all of us banging shit out in a room certainly made it feel like a more live and aggressive recording. </p>
<p><strong>In terms of feel, you’ve balanced the incredibly heavy sections with moments of optimism, like with Kohokia, and even quiet tracks like Ghost on High bring in some lighter sounds. Is this a case of just thinking about pacing, or are these little moments inspired from something more internal? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: Well, again, I think the goal was to make a more aggressive album. But we’re also a band that really likes to play with dynamics. We want a variety of moods, tempos, and textures, but there’s also the dynamics of complexity and density. Kohokia is still a pretty assertive song, but we wanted it to have more space and breadth than, say, a song like Milano. And while the big pay-off in Kohokia certainly has a more triumphant feel than the earlier riffs in the song, you have to offset certain elements of your art with contrast if you want them to be effective. I mean, there are great metal records that are just unrelenting from start to finish, but look at Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets – there’s so much yin and yang on those records, so many ups and downs. And those records are some of the greatest metal records of all time. We really wanted to tap into that kind of juxtaposition. </p>
<p><strong>Finally, with there being such a solid set of tracks on Blood Year, is there one you’re most looking forward to playing live for people? </strong></p>
<p>Brian: I’m really excited about them all, to be honest. After three years of touring on Guidance, I’m just really excited to play new songs period! [laughs] </p>
<hr><p><em>Blood Year</em> is out now via Sargent House. RUSSIAN CIRCLES are featured in the latest issue of Distorted Sound. </p>
<p>Like RUSSIAN CIRCLES on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074074
2019-08-17T07:00:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:04-08:00
Russian Circles Live Session with BBC Radio 1
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007q9c?fbclid=IwAR1rni12HzQJCCeGay4ml0wIrjWsOhfGRy5bEbRQ-JjuwqncL61YO6PgtS4" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/a9976480708e880f3655c41363999008cd4e40d6/original/68530216-10162497384525529-1504447432275001344-n.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007q9c?fbclid=IwAR1rni12HzQJCCeGay4ml0wIrjWsOhfGRy5bEbRQ-JjuwqncL61YO6PgtS4" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/ec1b7f28c2cc0140f77a711215c3a7e40f60f1b0/original/68538256-10162497380760529-5190078419387285504-o.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007q9c?fbclid=IwAR1rni12HzQJCCeGay4ml0wIrjWsOhfGRy5bEbRQ-JjuwqncL61YO6PgtS4" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/29ec96dd80624d8dd24432dd4f2c3de9ffd424ca/original/68404424-10162497385050529-5756658676735672320-o.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>The <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> live from Maida Vale session will be airing this Sunday, August 18th on BBC Radio 1 on Daniel P Carter's Radio 1 Rock Show - starting at 21:00 - 23:00 UK Time // 4pm -6pm EST / 1pm-3pm PST .. Tune in <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007q9c" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074075
2019-08-15T16:16:19-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:05-08:00
Interview with Mike Sullivan on Blood Year & Influences // New Noise
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/russian-circles-new-album-influences-working-kurt-ballou/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/65922b9f1abe75ea8ad863de979a998f1fd90f28/original/new-noise-logo.gif/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/russian-circles-new-album-influences-working-kurt-ballou/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/71e1d20fc59ea0cba9e94974de6607ad65a193f1/original/screen-shot-2019-08-15-at-3-41-55-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/2b98bfed27cd8eda0612ff6df150ca75edc8c61e/original/russian-circles-1-alicia-armijo-e1565563487143.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="(via New Noise Magazine)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://newnoisemagazine.com/russian-circles-new-album-influences-working-kurt-ballou/" target="_blank">(via New Noise)</a></p>
<p>Interview with guitarist Mike Sullivan | By Douglas Menagh | Photo by Alicia Armijo </p>
<p>Chicago’s Russian Circles, comprised of guitarist Mike Sullivan, drummer Dave Turncrantz, and bassist Brian Cook, dropped Blood Year through Sargent House on Aug. 2. </p>
<p>Ahead of the new album, the instrumental trio released “Arluck,” a song with intricate and dissonant hooks, search-and-destroy drumbeats, and aggressive basslines. The single is a technically impressive banger that alternates between moments of tranquility and broadly powerful episodes. </p>
<p>Below, Sullivan shares a bit about creating “Arluck,” recording Blood Year, collaborating with producer Kurt Ballou, loving hockey—the game that inspired the name Russian Circles—and what’s in store for the future.</p><!-- more -->
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="jB0uP0QMGA8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/jB0uP0QMGA8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jB0uP0QMGA8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Congratulations on “Arluck”! What was it like making this tune? What resonated with you and drove its creation? </strong></p>
<p>Thanks. “Arluck” was the first song we started working on for this album and ended up being one of the last. We went through 12 different arrangements of that song before we were finally satisfied. There was something exciting about starting the song with up-tempo drums that felt fresh to us. When Brian added the basslines, the song took on a new path, which prompted Dave and I to adjust our parts. There was originally no guitar tapping until the final few versions of the song. </p>
<p><strong>How was making Blood Year? As far as writing, recording, and engineering, what was your approach this time around? </strong></p>
<p>The writing process wasn’t vastly different from previous records. I stockpiled a ton of riffs, sent them off to the dudes, and once everyone had some time to sit with the ideas, Dave and I started piecing together the songs. Brian had a cool idea from the last album, [2016’s Guidance], that ended up becoming “Ghost On High.” </p>
<p>The recording process, however, was a departure for us. The drums and bass were recorded in Chicago and the guitar was tracked in Salem, Massachusetts, at Kurt Ballou’s studio, GodCity. Mixing took place in Salem too. </p>
<p><strong>How was it working with Kurt Ballou again? </strong></p>
<p>We love working with Kurt. It was great to see him work his magic at Electrical Audio in Chicago, which is known for its warm, open sound. He really got the most out of the acoustic potential of that studio. As far as interpersonal interaction, we really get along well with Kurt, which I think is important. A lot of it comes down to trust. If he makes a suggestion, we’re all ears. At this point, we’re so comfortable around each other, there’s less room for misunderstandings. No one’s going to get bent out of shape if a part isn’t working in the studio. With the aforementioned trust, there’s less overall stress. You know things will eventually work out. </p>
<p>Additionally, I think it can be beneficial to track with an engineer who’s also a guitarist. He’s very persistent and won’t just settle for an adequate guitar tone when he knows it could be more interesting. He has a treasure trove of amps, pedals, and guitars at his studio. There was always a compelling sound waiting in another guitar or pedal. This record would sound very different if Kurt wasn’t involved. </p>
<p><strong>How did recording in Chicago shape the album? </strong></p>
<p>I think Electrical Audio played a bigger role than the city itself. We’ve happened to record every other album of ours there. It really has its own unique sound and environment. Our main goal was to capture the drums at Electrical. I feel like Dave’s never been happier with a drum recording. Brian and I lodged at the studio, so we would head down to the studio at night to refine parts and iron out kinks. Also, it was pretty damn cold when we were recording. We’d march through the snow each night to meet friends at a riverside bar for a few drinks. This provided a great opportunity to take our minds off the record for a while. </p>
<p><strong>You say in your promo, “Russian Circles chose to track the foundations of the songs together in one room as complete takes without click tracks.” Can you elaborate on that in terms of recording, engineering, and the end result of Blood Year? </strong></p>
<p>Typically, in the past, we’d record to a click track and then build the song around that tempo map. On the previous two records, [Guidance and 2013’s Memorial], Dave would actually track the drums 100 percent by himself, and then, we’d lay bass and guitar down. On this recording, we played the songs together without any guiding tempo or click track. We wanted the songs to feel more natural and open.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="5t33-O1gMgw" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/5t33-O1gMgw/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5t33-O1gMgw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>You’ve recorded with an impressive lineup of musicians, but what was it like working with Chelsea Wolfe [on the title track from Memorial]? Are there any other artists with whom you wish to collaborate? </strong></p>
<p>We’re fortunate to call Chelsea a friend, but it was still a huge honor nevertheless. The song was written with her vocals in mind, so it was cool to actually write a song with a different approach. We sent her the song, and she recorded the vocals from her home studio. It was a really natural and inspiring process. Hearing one of your favorite musicians sing on your own music meant a lot to us. </p>
<p>There are definitely other artists we’d like to collaborate with, but nothing I’d like to share right now. It seems to be more rewarding to collaborate with artists who aren’t necessarily in the same genre but have overlapping qualities and beliefs. </p>
<p><strong>How wild is it that the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup? </strong></p>
<p>Can’t believe it! Dave is a massive Blues fan and watched nearly every game this season, so this was huge for him. Dave and I both grew up in St. Louis playing hockey, and the Blues were a huge part of our youth. Since moving to Chicago and falling in love with the comedy duo of [announcers] Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk, I’ve morphed into a Blackhawks fan. I’ll always have love for the Blues, though. </p>
<p><strong>What are some influences outside of music that inspire your work? </strong></p>
<p>I’m often inspired by random individuals who may not necessarily have any connection to the art world. I love seeing somebody pour themself into their craft. Obsession with their passion—that always fuels me to dig a little deeper. I value humility too. Let your work speak for itself. I also admire people who don’t worry about people-pleasing or receiving judgment from others. I love the fucking weirdos who are just living the shit out of life. </p>
<p><strong>You’re set to tour [North America starting in September]. How do you feel about that? </strong></p>
<p>Looking forward to it. Excited to throw some new songs into the setlist. We’re fortunate to hit the road with FACS and Windhand, two bands we highly admire. </p>
<p><strong>Besides touring and dropping Blood Year, is there anything else on the horizon you are looking forward to? </strong></p>
<p>Not at this point. We’ve been in a dormant phase over the summer. Come fall, we have nothing but touring on the agenda through next spring. </p>
<p><a contents="Purchase&nbsp;Blood Year&nbsp;here&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/BloodYear?iqid=gm.us.search&msclkid=7f714a22f18c16f5f3eb17726a0def39" target="_blank"><strong>Purchase Blood Year here </strong></a></p>
<p>RUSSIAN CIRCLES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR </p>
<p>SEP 11 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon * <br>SEP 12 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center * <br>SEP 14 Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman * <br>SEP 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumos * <br>SEP 17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * <br>SEP 19 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall * <br>SEP 20 Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura * <br>SEP 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom * <br>SEP 23 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile * <br>SEP 24 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf * <br>SEP 25 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater * <br>SEP 28 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall * <br>OCT 18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme + <br>OCT 19 Detroit, MI @ El Club + <br>OCT 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace + <br>OCT 21 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount + <br>OCT 23 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace + <br>OCT 24 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair + <br>OCT 26 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw + <br>OCT 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer + <br>OCT 29 Washington, DC @ Union Stage + <br>OCT 30 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry + <br>NOV 01 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall + <br>NOV 02 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre + <br>NOV 03 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade + <br>NOV 04 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s + <br>NOV 06 Houston, TX @ The Secret Group + <br>NOV 08 Austin, TX @ Levitation <br>NOV 09 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company <br>NOV 11 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall + </p>
<p>w/ FACS * <br>w/ Windhand +</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074076
2019-08-02T13:10:36-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:05-08:00
Russian Circles' track by track guide to new album Blood Year // LOUDER
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.loudersound.com/features/russian-circles-track-by-track-guide-to-new-album-blood-year" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/55f65832a299a77d843c0e40efd200edfe4fe1d7/original/screen-shot-2019-07-19-at-5-38-35-pm.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.loudersound.com/features/russian-circles-track-by-track-guide-to-new-album-blood-year" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/24b00b84f0ce5fe085187d6cd44fbd7fd4c7dbc3/original/screen-shot-2019-08-02-at-12-13-02-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.loudersound.com/features/russian-circles-track-by-track-guide-to-new-album-blood-year" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/e3e11a38fda44439413cb481873ead5ae03dd974/original/oanakgkavnablirqvu2feh-650-80.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="(via LOUDER)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.loudersound.com/features/russian-circles-track-by-track-guide-to-new-album-blood-year" target="_blank">(Full feature via LOUDER)</a></p>
<p>"This is our seventh album," Chicago post-rock group <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> tell Louder of their new album, <em>Blood Year</em>. </p>
<p>As the group stood on the cusp of the recording sessions for the new record, it turned out tackling their seventh album would leave them facing some big questions.</p>
<p>"What do you do when you’ve written seven albums? Do you pull a U2 and make an electronic infused record like Zooropa, or hire KRS-One to rap on your first song like R.E.M. did on Out of Time? Frankly, that’s not our style." </p>
<p>They found their answers in the work of the experimental pioneers who came before them – bands who've carved out their own path while staying resolutely true to their vision. </p>
<p>"We chose to stay the course like Fugazi, Lungfish, or Neurosis," the band say. </p>
<p>The result is a typically progressive, powerful record, that throws together exploratory jams, relentless riffs, bold experimentation, battle cries, as well as the odd "unapologetically straight-forward song". It finds them expanding their sound while building on a back catalogue of genuinely innovative music. </p>
<p>Here, the band talk us through <em>Blood Year</em> one track at a time.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074077
2019-08-02T10:00:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:05-08:00
Album of the Day: Russian Circles, “Blood Year” // Bandcamp Daily
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://daily.bandcamp.com/2019/07/31/russian-circles-blood-year-review/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/a981226fe606ff02680d9a2b7ae0eb102251f5b3/original/bandcamp-daily.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://daily.bandcamp.com/2019/07/31/russian-circles-blood-year-review/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/df3ff3c74fef9d97b65ebec8c96729fa2ea4816a/original/screen-shot-2019-08-01-at-4-37-45-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=246722098/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;">Blood Year by Russian Circles</iframe></p>
<p><a contents="(via Bandcamp)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://daily.bandcamp.com/2019/07/31/russian-circles-blood-year-review/" target="_blank">(via Bandcamp)</a></p>
<p>Writing about instrumental music is a tricky task, as you’re trying to read meaning into songs that are inherently textural. In the absence of lyrics, it’s easy to look to recording details to gain a better understanding of where the musicians were, both physically and mentally, during the creative process. While that’s often foolish, in the case of <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>, those facts mean something. Their new album, <em>Blood Year,</em> builds a direct link between the band’s past and present. </p>
<p>Recorded with Kurt Ballou, both at his GodCity Studio as well as Chicago’s revered Electrical Audio (where they’ve now recorded four of their seven albums), <em>Blood Year </em>reunites the band with the producer who pushed them to new heights on 2016’s <em>Guidance</em>. On songs like “Milano” and “Sinaia,” Ballou understands that guitarist Mike Sullivan’s black metal-styled riffing is not meant to pummel the listener, but is meant as an expression of his own introspection. Where lesser producers would bring Sullivan’s tremolo-picked riffs to the forefront, on Blood Year those moments hang back in the mix, showing that as the band move further away from their math rock-indebted beginnings, they’ve found ways to insert their interest in aggressive music without it going into rote or predictable territory. </p>
<p>No song on <em>Blood Year </em>highlights the fact that Russian Circles have been able to build upon their original ethos as much as “Arluck.” Throughout this moving tribute to Matt Arluck, the Sweet Cobra guitarist who died a decade ago, Sullivan builds some of the poppiest guitar parts he’s ever recorded, the kind that are reminiscent of 2006’s Enter, or even his old band Dakota/Dakota. But around the midsection, it gives way to a darker, chug-heavy motif, one that the band always reached for, but never made into something as potent as they do here. It speaks to the fact that, after all these years together, Russian Circles are still growing as a band, incorporating new influences into their sound while still honoring the foundation they first set down all those years ago. </p>
<p>-David Anthony</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074078
2019-08-02T05:00:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:05-08:00
"BLOOD YEAR" // OUT NOW
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=246722098/size=large/bgcol=333333/linkcol=e99708/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; width: 600px; height: 600px;">Blood Year by Russian Circles</iframe></p>
<p>'Blood Year' by <a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is OUT EVERYWHERE NOW. Available for stream and purchase here: <a contents="smarturl.it/BloodYear&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/BloodYear" target="_blank">smarturl.it/BloodYear</a></p>
<p>All upcoming tour dates: <a contents="russiancirclesband.com&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com</a></p><!-- more -->
<p>AUG 08 Dublin, IRE @ Button Factory * <br>AUG 09 Galway IRE @ Roisin Dubh * <br>AUG 10 Belfast N-IRE @ Limelight 2 * <br>AUG 12 Glasgow, SCO @ G2 + <br>AUG 13 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla + <br>AUG 14 London, UK @ Earth + <br>AUG 16 Bristol, UK @ ArcTanGent Festival <br>w/ No Spill Blood * <br>w/ A.A.Williams + </p>
<p>SEP 11 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon * <br>SEP 12 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center * <br>SEP 14 Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman * <br>SEP 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumos * <br>SEP 17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * <br>SEP 19 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall * <br>SEP 20 Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura * <br>SEP 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom * <br>SEP 23 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile * <br>SEP 24 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf * <br>SEP 25 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater * <br>SEP 28 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall * <br>OCT 18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme + <br>OCT 19 Detroit, MI @ El Club + <br>OCT 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace + <br>OCT 21 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount + <br>OCT 23 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace + <br>OCT 24 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair + <br>OCT 26 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw + <br>OCT 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer + <br>OCT 29 Washington, DC @ Union Stage + <br>OCT 30 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry + <br>NOV 01 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall + <br>NOV 02 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre + <br>NOV 03 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade + <br>NOV 04 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's + <br>NOV 06 Houston, TX @ The Secret Group + <br>NOV 08 Austin, TX @ Levitation <br>NOV 09 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company <br>NOV 11 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall + <br>w/ FACS * <br>w/ Windhand +</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074079
2019-07-23T11:19:53-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:05-08:00
"Kohokia" Track Premiere // Loudwire
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://loudwire.com/russian-circles-new-song-kohokia/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/c23524a5cc8e0e9d9b26cdf21a82de4c0c74226b/original/ldlogo2.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://loudwire.com/russian-circles-new-song-kohokia/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/09965626d041120002805b9599904c4267dd3dcf/original/rc19-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="(via Loudwire)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://loudwire.com/russian-circles-new-song-kohokia/" target="_blank">(Premiered on Loudwire)</a></p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> are back with the new album, <em>Blood Year</em>, which will hit fans in full Aug. 2. To hold you over until next month, however, Loudwire has the exclusive premiere of the seven-minute “Kohokia.” </p>
<p>“Kohokia” is the middle track on <em>Blood Year</em>, closing out Side A for vinyl fanatics. The brooding instrumental cut lurches forward with each minute, disorienting the listener with abstract bass lines and ambient guitar work. </p>
<p>Converge’s Kurt Ballou manned the helm for <em>Blood Year</em>, which was recorded at Steve Albini's (Nirvana / Pixies) Electrical Audio with all three band members in one room, playing complete takes together with no click track. This is the second time Ballou has worked with the Chicago band, who previously released a number of records with Brandon Curtis. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Russian Circles, "Kohokia"</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="5t33-O1gMgw" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/5t33-O1gMgw/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5t33-O1gMgw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="400" width="600" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Listen to Russian Circles’ “Kohokia” in the player above and <a contents="click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://smarturl.it/BloodYear" target="_blank">click here </a>to pre-order <em>Blood Year</em>. Russian Circles will spend two months touring North America starting in September, so check out the full list of dates below. </p>
<p><a contents="Russian Circles 2019 Tour Dates&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles 2019 Tour Dates </a></p><!-- more -->
<p>UK TOUR <br>AUG 08 Dublin, IRE @ Button Factory * <br>AUG 09 Galway IRE @ Roisin Dubh * <br>AUG 10 Belfast N-IRE @ Limelight 2 * <br>AUG 12 Glasgow, SCO @ G2 + <br>AUG 13 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla + <br>AUG 14 London, UK @ Earth + <br>AUG 16 Bristol, UK @ ArcTanGent Festival <br>w/ No Spill Blood * <br>w/ A.A.Williams + </p>
<p>N. AMERICA TOUR <br>SEP 11 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon * <br>SEP 12 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center * <br>SEP 14 Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman * <br>SEP 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumos * <br>SEP 17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * <br>SEP 19 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall * <br>SEP 20 Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura * <br>SEP 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom * <br>SEP 23 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile * <br>SEP 24 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf * <br>SEP 25 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater * <br>SEP 28 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall * <br>OCT 18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme + <br>OCT 19 Detroit, MI @ El Club + <br>OCT 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace + <br>OCT 21 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount + <br>OCT 23 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace + <br>OCT 24 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair + <br>OCT 26 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw + <br>OCT 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer + <br>OCT 29 Washington, DC @ Union Stage + <br>OCT 30 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry + <br>NOV 01 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall + <br>NOV 02 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre + <br>NOV 03 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade + <br>NOV 04 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's + <br>NOV 06 Houston, TX @ The Secret Group + <br>NOV 08 Austin, TX @ Levitation <br>NOV 09 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company <br>NOV 11 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall + <br>w/ FACS * <br>w/ Windhand +</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074080
2019-06-26T09:54:54-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:05-08:00
"Milano" Track Premiere // Consequence of Sound
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="159" data-orig-width="826"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/ba3ce59fa7e507f18c350d08f460e23a66a66c7e/original/consequence-of-sound.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_center border_" /><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/06/russian-circles-milano-stream/?fbclid=IwAR0wc4Y8lardg4Zk6zJvZy9RzdsUJD-EP1qDrTqVRRk8ObYCA3VhxHEMSjQ" target="_blank"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3661a431f52c37cfe8f968659a0297ed/tumblr_inline_ptpt7bb1AC1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/06/russian-circles-milano-stream/?fbclid=IwAR0wc4Y8lardg4Zk6zJvZy9RzdsUJD-EP1qDrTqVRRk8ObYCA3VhxHEMSjQ" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/6f60e30ad8e85b36d68a139f6b8c9fb1fbce9890/original/tumblr-inline-ptpt7wax3o1qbzv4w-540.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p></figure>
<p><a href="https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/06/russian-circles-milano-stream/?fbclid=IwAR0wc4Y8lardg4Zk6zJvZy9RzdsUJD-EP1qDrTqVRRk8ObYCA3VhxHEMSjQ">(via Consequence of Sound)</a><br><br>Instrumental post-metal trio <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will release their seventh full-length studio album, <i>Blood Year</i>, this August via Sargent House. The band has teamed up with Heavy Consequence for the premiere of the single “Milano”. Stream it below.</p>
<p>“Milano” is sonically vast, opening with crushing sludge chords that decay and flow through softer minors, spacious breaks, and blastbeat breakdowns. The track showcases the band’s multitude of talents, weaving different styles of metal and post-rock into a six minute, wordless crusher.</p>
<p><i>Blood Year</i>, due August 2nd, was produced by Kurt Ballou at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, where the band cut its prior albums Enter, Geneva, and Memorial. According a press release, the band has opted to forsake the “divergent musical paths” found on albums like Guidance and Memorial for a more “direct and forceful” collection of songs.</p>
<p>In a different approach than the piecemeal songwriting process of past albums, the band set out to capture the essence of their live show on <i>Blood Year,</i> tracking the songs “together in one room as complete takes without click tracks”. Further guitar overdubs were tracked at Ballou’s God City studio, making for an organic yet sonically expansive recording.</p>
<p>Russian Circles embark on a two-part North American tour, heading out in September with <a href="https://consequenceofsound.net/artist/facs">FACS</a>before taking a three-week break and hitting the road alongside <a href="https://consequenceofsound.net/artist/windhand">Windhand</a> in October. Pre-orders for <i>Blood Year</i> are available <a href="http://smarturl.it/BloodYear">here</a>, and the full tour itinerary is below.</p>
<figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-orig-height="364" data-orig-width="600" data-provider="youtube" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FS54-4TTjedA"><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="364" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S54-4TTjedA?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="600"></iframe></p></figure><!-- more -->
<p>Blood Year Artwork:</p>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1000" data-orig-width="1000"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/dd8de78cde398feb200a120b41e57e8f/tumblr_inline_ptpt8paaUv1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p>Blood Year Tracklist:<br>01. Hunter Moon<br>02. Arluck<br>03. Milano<br>04. Kohokia<br>05. Ghost on High<br>06. Sinaia<br>07. Quartered</p>
<p>Russian Circles Tour Dates:<br>09/11 — Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *<br>09/12 — Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center *<br>09/14 — Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman *<br>09/16 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos *<br>09/17 — Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *<br>09/19 — San Francisco, CA @ August Hall *<br>09/20 — Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura *<br>09/21 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom *<br>09/23 — Mesa, AZ @ The Nile *<br>09/24 — Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *<br>09/25 — Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *<br>09/28 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *<br>10/18 — Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme +<br>10/19 — Detroit, MI @ El Club +<br>10/20 — Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace +<br>10/21 — Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount +<br>10/23 — Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace +<br>10/24 — Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair +<br>10/26 — Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw +<br>10/27 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer +<br>10/29 — Washington, DC @ Union Stage +<br>10/30 — Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry +<br>11/01 — Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall +<br>11/02 — Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre +<br>11/03 — Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade +<br>11/04 — New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s +<br>11/06 — Houston, TX @ The Secret Group +<br>11/08 — Austin, TX @ Levitation<br>11/09 — Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company<br>11/11 — St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall +</p>
<p>* = w/ FACS<br>+ = w/ Windhand</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074081
2019-05-28T11:16:08-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Riff Rundown: Russian Circles' "Arluck" // Premier Guitar
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="93" data-orig-width="490"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28935-riff-rundown-russian-circles-arluck" target="_blank"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/06926191a60005859422f731844b289a/tumblr_inline_ps87opKPuo1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/a056f6415c6ce9becdd0b8285e8d12af/tumblr_inline_ps87z4Num31qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="364" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a1uagT0lFaE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="600"></iframe></p></figure>
<p>Russian Circles’ Mike Sullivan demonstrates how to play the first single off the instrumental-metal band's forthcoming album, 'Blood Year'.<br>Russian Circles Rig Rundown: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&v=a1uagT0lFaE&q=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FRussianCirclesRRPG&redir_token=sAgfyGagLagqfF9_cURPlS2U6nF8MTU1OTE1MzI5NUAxNTU5MDY2ODk1">http://bit.ly/RussianCirclesRRPG</a></p>
<p><a contents="(via Premier Guitar)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28935-riff-rundown-russian-circles-arluck" target="_blank">(via Premier Guitar)</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074082
2019-05-21T15:40:23-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Russian Circles Announce 2019 'Blood Year' US Tour
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/0f7466ad6976097be46b8fea830c119f2ef8404a/original/zfbme1dw.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="Russian Circles" data-link-label="Russian Circles" data-link-type="page" href="https://russiancirclesband.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have announced their Fall 2019 US Tour in support of their upcoming release "Blood Year". Support from FACs or Windhand on select dates. Tickets will be on sale <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br> </p><!-- more -->
<p>Full tour itinerary:<br>May 31 Chicago, IL @ Do Division Festival </p>
<p>UK TOUR<br>AUG 08 Dublin, IRE @ Button Factory * <br>AUG 09 Galway IRE @ Roisin Dubh * <br>AUG 10 Belfast N-IRE @ Limelight 2 * <br>AUG 12 Glasgow, SCO @ G2 + <br>AUG 13 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla + <br>AUG 14 London, UK @ Earth + <br>AUG 16 Bristol, UK @ ArcTanGent Festival <br>w/ No Spill Blood * <br>w/ A.A. Williams +
<br><br>N. AMERICA TOUR <br>SEP 11 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon * <br>SEP 12 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center * <br>SEP 14 Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman * <br>SEP 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumos * <br>SEP 17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * <br>SEP 19 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall * <br>SEP 20 Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura * <br>SEP 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom * <br>SEP 23 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile * <br>SEP 24 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf * <br>SEP 25 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater * <br>SEP 28 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
OCT 18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme + <br>OCT 19 Detroit, MI @ El Club + <br>OCT 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace + <br>OCT 21 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount + <br>OCT 23 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace + <br>OCT 24 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair + <br>OCT 26 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw + <br>OCT 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer + <br>OCT 29 Washington, DC @ Union Stage + <br>OCT 30 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry + <br>NOV 01 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall + <br>NOV 02 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre + <br>NOV 03 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade + <br>NOV 04 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's + <br>NOV 06 Houston, TX @ The Secret Group + <br>NOV 08 Austin, TX @ Levitation <br>NOV 09 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company <br>NOV 11 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall + <br>
w/ FACS *
<br>w/ Windhand +</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074083
2019-05-21T11:04:37-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Russian Circles Announce New LP, “Blood Year” + Track “Arluck” // Revolver
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="66" data-orig-width="524"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/russian-circles-hear-instrumental-post-metal-trios-gripping-new-song-arluck" target="_blank"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/34870cb87a46aafd73a67523c17b6bf8/tumblr_inline_prv8hq1MVq1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="142" data-orig-width="1126"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/russian-circles-hear-instrumental-post-metal-trios-gripping-new-song-arluck" target="_blank"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/51a0d7df8f7bb39607dafd6b9ac59998/tumblr_inline_prv8jgRPQf1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="364" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/79btD88nFbY?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="600"></iframe></p></figure>
<p><a contents="(via Revolver)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.revolvermag.com/music/russian-circles-hear-instrumental-post-metal-trios-gripping-new-song-arluck" target="_blank">(via Revolver)</a><br><br>Chicago-based post-metal trio Russian Circles seem to release nothing but pure, body-moving gold, and their latest track "Arluck" proves once again they dominate the instrumental scene with their unmatched musicianship and songwriting capabilities.</p>
<p>Kicking off with a mighty walloping foundation from drummer Dave Turncrantz, the song quickly opens up into a hypnotizing dance of brain-tickling licks and chugging, staccato riffs. Punctuated snare slams and an unshakeable bass line from the masterful Brian Cook hold down a steady groove while guitarist Mike Sullivan's spaced-out plucking is allowed to explore, leading to an exalted segment where the bottom falls out, drawing focus before bringing back the leaden assault of the trio's combined powers.</p>
<p>Along with this gorgeous track comes the announcement of a new album by the group titled Blood Year, out August 2nd via Sargent House. Pre-orders and digital pre-saves are available at <a href="http://smarturl.it/BloodYear">this location</a>.</p><!-- more -->
<p>To gear up for the release, Russian Circles will hit the road this summer for an extensive North American tour alongside acts like Windhand and FACS. See below for dates and the new record's track list.</p>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="700" data-orig-width="700"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/24cf807b1a3d9936d067307eda4eca8f/tumblr_inline_prv8md9ZGt1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<p><br>Blood Year — Track Listing:</p>
<p>1. Hunter Moon<br>2. Arluck<br>3. Milano<br>4. Kohokia<br>5. Ghost on High<br>6. Sinaia<br>7. Quartered</p>
<p>North American Tour Dates:<br>SEP 11 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *<br>SEP 12 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center *<br>SEP 14 Bozeman, MT @ Rialto Bozeman *<br>SEP 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumos *<br>SEP 17 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *<br>SEP 19 San Francisco, CA @ August Hall *<br>SEP 20 Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura *<br>SEP 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom *<br>SEP 23 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile *<br>SEP 24 Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *<br>SEP 25 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *<br>SEP 28 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
<br>OCT 18 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme +<br>OCT 19 Detroit, MI @ El Club +<br>OCT 20 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace +<br>OCT 21 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount +<br>OCT 23 Portsmouth, NH @ 3S ArtSpace +<br>OCT 24 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair +<br>OCT 26 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw +<br>OCT 27 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer +<br>OCT 29 Washington, DC @ Union Stage +<br>OCT 30 Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry +<br>NOV 01 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall +<br>NOV 02 Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre +<br>NOV 03 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade +<br>NOV 04 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's +<br>NOV 06 Houston, TX @ The Secret Group +<br>NOV 08 Austin, TX @ Levitation<br>NOV 09 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company +<br>NOV 11 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall +<br>
w/ FACS *<br>
w/ Windhand +</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074084
2019-05-01T11:16:18-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Russian Circles Announce 2019 UK Show Dates
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/af00ce9b8b128f94e1c4ffd8996ed7ef825bf102/original/rc-uk.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>Russian Circles have just announced UK tour dates for this August. Tickets on sale at <a contents="russiancirclesband.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com </a></p>
<p>AUG 08 Dublin, IRE @ Button Factory <br>AUG 09 Galway IRE @ Roisin Dubh <br>AUG 10 Belfast N-IRE @ Limelight 2 <br>AUG 12 Glasgow, SCO @ G2 <br>AUG 13 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla <br>AUG 14 London, UK @ Earth <br>AUG 16 Bristol, UK @ ArcTanGent Festival</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074085
2019-04-24T12:53:19-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Russian Circles at Levitation
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deafheaven-russian-circles-emma-ruth-rundle-brutus-jaye-jayle-tickets-60692085662" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/4fa3b216b5f69cb24380725c3e1dae8d136a8509/original/levitation-2019-sargent-house-square-web.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a>Russian Circles will be performing at Levitation 2019 in Austin, TX for a special Sargent House showcase with Deafheaven, Brutus, Emma Ruth Rundle Jaye Jayle & Lingua Ignota. Tickets <a contents="HERE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deafheaven-russian-circles-emma-ruth-rundle-brutus-jaye-jayle-tickets-60692085662" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074086
2019-04-10T13:00:01-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Russian Circles Added to Do Division & ArcTanGent
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://arctangent.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/ddcfe3ee6b29e744cdd0941127a269e431e21d6c/original/57066166-10161844811510492-4643735704340267008-n.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.do-divisionstreetfest.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/159790/8df96abe7b6c2db7ba1c14235a12d3d30a3e959f/original/artangent-do-division.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have been added to <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.do-divisionstreetfest.com/" target="_blank">Do Division Street Fest</a> May 31 in Chicago, IL & <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://arctangent.co.uk/" target="_blank">ArcTanGent</a> August 16 in Bristol, UK. Tickets: <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074087
2019-03-11T11:28:19-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:06-08:00
Riff Rundown: Russian Circles' "Harper Lewis" // Premier Guitar
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="93" data-orig-width="490"><h3 style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/06926191a60005859422f731844b289a/tumblr_inline_po7sj8Wxi81qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br><span class="font_large">Riff Rundown: Russian Circles’ “Harper Lewis”</span>
</h3></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-orig-height="304" data-orig-width="540" data-provider="youtube" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F6-rqic_DMFI"><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-rqic_DMFI?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="600"></iframe></p></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28675-riff-rundown-russian-circles-harper-lewis" target="_blank">Via Premier Guitar</a><br><br>Mike Sullivan of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARCWg3hEFdEPaQkxQWbVVI3uQF0DsXFgejX6qBmnKQBJ5YApTJ5kJevoB3EshjaDV9AUrWWSGy4QpPYV&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBSztD6XSez4bqX1APFj8p_zbKAArybbw2d2cznLzK5Qb30l91p0zrpKeMatSaL4JmiP7aMGs1K3A0hpkTdZKLh3T2dVNR_ADvoOA95y0au2nkf9SDy_vVe9out9k3HWVioQXWL-wftQmmzbocOhL7yWd6ODIOUpKdT3OKQtLv3tS23Ii340MtePfdzqg6kRD5h1nrYxKtYnLdRY1qcnUg_aUMrkPSyHd_RjawpXjNdIiOgRi6NZfBNEMEqOUcLGx-9_KYnsZpKdye_C7xM-bey2Zyg7yUmy9UxAWBva1jqSKFB5Ghrf2fMzAB7bZzc4BwwfMqAfT9-IBWesg" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> shows us how to play ‘Harper Lewis’ off of their album, “Station”.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074088
2019-01-15T16:46:23-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles 2019 Australia Tour
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1400" data-orig-width="1000"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic" target="_blank"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/d4715a0b12f5d8563c4eee135b5fba85/tumblr_inline_plef836Dzc1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<p><a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be touring Australia with We Lost The Sea & Tangled Thoughts of Leaving on the following dates:</p>
<p>APR 23 Adelaide, AU @ The Gov<br>APR 24 Perth, AU @ Rosemount Hotel<br>APR 26 Melbourne, AU @ Max Watts<br>APR 27 Sydney, AU @ Manning Bar<br>APR 28 Brisbane, AU @ The Triffid</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074089
2018-12-04T11:49:51-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles Announce 2019 US Tour dates with Gouge Away
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1200" data-orig-width="1800"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/5e475e9663c25411395dbc22f2fc567dc847dee3/original/rcgouge.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARA0u6l4r6COhHXSgZY7VNeOx59qMzBseRtUQRiVbOH8naNyDH4na-p2c3LkTX8g7nX3vfNUtZxwgWRC&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARA3xm87cMgER96YE-dhVahsX0uLEYzUEVtUDaGZGeEPyM_UylmgSa-xQxaTazsvSAIpUbGq-E2bkFjJ6jwcD0cRnxAq8RUkQ_AQ96abBLja6JH2cDb6zaZlN21A7OSJ826TskLrhqkcXW2nFzry4di2S7peF7V-l1IRTigDkrGZ0QAu-1SkeecafqsNPcP3yqOA5ovpFPZakeiInkERWI6q8t1RbwrFfmBhLh1Ekssn4XgQPyYhO1YEUfQk8D_KGU-6wQBBlJJaDANa-1UtJk2l7l8ASKKuo0VuvTg5rj5s-NabY3D69c1pXu-hL9yGET7beBgukGT8f31tlg" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be touring the East Coast with support from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gougeawayfl/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARBBE-Tm5pA8mH31ChYVXKy9PR0J-lgZeAGHUhpkvXTlaZ1pDm-mDabnIZ3itah3EdxN6i1wTRwokWge&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARA3xm87cMgER96YE-dhVahsX0uLEYzUEVtUDaGZGeEPyM_UylmgSa-xQxaTazsvSAIpUbGq-E2bkFjJ6jwcD0cRnxAq8RUkQ_AQ96abBLja6JH2cDb6zaZlN21A7OSJ826TskLrhqkcXW2nFzry4di2S7peF7V-l1IRTigDkrGZ0QAu-1SkeecafqsNPcP3yqOA5ovpFPZakeiInkERWI6q8t1RbwrFfmBhLh1Ekssn4XgQPyYhO1YEUfQk8D_KGU-6wQBBlJJaDANa-1UtJk2l7l8ASKKuo0VuvTg5rj5s-NabY3D69c1pXu-hL9yGET7beBgukGT8f31tlg" target="_blank">Gouge Away</a> on all dates. Tickets at <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/?fbclid=IwAR0exWHGvmoDQVlde86Wkz6Rd_JoUCV0kVI7BjShg7YRMWv5_dIT0-C6Cik" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com</a></p>
<p>FEB 15 Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi<br>FEB 16 Louisville, KY @ Odeon<br>FEB 17 Birmingham, AL @ The Saturn<br>FEB 19 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon<br>FEB 20 Tampa, FL @ The Crowbar<br>FEB 21 Miami, FL @ Churchill’s<br>FEB 22 Orlando, FL @ The Abbey<br>FEB 23 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club<br>FEB 24 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern<br>FEB 26 Nashville, TN @ Basement East</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074090
2018-08-08T07:00:16-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles Announce More US Tour Dates
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="500" data-orig-width="750"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/fbcf05505ecfe47fd769a26819297fc4/tumblr_inline_pd4aw1r3wZ1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/edit/russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> announce US shows around co-headline tour with <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/edit/chelseawolfe.net" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a>. See them on the road in September & October on the West Coast / Southwest.<br><br>SEP 21 Reno, NV @ Jub Jub’s<br>SEP 23 San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom *<br>SEP 25 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox *<br>SEP 26 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *<br>SEP 28 Salt Lake City, UT @ Crucial Fest *<br>SEP 29 Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom *<br>SEP 30 Albuquerque, NM @ Sister *<br>OCT 03 San Diego, CA @ The Music Box *<br>OCT 04 Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent *<br>OCT 06 Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl *<br>OCT 07 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *<br>OCT 09 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre *
<br>OCT 11 El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace<br>OCT 13 San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger<br>OCT 14 Austin, TX @ Barracuda<br>OCT 15 Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Company<br>OCT 16 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge<br>OCT 18 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall<br><br>w/ Chelsea Wolfe *</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074091
2018-08-03T15:55:33-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles Working On Their Seventh LP // Metal Injection
<figure data-orig-height="182" data-orig-width="276"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.metalinjection.net" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/78b596a72b4110b24ff52f4819f29eb6/tumblr_inline_pcwqc7qu4M1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="607" data-orig-width="609" style=""><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/russian-circles-is-working-on-their-seventh-lp-right-now" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/c124f2e7da9ca8febae772ec84e8ea30/tumblr_inline_pcwq7nAt5w1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<p><a href="http://russiancirlcesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>, arguably one of the best instru-metal bands, is currently working on their seventh full-length album. The record will be the follow-up to their 2016 album Guidance.</p>
<p>If you’re itching to hear something else from Russian Circles, maybe <a href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-dunk-fest" target="_blank">give their Live At Dunk! Fest live album a spin</a>. It sounds awesome.</p>
<p>(via <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/russian-circles-is-working-on-their-seventh-lp-right-now" target="_blank">Metal Injection</a>)</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074092
2018-07-30T10:30:26-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles “Mota” // CME Tone Tours
<figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-orig-height="304" data-orig-width="540" data-provider="youtube" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEsmf1IWNQrw%26feature%3Dyoutu.be"><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Esmf1IWNQrw?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="540"></iframe></p></figure>
<p>In this CME Tone Tour, Mike Sullivan and Brian Cook of <a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> give a run through of their pedals and effects used on the song <i>Mota</i> off of their critically acclaimed album <i>Guidance</i>.</p><!-- more -->
<p>Mike Sullivan’s Board:<br>Xotic AC Booster<br>Xotic EP Booster<br>Digitech JamMan Stereo Looper/Phrase Sampler<br>Akai Head Rush<br>Strymon Flint Reverb & Tremolo<br>Strymon DIG Dual Digital Delay Pedal<br>Source Audio One Series Nemesis Delay<br>MXR M133 Micro Amp<br>Bogner Wessex Overdrive Pedal<br>Bogner Burnley Distortion Pedal<br>Digitech Drop Polyphonic Drop Tune Pitch-Shifter<br>Dunlop Volume (X) Pedal</p>
<p>Brian Cook’s Board:<br>Akai Head Rush<br>Dunlop DVP4 Volume X Mini Pedal<br>Way Huge WHE401S Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz<br>TSVG Hard Stuff Bass<br>Dwarfcraft Devices Eau Claire Thunder<br>Digitech Bass Whammy<br>Tronographic Rusty Box Bass Preamp Pedal<br>Dwarfcraft Devices Pitchgrinder Sequenced Pitch Shifter Pedal<br>KMA Astrospurt Phaser<br>Source Audio One Series Nemesis Delay<br>Moog Taurus</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074093
2018-06-11T07:00:26-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Chelsea Wolfe And Russian Circles 2018 Tour
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1350" data-orig-width="1080"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a18bdd5c00c165929ae7f56d94e422b8/tumblr_inline_pa4jvhJik91qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cchelseawwolfe/?fref=mentions" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a> & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/russiancirclesmusic/?fref=mentions" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be touring together this Fall - tickets on sale now.</p>
<p>Dates:</p>
<p>SEP 23 San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom<br>SEP 25 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox<br>SEP 26 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom<br>SEP 28 Salt Lake City, UT @ Crucial Fest<br>SEP 29 Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom<br>SEP 30 Albuquerque, NM @ Sister<br>OCT 03 San Diego, CA @ The Music Box<br>OCT 04 Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent<br>OCT 06 Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl<br>OCT 07 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom<br>OCT 09 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre<br>OCT 12 – 14 Perris, CA @ Desert Daze (CW Only)</p>
<p><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fchelseawolfe.net%2Fshows&h=ATMaqPy6HyeaHi0970lcjtayH_HSGL-Qf-BqpI3Q1hfa3FiYKA3sR0okZWzSGe5oOnfrYkGmVXvdHZnvep6RJ1lem-a6n43S6aHE8W52ohT-6Yx6IjVbYiV7VGvV89vui5pA75mWOJoCCWqrHC9idtqLDA" target="_blank">chelseawolfe.net/shows</a><br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Frussiancirclesband.com%2Fshows&h=ATPj3bcPUTSbi9AO3qCUT6yCw_0xENy2nl6PvhXPmVwKoihlNQUBokuKa0D8Tr_NwQiv2mhxMVfOAX_ERRUs8mhcPYS7WPojIHacDvfgrpuiE1HoCOi4gsrtN63XGiCXZDkc0Nnsh2Ay_c7_etr31vz0TQ" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com/shows</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074094
2018-05-04T11:09:03-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles @ CRUCIALFEST
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="829" data-orig-width="960"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.24tix.com/event/1345026003/crucialfest-8" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/60bad27b6986748c4ab71b8145bfc5ae/tumblr_inline_p87ucayX2L1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<p>Russian Circles will be headlining <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crucialfest/" target="_blank">CRUCIALFEST 8</a> – this September in SLC.<br>Early bird tickets available <a href="https://www.24tix.com/event/1345026003/crucialfest-8" target="_blank">HERE</a> // Full tour info <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074095
2018-04-10T12:22:44-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles & King Woman Live Review at Echoplex, Los Angeles // MXDWN
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="97" data-orig-width="396"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://music.mxdwn.com/2018/04/03/reviews/show-reviews/russian-circles-and-king-woman-live-at-echoplex-los-angeles/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/81ed74927f7ebb2157b9127187f9d282/tumblr_inline_p6zhopdmWB1qbab62_540.gif" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/63d7daff67fe7b8e3e2f89c8d59ae557/tumblr_inline_p6zhpjVVMG1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></a>Full review by Matt Matasci via <a href="https://music.mxdwn.com/2018/04/03/reviews/show-reviews/russian-circles-and-king-woman-live-at-echoplex-los-angeles/" target="_blank">MXDWN</a></figure>
<p>When it comes to instrumental metal, there are few peers to <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>. To perform music within this genre is to be teetering on the edge of tediousness. There is beauty to be found in groups like the Chicago trio and their ability to hold listeners’ attention not just over the course of a full-length album, but an entire hour and a half headlining live set. Russian Circles’ set at Echoplex, with the large club filled with a mix of indie-leaning hipsters and metalheads, was proof positive of their skills. Through 10 songs and well over an hour on stage, they alternately pummeled and dazzled with their hypnotic, churning, pounding post-metal.</p><!-- more -->
<p>Opening the set was tourmates <a href="http://kingwoman.band" target="_blank">King Woman</a>, the project of Kristina Esfandiari. Their sound aligned well with what the headlining act would be presenting, offering a dark, doomy, altogether unique take on alternative metal. Partially because of her visual aesthetic and partially because of her affiliation with Sargent House, King Woman call to mind a heavier, riffier Chelsea Wolfe. Esfandiari sings over the doomgaze instrumentals in a deep, passionate baritone. Every emotion could be felt through each note she sang, as she writhed around the stage. Highlights of their set included “Shame” and the enthralling “King of Swords.”</p>
<p>After a quick break, Russian Circles wordlessly took the stage. Considering nobody was mic’d up for vocals, the band kept the on-stage banter to an extreme minimum. They opened with the title track of their sophomore album, “Station,” One of the more lengthy songs in their discography, it alternated between a menacing riff that chugged with the zeal of a hardcore band. Though there was a moment of twinkling respite during “Station,” it wasn’t long before guitarist Mike Sullivan was back to shredding away.</p>
<p>The band continued to bounce around their discography, never playing a song from the same album twice until “Vorel” and “Mota” from their latest, Guidance, were played back-to-back. Every LP in their discography besides their debut was represented during the performance, making it an excellent sampler for the uninitiated to Russian Circles.</p>
<p>The second song of the set, “Geneva,” was the title track of their third album, beginning with a more melodic introduction before erupting into a cascading wall of sound, pounding the eardrums of everyone in the spacious Echoplex. With only three members, the band made the most of what they had to create such a massive sound. They have a hardcore/metal icon in bassist Brian Cook (Botch, These Arms Are Snakes) who led the way on several of the songs as Sullivan’s guitar was layering sound on the higher end of the register.</p>
<p>Russian Circles are a band in their prime, as the standout songs of the set were certainly when they touched upon Guidance. Between “Vorel” and “Mota,” the trio (which also features founding member and drummer Dave Turncrantz) offered the audience over 10 minutes of proof that they seem to have perfected their sound. Seeing these three superb musicians weave a fascinating tapestry of heavy and beautiful sounds over such a lengthy period of time without losing interest is something that any metal lover should witness.</p>
<p>Russian Circles Set List</p>
<p>“Station”<br>“Geneva”<br>“Afrika”<br>“Harper Lewis”<br>“309”<br>“Ethel”<br>“Vorel”<br>“Mota”<br>“Deficit”<br>“Mlàdek”</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074096
2018-04-09T17:41:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles Photos @ The Biltmore Cabaret // Concert Addicts
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="150" data-orig-width="1100"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://concertaddicts.com/media/photos/russian-circles-the-biltmore-cabaret-april-2nd-2018" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/3401531b2ff31925fb458af8da3a3dac/tumblr_inline_p6y1orphtB1qbab62_540.png" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></a></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="562" data-orig-width="1000"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://concertaddicts.com/media/photos/russian-circles-the-biltmore-cabaret-april-2nd-2018" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/148732930d5885042849e0e659cc84b0/tumblr_inline_p6y1t0toJI1qbab62_540.png" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></a></figure>
<p>All photos by <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/holtpro/" target="_blank">Lukas Holt</a> via <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://concertaddicts.com/media/photos/russian-circles-the-biltmore-cabaret-april-2nd-2018" target="_blank">Concert Addicts</a></p>
<p>Chicago based instrumentalist’s <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> sold out the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver on a Monday night. The venue has a low stage, barely a foot off the ground and viewing angles from all around, if you can get to the front. The trio came on to a dark, back lit stage ready to awe the crowd. Their sonic intensity rumbled the venue opening with their head-banging 2008 track ‘<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZ4z662v5w" target="_blank">Station</a>‘.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074097
2018-04-03T16:57:07-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles Interview with Brian Cook // Stylus Magazine
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="424" data-orig-width="640"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ckuw.ca/stylus/2018/04/03/russian-circles-transcendental-darkness/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/6246671f102af035c8e5506fd4dd26c7/tumblr_inline_p6mvr8Ow9M1qbab62_540.png" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></a></figure>
<p>Full interview by Chris Bryson via <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ckuw.ca/stylus/2018/04/03/russian-circles-transcendental-darkness/" target="_blank">Stylus</a></p>
<p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> perform in Winnipeg on April 8th at the Garrick Centre. Chris Bryson had the chance to chat with bassist Brian Cook to get a sense of the world of Russian Circles. </p><!-- more -->
<p><b>Stylus: You’ll be coming through Winnipeg on a pretty extensive tour. How do you deal with the challenges of being away from home when on a long tour?</b></p>
<p><b>Brian Cook</b>: Well, at this point the band has been doing this kind of thing for 13 years, and I’ve been touring for about 22 years, so at some point you just learn how to cope with it on some subconscious level. There are a few obvious things you can do to keep yourself sane: take solo walks away from the club, keep in contact with friends and loved ones back at home, try to eat well and exercise when you can. A friend advised me before my first tour to spend 10 minutes alone every day, and that’s good advice. I find the bigger challenge to be dealing with coming home. Tour has its own momentum. You get in the van and it takes you to your next destination. At home, you have to recalibrate your brain to be self-motivated. I occasionally see articles about musicians dealing with post-tour depression and it’s a very real thing. You go from being constantly in motion, constantly validated, and constantly surrounded by people to being static and alone. Dealing with that is the bigger challenge, in my opinion.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: Does the band ever change or alter its approach to songwriting and if so what have been some of the reasons for doing so?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> Every song is a little different. We all live in different states, so we end up trading a lot of audio files. Sometimes songs are cobbled together out of a bunch of different ideas, sometimes someone comes to the table with a fully written song, sometimes we just stumble across an idea when we’re all in a practice space together. We don’t have an established process.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: Being an instrumental band allows you to cover more ground stylistically with less need for adherence to a particular style. What aspects of your music do you think best benefit from this flexibility?</b></p>
<p><b>BC</b>: We’re all music hunters, so we’re always exploring new artists and new sounds, but we obviously owe a lot to metal. And for me, honestly, most of the interesting guitar-based music happening today owes something to metal. But metal also has a tendency to cling to these aesthetics that can be a little cartoony and juvenile, and that winds up manifesting in a lot of the lyrics and vocal delivery in the genre. So being an instrumental band has benefitted us because it allows us to cull from the instrumental side of metal without having to shoehorn some campy frontman into our sound. I think it opens up our music because we’re not working with the limitations of a vocalist, and i think it provides us with a broader swath of listeners who might not be open to the guttural growl of the Corpsegrinder or the operatic wail of King Diamond.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: The music of Russian Circles is filled with an emotional weight buried within transcendental darkness. What are some of the inspirations and influences behind the narratives and ideas for your music?</b></p>
<p><b>BC</b>: Any narratives are totally subconscious. We don’t have an active muse and we don’t write music based on a theme. I have nothing but respect for artists who can work off a concept, but for us, the music either resonates with us or it doesn’t. We don’t try to cobble together songs based on a preconceived notion; we write music based on what resonates with us on a very immediate base level.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: Was the looping of guitar always something the band has done to give added heft to your music? Are there any other methods the band uses to further amplify or give added effect to your sound?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> We’ve always tried to fill as much sonic space as possible. Looping allows us have multiple layers and multiple textures going at any given time. We’ve also incorporated things like the Moog Taurus so that one musician can play two instruments at a time. Ultimately, we really just want to make things texturally rich and dynamic, but we also want to adhere to the three-piece format without resorting to backing tracks or having a laptop on stage. There are a few other tricks we employ, but we can’t give away all of our secrets.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: What made the band decide to do a live album?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> The songs are constantly morphing. With our studio albums, we’re making adjustments and edits all the way up until mastering. Once the album is actually finished, the songs still wind up evolving in the live show. We don’t drastically alter them, but we find new things to highlight and new ways to simplify things. So there’d been some talk about trying to record a few shows at some point just to document how the songs had grown. The problem is that going into a show knowing it’s going to be under the microscope of recording would ultimately sap some of the energy out of the performance because we’d be trying to play things as meticulously as possible. It just so happened that the Dunk! Festival set was recorded without our knowing it, and it was a concert we were all very happy with. There are still a few flubs in the performance, but that’s the nature of live music.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: From what I’ve read Russian Circles is a band whose members don’t live in the same city and don’t get the chance to play together often. When it comes to sculpting and recording what songs or a final album will be, how do differences in ideas and opinions get resolved?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> If it doesn’t resonate with all three members of the band, the material gets scrapped. We’re all pretty open to criticism; no one is afraid to ditch a riff or mix up a part if it isn’t working. Honestly, the biggest conflicts in this realm have been pretty minor. I remember Mike really gunning for this one particular thrash riff that wasn’t really vibing with Dave. I was the mediator, and I told Mike the riff was really “fun”. That was enough for him to willingly scrap it. There is no fun allowed in Russian Circles.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: I read in an article with The Seventh Hex that with the music you create you said you “want to make something that sounds natural and human.” As an individual player and collectively as a band, how do you go about doing that?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> I’m just not a fan of music that sounds like it was built on a grid. I’m not opposed to using technology to make the recording process cheaper and smoother. It’s way more financially practical to record on ProTools than tape, after all. But I don’t want music to sound mechanical. There is very little electronic music that resonates with me because so much of it sounds like canned music. It doesn’t ignite my imagination. It just makes me think of someone sitting at a computer screen, staring at a grid, and plugging sounds into quantized beats. It really depresses me. I want music to be an <i>escape</i> from staring at a computer screen. And more and more rock music is recorded in that manner. The drummer doesn’t even play on a lot of current metal records; the engineer just samples drum tones and they plug those sounds into programmed beats. It’s no wonder so many modern rock records sound so sterile and flat. There is no push and pull. No space. No interaction between the instruments. I know that’s what some people really want out of their music—they want it to be perfect and crisp and even. But i prefer when it sounds like the band is so passionate about what they’re playing that they run the risk of mucking it all up. That’s way more exciting for me.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: Do you think it’s important when creating music (or any art) to maintain a balance between the pursuit of perfection and retaining immediacy and cohesion?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> Absolutely. I’ve been really digging this <i>Workin’ With the Miles Davis Quintet</i> record, and there’s one note Miles hits in the first song that sounds flat to my ears, and I totally love it. It’s jarring, but it reminds you that this album was made in a live environment. It’s a snapshot of a time and place. It’s not trying to create its own reality. And it makes all the moments where the band locks in and plays off each other feel that much more inspired. But I’m also someone that would rather spend five years listening to a record and wrapping my head around it than to hear something that’s beat-detected, auto-tuned, and ultimately designed to be instantly digestible and quickly forgotten. I want to make art that’s still interesting ten, twenty, thirty years down the road. And as someone that still buys vinyl, I only want to spend money on music that still excites me after a decade or two of repeated spins.</p>
<p><b>Stylus:. Will the band be bringing any new elements into the fold with the next music you put out? Can you tell me anything about the next Russian Circles release?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> Hopefully. There are a lot of ideas floating around, but we haven’t yet started to put the album together, so who knows. There been discussion of trying to make a darker, uglier album, but we also have a tendency to wind up writing songs with the opposite mood of what was initially intended. So we’ll see what happens.</p>
<p><b>Stylus: If you were to give one piece of advice to a musician/band trying to make it in the musical world as it is today, what would it be?</b></p>
<p><b>BC:</b> Well, first things first, you would need to define “making it.” When I first started playing in bands, all I wanted to do was play a show. Then it was just a matter of putting out a record. Then the goal was to tour. And that’s about it. I had “made it” by the time I was 18. “Making it” should really just be about creating something you’re proud of, and everything else is just icing on the cake. At this point, I’m way more interested in musicians like Sir Richard Bishop or Daniel Higgs—musicians that have a history of doing whatever the fuck they want even if it means they only draw 50 people in their hometown or only sell a few hundred records. It’s more exciting to see someone make art that makes them happy than to see someone try to build a lucrative career pleasing other people. So my advice is to do whatever you want and do it passionately. Be involved in your musical community. Go see other bands. Support underground venues. Buy bands’ merch. Throw your own shows. Make your own tapes or records or CDs. Value your own art. Make it special. Make it sacred.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074098
2018-04-02T16:21:04-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles & King Woman at Great American Music Hall // SF Weekly
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="214" data-orig-width="694"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.sfweekly.com/slideshows/russian-circles-and-king-woman-at-great-american-music-hall-march-29th-2018/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/22793351b2d9f1660b7e10e89eab1669/tumblr_inline_p6kzixD08H1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="558" data-orig-width="1404"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.sfweekly.com/slideshows/russian-circles-and-king-woman-at-great-american-music-hall-march-29th-2018/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/05c6a025af0cc391806ea6b3f214c83d/tumblr_inline_p6kzixWtFO1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="533" data-orig-width="800"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.sfweekly.com/slideshows/russian-circles-and-king-woman-at-great-american-music-hall-march-29th-2018/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/96fe40921e5a399af916c97bda70c470/tumblr_inline_p6kziyBXiw1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<p>Full slideshow <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.sfweekly.com/slideshows/russian-circles-and-king-woman-at-great-american-music-hall-march-29th-2018/" target="_blank">HERE.</a></p>
<p>Photos via <a href="http://www.sfweekly.com/author/senny-mau/" target="_blank">Senny Mau.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074099
2018-03-29T14:50:50-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:07-08:00
Russian Circles + King Woman at The Echoplex // L.A. Record
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="160" data-orig-width="1288"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://larecord.com/photos/2018/03/29/russian-circles-king-woman-the-echoplex" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/24a7a7fab69f447b766ef84d180ea9a6/tumblr_inline_p6dglkIJdh1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://larecord.com/photos/2018/03/29/russian-circles-king-woman-the-echoplex" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/467c582e9a7045bfb8f31ce373857e3c/tumblr_inline_p6dglkJERC1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://larecord.com/photos/2018/03/29/russian-circles-king-woman-the-echoplex" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/36fa5b8241bf3fa4be18585caee0b3d6/tumblr_inline_p6dgmgKIaK1qbab62_540.png" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></a>Photos by <a href="https://www.dannyehernandez.com/" target="_blank">Danny Hernandez</a></p></figure>
<p>The dynamic instrumental trio <a href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> delivered a much anticipated set to the Echoplex crowd. The talented Chicago outfit consisting of Mike Sullivan, Dave Turncrantz, and Brian Cook didn’t need vocals to communicate the stories they were telling. It was hypnotic and cathartic.</p>
<p>Supporting Russian Circles on this tour is <a href="https://kingwoman.band/" target="_blank">King Woman</a>.</p>
<p>Full gallery of photos <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://larecord.com/photos/2018/03/29/russian-circles-king-woman-the-echoplex" target="_blank">HERE.&nbsp;</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074100
2018-03-21T13:17:21-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Dunk!Fest2018 Line-up Announced
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1300" data-orig-width="929"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dunkfestival.be/news/2018/3/20/final-line-up-announcement" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/cd37de96e1ad1a30c61966d788c2cc3e/tumblr_inline_p5yisu4ALi1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p></figure>
<p><a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dunkfestival.be/news/2018/3/20/final-line-up-announcement" target="_blank">Dunk!Festival 2018 Line-up has been announced</a> with a headlining performance by <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles </a>– May 12 // Zottegem, BE // Tickets <a href="https://www.dunkfestival.be/festival/#tickets" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
<p>Poster design by Xavi from <a href="http://error-design.com/v7/" target="_blank">Error! Design</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074101
2018-03-21T10:49:44-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles “Memorial” // 16 Post-Rock Masterpieces on KERRANG
<p> </p>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="383" data-orig-width="1136"><p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.kerrang.com/features/sixteen-post-rock-masterpieces-you-need-in-your-life/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/1623a69eb3310a4745f5cd25b923c588/tumblr_inline_p5yceePp9y1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="445" data-orig-width="792"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.kerrang.com/features/sixteen-post-rock-masterpieces-you-need-in-your-life/" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/ae386c66012a5d6751757733152233d6/tumblr_inline_p5ybx9qC2h1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></figure>
<h2><span class="font_small">16 POST-ROCK MASTERPIECES YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE</span></h2>
<p>Full feature via <a href="http://www.kerrang.com/features/sixteen-post-rock-masterpieces-you-need-in-your-life/" target="_blank">KERRANG</a></p><!-- more -->
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="700" data-orig-width="700"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/memorial" target="_blank"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/0c623d3f9bc9ba5ce90f11ce7ec5dfbd/tumblr_inline_p5yc1yYI7K1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></figure>
<p>Are we calling Russian Circles ‘post-metal’, too? Who cares – what matters is that the Chicago trio has, over the course of six studio albums, pushed (mostly) instrumental rock music in some fantastic new directions. Largely, it’s the amazing, ambitious drumming of Dave Turncratz that sets them apart from any and all peers, as he is truly a demon at the kit, nailing fills that would turn most who tried the same into big, broken messes. And imagination spills across all of this fifth LP, from the beautiful shimmers of opener Memoriam – which bursts straight into the ripping and tearing aggression of Deficit – and the proggy endorphin rush of Ethel, right through to the Chelsea Wolfe-starring title-track that closes proceedings. Here, Russian Circles turn in a cut that could accompany the credits to a Twin Peaks-like indie movie, a haunting eulogy to something lost that you never really realized you had, until there was just space and silence instead.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2169qq2aiycEtmgwEQlwgp" width="500"></iframe></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074102
2018-02-12T17:52:25-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
New Dates Added // Russian Circles N American Tour
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="960" data-orig-width="621"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/33273ee262ed14e23646245f3326b0ab/tumblr_inline_p42fkwZ3g21qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<p>New dates:<br>APR 15 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer<br>APR 24 Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle w/ <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/jaye-jayle" target="_blank">Jaye Jayle</a> *<br>APR 27 Austin, TX @<b> </b>Levitation * <br><i>No King Woman *</i></p>
<p>More info @ <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/edit/russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">russiancirclesband,com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074103
2018-02-07T17:20:28-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles at Levitation 2018
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="960" data-orig-width="756"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/95f29e9e3e0ab5e68a8f62e12f6ea106/tumblr_inline_p3t4zkO8QU1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></figure>
<p>Just Added - AUSTIN: We will be playing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/austinpsychfest/?fref=mentions" target="_blank">LEVITATION</a> on Friday, April 27th at Stubb’s</p>
<p>Tickets and more information here: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FLevitation2018&h=ATOcHuSXTz7cMu_sk7VbmM882usb_EVUAu6y5Og_QvrPYm5wzjnxtbrofRiZkm_7hghkdlRcwEAui_oglWA3AQ5xarVKne2ieZsLVEPiMbrRH0ZqTZyrieQ4D1vpBzFu9aa1x4RPNutBvjK0h-V229CuA2_ZeG1uxTh5pl5w1ni4lzUgzXqa1hKPTUmoDMnY0zMfR0jMPG7k8SVFyMSg_L1g7ohbtsZef6qSBzMUBBLL8PiJvWhwW3BXIYsgOlid4Yvbel5_WqyEbR9gV8SpN4pyfJxcYKf7JIrGjdg" target="_blank">bit.ly/Levitation2018</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074104
2018-01-31T04:00:08-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles 2018 EU Tour Announcement
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1024" data-orig-width="724"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/6d239419f599125193bcafd63350f05b/tumblr_inline_p3e0i0zyki1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> EU 2018 Tour with support from <a href="http://wearebrutus.com" target="_blank">Brutus</a><br>More info @ <a href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com</a></p><!-- more -->
<p>MAY 12 Zottegem, BE @ DUNK! Festival *<br>MAY 13 Luxemburg, LU @ Rockhal<br>MAY 15 Leeds, UK @ Stylus<br>MAY 16 London, UK @ Oval Space *<br>MAY 17 Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje<br>MAY 18 Lojr am Main, DE @ Stadthalle Lohr<br>MAY 20 Vienna, AT @ Arena<br>MAY 22 Bulle, CH @ Ebullition<br>MAY 23 Zurich, CH @ Rote Fabrik<br>MAY 24 Lyon, FR @ L’Epicerie Moderne<br>MAY 25 Laval, FR @ Les Trois Elephants *<br>MAY 26 Lille, FR @ Aeronef<br>MAY 27 Haarlem, NL @ Patronaat<br>MAY 30 St. Petersburg, RU @ Erarta Stage *<br>MAY 31 Moscow, RU @ Teatr Club *<br>JUN 02 Netphen, DE @ Freak Valley Festival *</p>
<p>* No Brutus</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074105
2018-01-29T10:24:46-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles North American 2018 Tour Announcement
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1024" data-orig-width="662"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/63962cf55c7c193b135750753c6657eb/tumblr_inline_p3bxs82khq1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is touring North America with support from <a href="http://kingwoman.band" target="_blank">King Woman</a>.<br>More info @ <a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">russiancirclesband.com</a></p><!-- more -->
<p>MAR 22 Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *<br>MAR 23 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *<br>MAR 27 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex<br>MAR 29 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall<br>MAR 31 Portland, Oregon @ Wonder Ballroom<br>APR 01 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile<br>APR 02 Vancouver, BC @ Baltimore Cabaret<br>APR 04 Calgary, AB @ Dickens<br>APR 05 Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room<br>APR 07 Saskatoon, SK @ Louis Pub<br>APR 08 Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick<br>APR 11 Toronto, ON @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern<br>APR 12 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa<br>APR 14 Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall<br>APR 16 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair<br>APR 17 Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere<br>APR 18 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel<br>APR 20 Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit<br>APR 21 Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch<br>APR 22 Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle</p>
<p>*No King Woman</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074106
2017-11-20T10:38:54-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Rig tour: Russian Circles // Musicradar
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="88" data-orig-width="876"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/673e085c2e8f0a1ca213a8fe8e2f5d7f/tumblr_inline_ozqbiblkx51qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="234" data-orig-width="1214"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a73845258da580beaea1dbfbab2c5a28/tumblr_inline_ozqbimRfWV1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
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<p>We find Mike Sullivan with a new amp approach and a plethora of pedals on the instrumentalists UK tour.</p>
<p>As the guitarist in an instrumental three-piece, Mike Sullivan’s tone has to deliver a huge but nuanced sound to be his voice in <a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles.</a></p>
<p>His quest to refine his heavy tones while retaining the cleaner chime and layers of looping required to produce the band’s intricate and emotive compositions has meant a rig always up for revision with three amps and a meaty pedalboard platter in play. But his ongoing recovery from a car accident last year also brought about some necessary changes in terms of guitar choices, too…</p>
<p>full article via <a href="http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/russian-circles-mike-sullivan-the-11-records-that-changed-my-life-640047" target="_blank">musicradar.</a></p><!-- more -->
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<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="545" data-orig-width="970"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/b079c5fe09e1516f3f6f461d3f12ae07/tumblr_inline_ozqbp6k5mP1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="545" data-orig-width="970"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://78.media.tumblr.com/a4cfb28156659ea7b14a56055f03ce12/tumblr_inline_ozqbp84o9m1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074107
2017-08-07T11:49:01-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles and Red Fang // Mastodon 2017 EU Tour
<p><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/86a499a353c4faaccf23c8edbc092832/tumblr_inline_ou6bnhv4V81qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Nov 10 Berlin, DE @ Berlin Huxley<br>Nov 11 Warsaw, PL @ Progresja<br>Nov 13 Vienna, AT @ Arena<br>Nov 14 Herford, DE @ X<br>Nov 15 Brussels, BE @ AB<br>Nov 17 Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg<br>Nov 19 Stockholm, SE @ Munchenbrewery<br>Nov 20 Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene<br>Nov 22 Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA Main Hall<br>Nov 23 Leipzig, DE @ Haus Auensee<br>Nov 24 Prague, CZ @ Lucerna Music Bar<br>Nov 25 Munich, DE @ Tonhalle<br>Nov 27 Milan, IT @ Live Club<br>Nov 28 Zurich, CH @ Komplex<br>Nov 29 Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmartre<br>Nov 30 Luxembourg, LU @ Rockhal Club<br>Dec 02 Cardiff, UK @ Great Hall<br>Dec 04 Wolverhampton, UK @ Civic Hall<br>Dec 05 Nottingham, UK @ Rock City<br>Dec 06 Newcastle, UK @ Northumbria University<br>Dec 07 Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland<br>Dec 09 Manchester, UK @ Academy<br>Dec 10 London, UK @ Brixton Academy</p>
<p>Find tickets <a href="https://www.songkick.com/artists/91029-mastodon/calendar" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074108
2017-06-12T11:04:51-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles Extend US Tour w/ Mastodon and Eagles of Death Metal
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1698" data-orig-width="1562"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/f435736aa3ce298b6d05a9f5ce6839bd/tumblr_inline_org3t9TBIb1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have announced a continuation of their US tour with <a href="http://mastodonrocks.com" target="_blank">Mastodon</a> and <a href="http://eaglesofdeathmetal.com" target="_blank">Eagles of Death Metal</a>. Tickets go on sale later this week <a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES ONLY</b><br>6/14 Guadalajara, MX<br>6/15 Mexico City, MX<br>8/17 Bristol, UK @ ArkTanGent Festival</p>
<p><b>MASTODON / EAGLES OF DEATH METAL / RUSSIAN CIRCLES 2017</b><br>9/26 Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live<br>9/27 Charleston, SC @ Performance Arts Center<br>9/29 Knoxville, TN @ Civic Auditorium<br>10/3 Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz<br>10/4 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore<br>10/6 Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theater<br>10/9 Montreal, QC @ Metropolis<br>10/10 Rochester, NY @ The Armory<br>10/11 Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live<br>10/13 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom (no EODM)<br>10/14 San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater<br>10/17 Albuquerque, NM @ Historic El Rey Theater<br>10/19 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues<br>10/23 Boise, ID @ Revolution Center<br>10/24 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory<br>10/25 Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum Theatre</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074109
2017-05-31T14:12:58-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles : Rig Rundown // Premier Guitar
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="182" data-orig-width="1010"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/9d9d6c376ba315f2b95e20a56add0ef6/tumblr_inline_oqu561jstJ1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="164" data-orig-width="896"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/bcf941bd632d88ade2508c75189b4e5b/tumblr_inline_oqu564GLlo1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VVK87xE3NBI" width="560"></iframe></p>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1110" data-orig-width="1274"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/4977a5a3f44ad34a448899d25888caf9/tumblr_inline_oqu5coURNI1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1074" data-orig-width="1280"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/f1afead988e300ab2875bb4735dcf16e/tumblr_inline_oqu5ddnIcb1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<p>Mike’s full Rig Rundown <a href="https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25756-rig-rundown-russian-circles-2017" target="_blank">HERE</a> via <a href="https://www.premierguitar.com/" target="_blank">Premier Guitar</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074110
2017-05-17T16:53:58-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Russian Circles Show Review // Music&Riots Magazine
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="82" data-orig-width="412"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/79336a729c191abc5dbca097f532c41d/tumblr_inline_oq4fdvukjv1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="266" data-orig-width="1310"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/62baec264a88241c1a81808a2cbbf865/tumblr_inline_oq4fdyvu9v1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="786" data-orig-width="1176"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/fb83ec4d9c961f46e6610f277391e759/tumblr_inline_oq4fe6hg5i1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1762" data-orig-width="1176"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/18ce67e844ac87292088715d3d2e71d3/tumblr_inline_oq4feeYjTy1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1762" data-orig-width="1176"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/05d252d6a41650945f350d4197d470f5/tumblr_inline_oq4ff9qji91qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p><a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is visually and sonically unparallelled. Mike Sullivan, Dave Turncrantz and Brian Cook walked onto a dark stage and began playing. They occasionally sipped local Alabama IPA, but never spoke. When they played the last note of “Deficit,” they simply waved and exited. The trio needed nothing more than their respective instruments to be breathtaking; their lack of vocals was entirely unnoticeable as Sullivan’s riffs, Turncrantz’ pummeling drums and Cook’s heart-palpitating bass playing wove an emotional rising and falling tale. Every Russian Circles song is massive, dramatic and captivating–this was multiplied tenfold in the band’s presence. There are few experiences comparable to that of standing eyes-closed in front of the Chicago trio and allowing the influence of sound to take over every movement.</p>
<p>Full article <a href="http://musicandriots.com/live-review-mastodon-eagles-of-death-metal-russian-circles/" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
<p>Via <a href="http://musicandriots.com/" target="_blank">Music & Riots Magazine</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074111
2017-04-26T15:42:14-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:08-08:00
Bill Burr Name Checks Russian Circles
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="616" data-orig-width="614"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/6f1f7384c4e9c32540f61f19ad391782/tumblr_inline_op1fpmTOzn1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p>We’re humbled by the kind words of comedian Bill Burr on his 4/20 episode of Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast.</p>
<p>Listen to the full episode <a href="https://soundcloud.com/themonday-morning-podcast/tammp-4-20-17" target="_blank">HERE.</a> (43:40 for RC shoutout)<br> </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074112
2017-04-26T11:44:31-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Russian Circles Show Review // Westword
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="98" data-orig-width="336"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/424870972205567215e44319d41b4e6c/tumblr_inline_op150a5j6D1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="268" data-orig-width="1494"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/43ae04c13bbdc7871fc6b6502e0c73f8/tumblr_inline_op150i275B1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="584" data-orig-width="878"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/b576710c81d517e9c9fd45a9540c451f/tumblr_inline_op154hdifb1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p></figure>
<p>Sonically, <a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>, <a href="http://eaglesofdeathmetal.com/" target="_blank">Eagles of Death Metal</a> and <a href="http://www.mastodonrocks.com/emperorofsand?ref=https://www.google.com/" target="_blank">Mastodon</a> share little with one another. But Monday night at the Fillmore Auditorium, the three bands found common ground with a crowd of earnest, hungry music fans who greeted all three acts with enthusiasm</p>
<p>Chicago’s Russian Circles, the least well-known of the performers, opened with the strongest set. While compared to other instrumental acts like Red Sparowes and Explosions in the Sky, Russian Circles set themselves apart by composing abstract, dense and challenging pieces. As a three-piece, the burden of re-creating the group’s recorded sound live relies heavily on guitarist Mike Sullivan, who loops riffs through amps and pedals, creating texture, dynamics and volume generally reserved for bands with double Russian Circles’ members. Playing songs largely from 2016’s <i>Guidance</i>, Russian Circles played a tight and cohesive set, thanks in large part to the rhythm section – drummer Dave Turncrantz and bassist Brian Cook. Turncrantz, who always hits hard and accurately, sealed his reputation as one of the most talented and unique drummers playing heavy music.</p>
<p>Via <a href="http://www.westword.com/music/russian-circles-eagles-of-death-metal-and-mastodon-at-denvers-fillmore-auditorium-9005161" target="_blank">Westword</a></p>
<p>Full list of Russian Circles dates <a href="https://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">here. </a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074113
2017-04-07T13:18:54-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
“Live at Dunk!Fest 2016″ available now
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="750" data-orig-width="750"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-dunk-fest" target="_blank"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/0c549606c737efcf511299fd8e7bf92d/tumblr_inline_oo22myiIPy1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></figure>
<p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-dunk-fest" target="_blank">“Live at Dunk!Fest 2016″</a> is out today digitally. Vinyl pre-orders have sold out in record time. There are a few remaining copies <a href="http://www.athousandarms.com/dunkrecords/russian-circles-live-at-dunkfest-2016-2xlp" target="_blank">here</a>, and the last LPs will be sold by the band on their US tour with Mastodon and Eagles of Death Metal. Show info and tickets available <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074114
2017-04-04T12:40:53-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
My Live Rig with Dave Turncrantz of Russian Circles // Drums With Oisín (MMTV)
<figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-orig-height="304" data-orig-width="540" data-provider="youtube" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FNRKVzExKpGc%3Fecver%3D2"><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRKVzExKpGc?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="540"></iframe></p></figure>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074115
2017-04-04T11:55:46-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Russian Circles Interview // The Seventh Hex
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="348" data-orig-width="868"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/8e4ba950fc54ec98dd0808d4e6063fd6/tumblr_inline_onwentmcPD1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/53cf8ebc25e026dd45ef0324814f734b/tumblr_inline_onweobYWcL1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/882168927d0182c743e9e8d984301ca0/tumblr_inline_onweoqAxGQ1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p>With their sixth album <a href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles/products/guidance-12-vinyl" target="_blank">‘Guidance’</a>, <a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> carry on in their quest to conjure multi-dimensional dramatic instrumental narratives and to scout out new textures from their respective instruments. Songs aren’t constructed out of highbrow concepts; they’re forged out of gut instinct and base emotional response. Every Russian Circles album has had its share of new sonic vistas, and ‘Guidance’ finds the band still searching out new sounds while continuing to play to the collective strengths of guitarist Mike Sullivan, drummer Dave Turncrantz, and bassist Brian Cook… We talk to Brian Cook about sounding human, working within parameters and Brooklyn’s happy hour…</p><!-- more -->
<p><b>TSH</b>: Talk us through the band’s creative process in the lead-up to ‘Guidance’…</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: I’m sure every band has their specific way that they work, and given the specific dynamic that exists between any random assortment of individuals, some things work and other things don’t. For us, given that we don’t all live in the same city and we don’t often get the opportunity to play together, and given the fact that we’re an instrumental group that values each individual component to the music, it makes sense for us to work in a manner that is very efficient on time while also allowing three voices to all have their input. If we practiced three times a week, I’m sure we would do more jamming. Instead, we only have the chance to work on new material with us all in the same room a few weeks out of the year, so there’s a lot more individual composition, and then the group practices are more about trying out ideas and putting all the pieces together.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: With this record, was the band was interested in trying to achieve a kind of attention to detail and sonic diversity?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: Any time you go into the studio you’re obsessing over details and trying to make something with enough variation and dynamics that it holds your interest over the span of forty minutes. At this point, I think the bigger struggle is learning how to let go of fixating on perfection and figuring out how to make a cohesive album. It’s never been easier to make a sonically rich and perfect album; that’s where modern recording technology has taken us. But how do you capture the kind of vibe that made albums from before 1975 stand the test of time? I don’t give a shit about making a record that sounds as flawless as modern active rock radio bands. Nor do I care about the current DJ-influenced obsession with making music that touches upon and references twenty different genres of music or four decades of recording technology. I just want to make something that sounds natural and human.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: Was it a key aspect to have drones low in the mix on this record?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: The drones were a source of debate at times. Mike employs a lot of long, sustained, looping notes when we play live, and that really helps fill out the sound and enrich a lot of the melodic elements of the band. It also makes for nice ear candy. But the more you layer a recording, the less impact each individual component has. So there were several conversations as to how many embellishments should be done on the recordings. I think we found a healthy balance.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: In terms of production, how pleasing was it to have the songs produced by people who weren’t going to fall back on the current metal production techniques?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: It was good to work with Kurt Ballou because he’s definitely aware of how modern metal production works, but he doesn’t go that route. We’ve done a few of our past records at Electrical Audio in Chicago, which is an amazing studio that really pushes to do everything as live as possible. But we do so much stuff with loops that it makes more sense sometimes to record everything piece by piece. And because we don’t have a lot of time to write together in the practice space, we do a lot of writing and editing in the studio. So while we love Electrical Audio, it sometimes feels like we’re disappointing their engineers with our approach. On the other end of the spectrum, most current metal records are almost more like electronic records—everything is tracked on a computer grid, everything is corrected and edited to sterile perfection, all the drum hits are either squashed or triggered into sounding identical and mechanical. So with Kurt we had a guy that knows how to capture live, unruly hardcore bands, but is also very aware of how to construct things in the studio piece by piece in a way that still captures that energy. And that was ideal.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: What was the thinking in placing ‘Asa’ as the album opener?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: ‘Asa’ was just something I came up with on baritone guitar without any intention of it being a Russian Circles song, but it resonated with Mike and Dave and after jamming on it a bit it felt like a good way of building into ‘Vorel’.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: With ‘Vorel’, was it surprising that with all the underlying melodies the song has, it ended up being more of a dynamic track?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: ‘Vorel’ is a song that had so much surface noise and so many abrasive textures going on while we were writing it that when it started coming together in the studio and all the melodies became a bit more apparent there was some concern that maybe the song wasn’t dark enough. We always aim for ugliness but somehow the light creeps back in sometimes.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: ‘Mota’ is a stunning track. Talk us through how this one came about from a compositional sense…</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: ‘Mota’ was a product of our gear. Specifically, the opening guitar riff was something that blossomed out of Mike fiddling around with settings on one of his delay pedals. It made for an interesting almost electronic arpeggio-like sound, so we tried to build an electronic groove around it, but with our standard arsenal of instruments. And then the second half tries to counter all the melodicism of the beginning.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: Since the song titles have a phonetic quality, do you prefer the idea of the title’s literal definition being disembodied from the song?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: Absolutely. I realise we give listeners very little information to provide context for the songs, and that can make people obsess over the titles a bit. We don’t have lyrics. We don’t have pointed album titles or artwork that’s heavy on iconography. We like mystery.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: Tell us more about yourself incorporating a Moog Taurus for a lot of the keyboard parts and also playing a lot of baritone during the set live, how this gives more range overall…</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: Well, Mike has a lot going on with guitar, so I don’t want to impede on his frequency range, but we do want to have a broad spectrum of sounds and dynamics, so sometimes it just works out to switch over to the baritone. As for the Taurus, that originally entered the picture so that we could play “Schiphol” live, but now I’ve found those sub-bass frequencies to be a bit of a guilty pleasure, so I try to squeeze it in whenever I can.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: Since as a live band you want to create an environment and atmosphere that people can get lost in, is it a challenge to figure out how to put that onto a record and have it translate?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: Mike Watt once said something along the lines of “most rock bands tour to promote an album, but fIREHOSE makes albums to support tours.” I can’t say that’s necessarily the attitude of Russian Circles, but I would say that for me personally, I can understand Watt’s stance because I’m more concerned with creating music that functions in a live setting than in making a pristine album. Being a compelling live band is even harder today than it was twenty years ago, simply because we’ve been so saturated by live music. So while there’s definitely a concern with capturing atmosphere on a record, I’m more concerned with making sure the songs work well when the three of us play them together in a room. If they work in that arrangement, I assume they’ll translate onto record just fine.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: How important is it to have the creative freedom and free reign to do whatever you want with no parameters?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: It can be fun to work within parameters. I went out on tour with Mamiffer last year and it was actually kind of nice to take a step back and just help fulfill someone else’s vision. It was illuminating to see how someone else’s creative process worked and to figure out how to manifest their wishes. If that was the full extent of my musical life, I’d probably be unsatisfied, but given my circumstances I found it really rewarding. But overall, yes, feeling free to do whatever you want creatively is obviously a top priority for any artist.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: Is Brooklyn’s happy hour a nice way for you to unwind?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: New York is so hectic that the opportunity to sit somewhere quiet and have a drink is necessary sometimes. That said, I drink less here than I did when I lived in Seattle. Those Pacific Northwesterners love their beer.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: What commonly brings about a pleasing and happy band dynamic during your touring travels?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: Eight hours of sleep and good coffee. I mean, working with nice people at a club, having a decent stage to work with, and being able to grab a warm meal before doors are pretty crucial too, but if we have sleep and caffeine we can usually get through anything.</p>
<p><b>TSH</b>: Finally, heading forward, what sort of progression and development do you relish with Russian Circles?</p>
<p><b>Brian</b>: In some ways, I feel like we achieved something on ‘Guidance’ that we’d been working towards for a while—a certain balance of elements that we’d been experimenting with on prior albums. Going forward, it would be nice to branch out and experiment more, but at the same time, I don’t want to force anything. Our approach isn’t academic or conceptual. Our aim is to make something that works on a very primal, visceral level, and that kind of stuff doesn’t work with a bunch of pre-meditated ideas. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.</p>
<p>Article <a href="http://theseventhhex.com/post/159146016330/russian-circles-interview" target="_blank">Here.</a><br>Photos By <a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles/blog/andrea-petrovicova-is-a-prague-photographer-whose-work-is-mind-melting-and-otherworldly-when-i-look" target="_blank">Andrea Petrovicova.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074116
2017-04-04T07:00:09-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Russian Circles to play ArcTanGent Festival
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="640" data-orig-width="454"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/05a001490f4855944f9341635c4ffeb4/tumblr_inline_onv2uaCF661qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<p>Russian Circles return to ArcTanGent festival. They play Thursday, August 17th. Tickets available <a href="http://www.arctangent.co.uk/tickets/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074117
2017-03-30T06:00:17-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Pre-Orders for Russian Circles Live at Dunk! Festival 2016 LPs available now
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1024" data-orig-width="1024"><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/fe2d772ec609ffbec036dc309b28cb15/tumblr_inline_onjenkA82d1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-orig-height="304" data-orig-width="540" data-provider="youtube" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqICEymUL0Vo"><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qICEymUL0Vo?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" width="540"></iframe></p></figure>
<p>This is the very first live album by <a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> and it was recorded at dunk!festival 2016 in Belgium. It will be pressed on limited edition 180 gram vinyl in limited (1k) numbers.</p>
<p>Pre-order Russian Circles live at Dunk!Festival 2016 <a href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles" target="_blank">HERE.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074118
2017-03-28T08:00:08-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Russian Circles Adds Dates in Guadalajara and Mexico City
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1200" data-orig-width="821"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/40bcb3a14972408b6ead272c546ea2a2/tumblr_inline_onhn0igFeS1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_xl justify_inline border_" /></figure>
<p><a href="https://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have announced dates in Mexico for the first time.</p>
<p>Dates and ticket links below:</p>
<p>June 14th Guadalajara, MX - <a href="http://bit.ly/RussianCirclesGDL" target="_blank">Tickets</a><br>June 15th Mexico City, MX - <a href="http://bit.ly/RussianClirclesCDMX" target="_blank">Tickets</a></p>
<p>Presented by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/INTRSTLRS/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">INTRSTLRS</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/infiniteloops1/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Infinite Loops</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074119
2017-03-16T15:43:10-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Russian Circles interview // Going Off Track
<p> </p>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="299" data-orig-width="1049"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/03/15/russian-circles/" target="_blank"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/7c70c296c6eda2a924e2d77393828996/tumblr_inline_omxiwocWKj1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="500" data-orig-width="560"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/03/15/russian-circles/" target="_blank"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/05e7cfd9f31ea68de4f5deebfbf16d7e/tumblr_inline_omxiwyMtNn1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="135" data-orig-width="1034"><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/03/15/russian-circles/" target="_blank"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/a1eee9d3ef8d10a1d95167a63cf2a8b9/tumblr_inline_omxixb63mV1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p></figure>
<p>All three members of <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>: Mike Sullivan, Dave Turncrantz and occasional <a href="http://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/03/15/russian-circles/" target="_blank">Going Off Track</a> guest host Brian Cook came by the podcast while promoting their latest album “Guidance” for a rare group interview with Jonah. Of the course of our conversation we discuss their joke nu metal band called Gypsy Foot, why they don’t have microphones onstage (it has something to do with the fact that both of their video interviews have gotten them banned from magazines) and how as an instrumental band they go about naming their songs. “What one person might take away from the song might be totally different from the next person so normally it’s just acknowledgement of people and places that mean something to us as a band and we’re grateful for. It’s usually positive stuff that resonates with us that doesn’t say too much about anything at all,” Sullivan explains. We also discuss our mutual love for true crime television, why the band prefer writing music together in person as opposed to working online and Cook’s recent experience teaching a bass workshop at Berkelee College Of Music. Oh and if you were wondering if Russian Circles were planning on adding a saxophone player anytime soon, don’t count on it.</p>
<p>Photo: Paul Blau</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/03/15/russian-circles/" target="_blank">(via Going Off Track)</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074120
2017-03-09T16:06:09-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
The Thin Air // Interview with Russian Circles
<figure data-orig-width="245" data-orig-height="104"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/034e63a1df595abf4e675d8b6283de94/tumblr_inline_omkmzcdwVy1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="675" data-orig-height="418" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/c96c28bdaa8830dfadcf473b6c5a6720/tumblr_inline_omkmzo743y1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><i><a href="http://thethinair.net/2017/03/guiding-the-way-an-interview-with-russian-circles/" target="_blank">By Will Murphy</a></i></p><h2><b>Ahead of shows at Dublin’s Whelan’s on Wednesday, March 22 and Belfast’s Empire Music Hall the following night, Will Murphy speaks to Brian Cook, bassist with Chicago instrumental masters <a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> about touring, politics, their latest album, the ideal audience, the craft of songwriting and more.</b></h2><p><b>Hi, Brian. How’s the road been treating you? The next few months look pretty exciting in terms of venues and nations, is there anywhere that you’re all particularly looking forward to? What will you be listening to stave off the monotony of touring?</b><br></p><p>Touring has been good. We took care of our headlining U.S. dates last fall, and we divided Europe into two tours this time around just because there were so many cities we wanted to hit. We did Scandinavia and Eastern Europe back in October and November, which was pretty exhausting, but overall a great experience. Sometimes you get so accustomed to hitting the same places over and over again that it becomes easy to take things for granted, then you wind up playing a few shows in Romania and it serves as a reminder that we’re very fortunate to be able to do what we do. Now we’re out doing Western Europe and the UK, which is very familiar territory for us. Not as much of an adventure, but rewarding to be back in cities where we have friends and know the lay of the land. In terms of music, I’ve sort of reverted back to the old school touring listening habits. It used to be that you’d go on tour with a half dozen cassettes or a small book of CDs, then the iPod made it so that you toured with your entire music library and you’d never listen to the same album twice on a six-week tour. Now I’m back to traveling with just a few albums on my phone. I’ve been listening to a lot of Sun City Girls, Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk, Michael Rother, and Lungfish on my headphones. There has also been more than a few spins of the new Power Trip, Oranssi Pazuzu, and Rotting Christ albums in the van.<br></p><p><b>I remember seeing you when you were last in Dublin. What struck me was how unwilling you were to rush anything. Everything took exactly as long as it was going to take. It was a really ballsy move, and I’m wondering has it ever backfired horribly?</b></p><p>The bigger problem is not allowing enough time. Mike and I have so many changes and adjustments we have to do between songs—different tunings, different guitars, different pedal settings, different Taurus settings—and we do it all while bridging the songs with interludes. Plus, there’s the whole thing of trying to squeeze in a swig of beer and a toweling down of the face between all of that. We used to tour with these auxiliary delay pedals at the end of our chain that served zero purpose other than to silently notifying the rest of the band that we were ready to go into the next song. If the red light on Mike’s delay pedal was on, we knew he was ready. Same for me. The only problem is that sometimes one of us would forget to turn it on, and we’d stand there waiting for nothing until the guilty party remembered to stomp on the pedal.</p><!-- more --><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVKJVYQtkPnc"><iframe width="540" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKJVYQtkPnc?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p><b>Is there ever a frustration performing to an audience, given that so much intricate detail is lost when you port the songs to a live context? With that in mind, do you prefer to spend your time in studio constructing these mini epics or letting them loose on the audience night after night?</b></p><p>I’m not sure what the ideal audience would be. I remember Fugazi talking about how their anti-moshing stance grew to such mythical proportions that it seemed like people were afraid to dance at their concerts. I can empathize with that—I hate seeing violent dancing, but it also feels like a lot more work to play when people are totally stoic. The happy medium is when people are physically moving to the music but also respecting their neighbors. At this point, I try to look out into the audience as little as possible, because that happy medium is so difficult to achieve. As far as writing versus performing, they are both gratifying. I don’t think I’d be happy doing just one or the other. I love performing music live. Most of my love of other peoples’ music comes from watching it—or envisioning it—unfolding in real time. So the process of making a song happen in the present, in a very specific environment and with a select audience, is really magical. But if you don’t love the composition side of music, you should just stick to being in a tribute band.</p><p><b>You recorded a trio of albums with Brandon Curtis, each of which was absolutely stellar. Yet for last year’s <i><a href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/guidance" target="_blank">Guidance</a></i>, you opted to go with Kurt Ballou. What inspired this change? Was there ever a concern that Ballou might not bring out the same level of performance that Curtis helped to unleash? How hands-on was he during the recording?</b></p><p>Working with Brandon was amazing. We were really drawn to his ability to capture space and dimension with this work with Secret Machines. He’s also just an incredibly knowledgeable musician. He was good set of ears and a really good sounding board for those three records. We opted to go with Kurt Ballou on <i>Guidance</i> simply because we wanted to try something new, and we knew Kurt would share a lot of our musical reference points. Whenever you hire someone to produce a record there’s always that concern over their level of involvement, particularly if you come from a punk background. You don’t want some outside party compromising your vision and trying to make your songs appeal to a broader audience. But our songs tend to be so malleable and go through so many permutations that we have come to value having that set of fresh ears that can hear the different variations and have an unbiased opinion on what works and what doesn’t. In that respect, both Kurt and Brandon were amazing. I think Kurt tended to be a bit more focused on shaping tones while Brandon tended to have more ideas in terms of composition, but they both definitely made their mark on our albums. I can’t speak highly enough of either of them.</p><p><b>A number of groups who’ve recorded with Ballou have talked about Salem being a deeply unsettling town, given the commercialisation of its brutal history. Did any sense of this permeate the songwriting?</b></p><p>Salem is a strange place. It shuts down early. We would stop recording around 8pm just because dinner options after 9pm were virtually non-existence, which was an adjustments considering that we’re from Chicago and New York, where you can eat whatever you want at pretty much any hour of the night. But the witch trials weren’t really something that loomed in the back of our minds during our time there. The juxtaposition of the tourism trade and the public inebriate population was far more jarring.</p><figure data-orig-width="450" data-orig-height="600" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/f4a356c3310916e78dcc149361bdd0c6/tumblr_inline_omkn6yQFOZ1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b>Your songs feel so meticulously planned and crafted. How long do spend with a single song? How do you know when it is ready or, if it’s the kind that’ll never be perfect, when, if ever, do you throw your hands up and say “fuck it, it’s good enough”?</b></p><p>Some songs come together really quickly. Some songs are labored over for months and months, right up to and through the recording process. The album is bookended by two compositions that were crafted by individual members of the band and transformed into full-band songs with a minimal amount of effort. Then there are songs like Vorel that are transforming even as we play them over the course of this tour. We have to set deadlines for recording otherwise we’d tinker with songs forever. There’s an old lesson I learned in a painting class: every twenty minutes, step away from your work to reassess where you’re at. Inevitably, you’ll step away at some point and realize it’s done and any additional brush strokes are just detracting from the immediacy of the work. It’s a similar thing with songs in the studio sometimes. Every once and awhile you’ll hear a playback and realize that any additional changes or embellishments are just going to diminish the impact of the song.</p><p><b>Tracks like Afrika and Lisboa suggested a focus on geopolitics and a wider cultural sphere. What made you choose these subjects? What was it about the Portuguese capital that inspired you?</b></p><p>I was definitely drawn to political bands when I was younger. I liked topical punk bands. I liked ‘60s protest music. Basically, I just liked bands that obviously gave a shit about the world and expressed some capacity for empathy. I hated love songs. I hated songs about dancing, or partying, or money. Of course, being too topical can make your music a bit dated. I love punk music from the early ‘80s, but it’s a little distracting to hear bands ranting against Reagan and Thatcher. We’re not an overtly political band; there isn’t really a way for us to do that as an instrumental group, but I do like infusing our records with imagery that has some sort of historical or political context, just because it harkens back to a lot of the music I was obsessed with during my formative years. As far as specific song titles, they have very specific meaning to us personally, but we prefer to keep those meanings unclear to the general public. That said, we’ve already mentioned this before in other interviews so I guess I can say it again here, Lisboa was given its title simply because Mike began putting the song together during some downtime on tour in Portugal.</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DeWoJs4QkvwE"><iframe width="540" height="304" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWoJs4QkvwE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p><b><a href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/memorial" target="_blank">Memorial</a> featured some spellbinding vocals, whereas with Guidance you opted for a purely instrumental approach. What was the reasoning behind this? Are there any plans to bring in vocals for the next release?</b></p><p>We dabbled with vocals on Memorial and Praise Be Man because they seemed like interesting experiments. We have no plans of making vocals a recurring part of our method, but that isn’t to say we won’t feel compelled to explore the option in the future. I enjoy the fact that we can draw heavily from the world of underground metal, but I don’t think borrowing from the vocal styles of those bands would do anything to enhance our music. If anything, I think it would be a distraction. I think being an instrumental band has allowed us a lot more stylistic fluidity, and that is far more important to us than having a lyrical component to our music.</p><p><b>There’s a lot of darkness in the world currently. Trump and Muslim ban, Aleppo, the continued success of Nickelback. How, if at all, does the current state of affairs affect your songwriting?</b></p><p>Well, Guidance is ultimately a reference to our collective uncertainty. For the three of us in the band, it literally referred to a lot of uncertainty in our personal lives, but we tried to extrapolate that to a general sense of apprehension towards the future for the sake of the album. In that sense, “guidance” can refer to the mistaken notion that there is some sort of benevolent leadership out there that has the public’s best interests in mind, or it can refer more generally to the allure of some overarching answer to all our problems. It’s all a carrot on a stick. So it goes.</p><p><b>Finally, given the foreboding and gloom that your work is shrouded in, where and how do you find the inspiration for the more delicate elements of the tracks?</b></p><p>Being that we don’t all live in the same city, we spend a lot of time writing independently. And while we all write with the idea of crafting songs that lend themselves to the darker and louder end of our spectrum, we don’t shut out any ideas that may come up. When you’re playing your instrument alone in your room, a lot of times the quieter and mellower stuff winds up sounding a lot more satisfying than the paired-down versions of the heavier stuff. For example, Asa was not meant to be a Russian Circles song, but those notes sounded good together and it turned into a little song, and I forwarded it along to the other guys in the band just because we have a pretty open sharing policy with our music. And it wound up being something that resonated with Mike and Dave. Overboard was actually two separate songs that were written completely independently by Mike and I and they just happened to fit together. So while we never deliberately set out to write those kinds of songs, sometimes they just happen.</p><p><i>Photos by Ryan Russell and Tomas Mladek </i><br></p><p>(via <a href="http://thethinair.net/2017/03/guiding-the-way-an-interview-with-russian-circles/" target="_blank">The Thin Air</a>)</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074121
2017-02-06T15:34:57-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Brian Cook of Russian Circles interviewed by Mouthfeel Magazine
<figure data-orig-width="4134" data-orig-height="3217" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/e95000c03f0f51ef00696c6f9f3b41fd/tumblr_inline_okz73vDrgN1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Mouthfeel Magazine interviewed Brian Cook of Russian Circles for their latest issue - click <a href="http://www.mouthfeelmag.com/shop/mouthfeel-issue-three-pre-order" target="_blank">HERE</a> to order a copy.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074122
2017-01-10T10:19:13-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:09-08:00
Russian Circles Announce Tour w/ Mastodon
<figure data-orig-width="3000" data-orig-height="3900" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/d7b762a5d0fc507656f20bacd3a2820a/tumblr_inline_ojkt13Td7a1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be on tour with <a href="http://mastodonrocks.com" target="_blank">Mastodon</a> and <a href="http://eaglesofdeathmetal.com" target="_blank">Eagles of Death Metal</a>. Tickets will be on sale January 13th. </p><p><b>MASTODON // EAGLES OF DEATH METAL // RUSSIAN CIRCLES 2017</b><br>04/14 Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater<br>04/15 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater<br>04/16 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater<br>04/18 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield<br>04/20 Los Angeles, CA - The Hollywood Palladium <br>04/21 Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre<br>04/23 Salt Lake City, UT - Complex<br>04/24 Denver, CO - Fillmore<br>04/26 Kansas City, KS - Uptown Theater<br>04/27 St. Louis, MO - Pageant<br>04/28 Birmingham, AL - Iron City<br>05/02 Washington, DC - Fillmore<br>05/03 Toronto, ON - Rebel <br>05/04 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater<br>05/06 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory*<br>05/08 Boston, MA - House of Blues<br>05/09 Portland, ME - State Theater<br>05/11 New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom<br>05/12 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE<br>05/13 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom<br>05/14 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre<br>05/16 Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Theater<br>05/17 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium <br>05/18 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall <br>05/19 Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live!<br>05/20 Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater</p><p>*w/ Mastodon, Opeth, Gojira, Eagles of Death Metal, Devin Townsend </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074123
2017-01-02T13:32:17-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:10-08:00
More Best of 2016 Lists: MAGNET, Mxdwn, Echoes and Dust, Destroy//Exist
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="3000" data-orig-width="3000"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/c505cfcae004e1e449ed6ef82c1b5c9b/tumblr_inline_oj68vdzqU01qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure data-orig-height="77" data-orig-width="274"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/ea1d55daece9a94071eb30732a7d6036/tumblr_inline_oj68w3fmQB1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>On their sixth studio album, <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> continue on the same path they started down on 2013’s Memorial, easily their most expansive record, matching serene pieces like “Asa” with the molten fury of “Afrika” and lead single “Vorel.” Kurt Ballou of Converge, who moonlights as one of contemporary metal’s most accomplished producers, imbues the record with a riveting weight unheard on any of the band’s previous work. The result is the most dynamic LP of Russian Circles’ career, a riveting album that catches one of America’s finest metal bands at the peak of its powers.<br></p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="86" data-orig-width="403"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/a82ed1ebf8bc6513ea8024d2d6e78256/tumblr_inline_oj68xyZaEX1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>For over a decade, Russian Circles carved out a respectable place within the once-crowded post-metal scene. While most of their peers stubbornly drew water from the same well again and again as the sub-genre faded from relevance, the Seattle band has released its best work to date. Equal parts aggressive, hypnotic, intriguing and beautiful, Guidance will stand as one of the seminal releases in the experimental-metal pantheon.<br>– <a href="http://music.mxdwn.com/2016/12/19/features/top-50-best-albums-of-2016/" target="_blank">Matt Matasci</a><br></p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="51" data-orig-width="643"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/a26ad33ab64783961d5335767b251464/tumblr_inline_oj68ypgdLB1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>The album flows together almost flawlessly like some rumination on one long and complex matrix of unspeakable things. This isn’t so much an exploration of loud vs quiet as a conversation between light and dark, pulse and peace, the delicacy that tempers rage; the one amplifying the other and creating the most bittersweet and inspiring offspring.<br></p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="159" data-orig-width="500"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/a1ee764d20843a32d38210f51983c868/tumblr_inline_oj693sED5Q1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><b><a href="http://www.destroyexist.com/2016/12/2016-end-of-year-list-albums-of-year.html" target="_blank">#3</a></b> - The three years since 2013’s <i>Memorial </i>mark the band’s record for longest absence between albums but <i>Guidance </i>upon its arrival proved that it was absolutely worth the wait. Once again Russian Circles balance expertly between calmness and loudness, providing their signature dramatic outbursts, toying with opposite emotions and delivering everything on point, with the help of co-producer Kurt Ballou who proficiently captures the band’s complex sentimentality.<br></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074124
2016-12-12T10:26:52-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:10-08:00
Russian Circles “Guidance” In What Culture’s Top Alternative Albums of 2016
<figure data-orig-height="47" data-orig-width="250"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/6e58f3afd074333fcc37e151c7321751/tumblr_inline_oi34cxaYzN1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="600" data-orig-width="600"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/93cf0d4474a973ba83a5c4e1b118c55a/tumblr_inline_oi34d4sC5T1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>On their sixth studio album, soundscape pioneers <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> place much more emphasis on the textural qualities of their work, ultimately making for a much more refined music experience in the process.</p><p>As always, Russian Circles have the innate ability to convey emotions through their instruments alone, reaching particular moments of enlightenment on the ethereal drifter ‘Mota’, the turbulent instrumental cavalcade ‘Vorel’ and the evolving beauty 'Afrika.’</p><p>This trio are quickly becoming one of the most important instrumental rock bands of the century, and on Guidance, they continue to expand their deeply sophisticated sound palette with real finesse and poignancy.</p><p>Via <a href="http://whatculture.com/music/20-greatest-alternative-albums-of-2016?page=4" target="_blank">What Culture</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074125
2016-11-18T07:45:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:10-08:00
Russian Circles announce EU/UK Spring 2017 Tour
<figure data-orig-width="857" data-orig-height="1200" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/ccc805198bcade854fa729d905ae4108/tumblr_inline_oh2ebksiyQ1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be touring Europe & the UK beginning in February 2017. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cloakroomisaband/" target="_blank">Cloakroom</a> will be joining as support for all dates.</p><p>A full list of shows can be found below. Tickets will be available <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES & CLOAKROOM EU/UK TOUR SPRING 2017</b></p><p>18 Feb - Tilburg, NL @ 013<br>19 Feb - Cologne, DE @ Gebäude 9<br>20 Feb - Hamburg, DE @ Knust<br>21 Feb - Arhus, DK @ Voxhall<br>22 Feb - Copenhagen, DK @ Vega<br>24 Feb - Bielefeld, DE @ Forum<br>25 Feb - Karlsruhe, DE @ Jubez<br>26 Feb - Munich, DE @ Strom<br>28 Feb - Dornbirn, AT @ Spielboden<br>01 Mar - Bologna, IT @ Locomotiv<br>02 Mar - Rome, IT @ Monk<br>03 Mar - Livorno, IT @ The Cage<br>04 Mar - Milan, IT @ Santeria Social Club<br>05 Mar - Zurich, CH @ Rote fabrik<br>06 Mar - Geneva, CH @ Kalvingrad / Usine<br>08 Mar - Barcelona, ES @ Bikini<br>09 Mar - Madrid, ES @ 100% Psych @ Shoko<br>10 Mar - Lisbon, PT @ RCA Club<br>11 Mar - Porto, PT @ Hard Club<br>13 Mar - Biarritz, FR @ Atabal<br>14 Mar - Bordeaux, FR @ Krakatoa<br>15 Mar - Nantes, FR @ Stereolux<br>16 Mar - Paris, FR @ Trabendo<br>17 Mar - Brussels, BE @ Botanique<br>18 Mar - Brighton, UK @ The Haunt<br>19 Mar - Bristol, UK @ The Marble Factory<br>20 Mar - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla<br>22 Mar - Dublin, IE @ Whelans<br>23 Mar - Belfast, IE @ Empire Music Hall<br>24 Mar - Glasgow, UK @ Stereo<br>25 Mar - Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute2<br>26 Mar - London, UK @ Heaven</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074126
2016-10-19T16:48:41-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:10-08:00
Russian Circles + Helms Alee Live Review and Photos via CVLT Nation
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="148" data-orig-width="619" style=""><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/776e8531904f2f59187e3ce59e9a395a/tumblr_inline_ofbiwupHo21qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="114" data-orig-width="518" style=""><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/7aa434bf7156f0748499ed0b51fcf326/tumblr_inline_ofbiwzMBao1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="272" data-orig-width="612" style=""><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/aeede452d1cdbbda4076710ba4ea577f/tumblr_inline_ofbix6JVCs1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>The latest <a href="http://www.helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> release, <i>Stillicide</i>, was an impressive feat by itself. In person, the tracks are even more massive. As they played the final seconds of “Galloping Mind Fuk” to end their set, it was clear that whether live or recorded, they play with more force than many of their peers. Hozoji Margullis is, to say the least, a phenom behind the drums. Dana Jones brings a concrete, unshakable foundation with her bass. And then there’s Ben Verellen, whose playing and vocals are abrasive, intense and perfectly suited to Helms. Their aquatic inspirations were evident as they rolled through songs with the strength of a hurricane tidal surge.</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="661" data-orig-width="472"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ee6c77ad692e5ba7c90a0e8b3292cae1/tumblr_inline_ofbj04WTTr1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> are a bucket-list band. As expansive as their records are, the three create an even larger landscape in person. From Station to their recent <i>Guidance</i>, Brian Cook, Mike Sullivan and Dave Turncrantz collected ten tracks from their discography and stretched them into what seemed like hours and hours. The rises and falls and building then stalling of their songs created a story that took you from stillness to the usual light headbang. The voices of each instrument were highlighted in a live setting so that they each contributed equally to the conversation. Even on an album, the individuality that each person brings isn’t so distinct.</p><!-- more --><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="408" data-orig-width="611"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/b3aa29d662c09326b3d491401420e2a6/tumblr_inline_ofbj1xmPXQ1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>“Distinct” describes them well. Theirs was the first show I’ve ever seen with a Moog Bass Synthesizer present. They never speak and only occasionally exchange smiles before a major song shift. The emphasis was entirely on the music and on the lights that illuminated their silhouettes. Russian Circles may sound complicated, but the trio seemed entirely at ease as they journeyed through “Asa” and “Youngblood.” It’s an experience and a true example of musicianship that is, from what I’ve seen so far, unparalleled.</p><p>See full photosets of Helms Alee and Russian Circles <a href="http://www.cvltnation.com/cvlt-nation-captures-russian-circles-birmingham/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="386" data-orig-width="629"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/85d110b79f3eb0741c3027ebbf23ba60/tumblr_inline_ofbj9evRib1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="601" data-orig-width="637"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/0c6727ad26e3a027d8ec5274d49f5316/tumblr_inline_ofbj9mtvaj1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074127
2016-10-13T12:47:59-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:10-08:00
Russian Circles Fall 2016 European Tour Begins Next Week
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="332" data-orig-width="500"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/7441d5ddb500166412e0b6e92c74e2f0/tumblr_inline_of03vxhB9d1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> are about to embark on their Fall 2016 European tour starting October 21 and Helen Money will be joining them on all shows after the Polish dates. View all show/ticket details <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </p><p>Full list of dates below:</p><p>RUSSIAN CIRCLES w/ Helen Money<br>Oct 21 - Wroclaw, Poland*<br>Oct 22 - Gdansk, Poland*<br>Oct 23 - Warsaw, Poland*<br>Oct 25 - Vilnius, Lithuania<br>Oct 26 - Durbe, Latvia<br>Oct 27 - Tallinn, Estonia<br>Oct 28 - Helsinki, Finland<br>Oct 30 - Stockholm, Sweden<br>Oct 31 - Oslo, Norway<br>Nov 2 - Bergen, Norway<br>Nov 3 - Stavanger, Norway<br>Nov 5 - Athens, Greece<br>Nov 6 - Berlin, Germany<br>Nov 7 - Leipzig, Germany<br>Nov 9 - Brno, Czech Republic<br>Nov 10 - Budapest, Hungary<br>Nov 11 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania<br>Nov 12 - Bucharest, Romania<br>Nov 13 - Sofia, Bulgaria<br>Nov 14 - Skopje, Macedonia<br>Nov 15 - Beograd-Vracar, Serbia<br>Nov 17 - Zagreb, Croatia<br>Nov 18 - Ljubljana, Slovenia<br>Nov 19 - Vienna, Austria<br>all shows with Helen Money except *</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074128
2016-10-12T15:49:15-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:10-08:00
Russian Circles Live Review at Warsaw in Brooklyn, NY via Cryptic Rock
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="128" data-orig-width="464" style=""><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/36b6c56eb50611791d7cde3414cc500f/tumblr_inline_oeygyjtOiN1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="243" data-orig-width="576"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/c17c34f38dea8fbe2cf872d6943e2dfc/tumblr_inline_oeyh5t1BiI1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>Emotions hold a vast amount of movements and transitions. They can drop to a somber internal echo or rise to an explosive vengeance in the blink of an eye. A spectrum of feelings all of humanity experience in life, music can help one heal, cope, or even let off a bit of steam. That said, the Experimental Rock/Metal offspring known as Post Rock has morphed over the past few decades, displaying the roller coaster of human emotion through instrumental melodic compositions. One such band that rose from the new millennium’s Post Rock movement is Chicago, Illinois’ three-piece band known as <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>.</p><p>Coming on the scene within the same time period as others such as Pelican, Explosions in the Sky, Red Sparowes, and Japan’s Mono, to name a few, <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circle</a>’s 2006 debut full-length album,<i> <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/enter" target="_blank">Enter</a></i>, struck up a lot of attention. A continuously flowing piece of music, the record opened the door for Russian Circles to support Tool on tour in the United Kingdom back in 2007. Meanwhile, stateside they were building a strong fanbase performing at small clubs like Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey and just a few short month later were headlining Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York supporting 2008′s Station. Since then, Russian Circles has been trending upward, creating dissonant, harsh arrangements with each passing album, and on August 5, 2016, they released their sixth overall studio album, <i><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/guidance" target="_blank">Guidance</a></i>. An anticipated follow-up to 2013′s Memorial, the seven track collection is nothing less than flawless and mind-expanding.</p><p><a href="http://crypticrock.com/russian-circles-bring-guidance-to-brooklyn-ny-9-30-16-w-helms-alee/" target="_blank">READ FULL LIVE REVIEW AND SEE COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY HERE.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074129
2016-09-29T17:58:21-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:11-08:00
Rolling Stone //“Audrie and Daisy” doc featuring songs by Russian Circles
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="115" data-orig-width="556"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/f83e33b53f2d8a545aa9768c56db80c6/tumblr_inline_oeakwws97w1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="282" data-orig-width="694"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/c2f39656509daf5123c2088cc6418ce4/tumblr_inline_oealc8ds3L1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="348" data-orig-width="616"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/158584393d7efc57783983f26f38f9bd/tumblr_inline_oeakzsQniR1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> contributed music from their album “<a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/memorial" target="_blank">Memorial</a>” for a Netflix Documentary “Audrie and Daisy” about two teenage girls who were sexually assaulted. Read the full article about the 2016 Sundance Film Festival selection <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/life-after-sexual-assault-inside-doc-audrie-daisy-w441794" target="_blank">HERE</a> via Rolling Stone.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074130
2016-09-13T11:05:59-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:11-08:00
CVLT NATION captures Russian Circles at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="207" data-orig-width="469"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/a4a17ec39df2a66ae9559fff52a2c1bd/tumblr_inline_odgf1wHX6J1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="83" data-orig-width="714"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/70166e0c850a6c8d5984ab4c66f4aaaf/tumblr_inline_odgf22IT4E1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="328" data-orig-width="745"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/564dd3097d19840c4fdf28d946506af4/tumblr_inline_odgf2wU7mm1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><i>Text and Photos: Bobby Cochran</i></p><p>Tonight, Chicago’s <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> made a powerful return to the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, hot on the heels of their recent Sargent House release <i>Guidance</i>. I’ve always appreciated their unique pre-show practice of playing soft droning sounds before they hit the stage, which sets the tone and builds energy in an unexpectedly powerful way. They opened their set with “Asa,” the first song from the new album. Unlike the last time Russian Circles played here, the crowd erupted into a seething pit once the heavy punch of “Vorel” kicked in. Though this band is typically enjoyed by motionless and reverent audiences, the succession of powerful, heavy-hitting songs drove many in the crowd to shove and push and seethe in response. Can’t say I blame them, either.</p><!-- more --><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="465" data-orig-width="694"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/6c7124953cc6fd343c175a60d6194133/tumblr_inline_odgf68uafN1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>Russian Circles have always known how to do a bare-bones but effective light show, and the starkly dramatic spots and throbbing, pulsing glow synchronizes perfectly with the ebb and flow of the music. It’s also impressive and remarkable to see three people creating such sonically complex and varied music completely without prerecorded backing tracks. Bassist <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/brian-cook" target="_blank">Brian Cook </a>plays some keyboards and samples in addition to a Moog bass pedal setup and guitar simultaneously. Guitarist <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/mike-sullivan" target="_blank">Mike Sullivan</a> employs loop pedals with great effect to double and sometimes triple the amount of guitar layering that most musicians would only attempt on record, and perhaps never attempt to perform live. Drummer <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/dave-turncrantz" target="_blank">Dave Turncrantz</a> dutifully laid the solid bedrock his playing always delivers, giving the other two a platform on which to deliver their powerful sonic drive.</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="462" data-orig-width="695"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/54604a32d66a653031663227899f0b63/tumblr_inline_odgf8ezc0U1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>The sound was clean and nuanced, though there was plenty of volume to drive the punters nuts. “Deficit,” from 2013’s<i> Memorial</i>, was next, followed by “309” from Empros and “Afrika” from <i>Guidance</i>, which kept the now sweaty bodies moving and heads banging. The show stopped briefly to accommodate a technical glitch when one of the guitar amps went down, but they resumed with “Harper Lewis” from 2008’s <i>Station</i>. This seemed to bring the feverish energy down a bit, and a reverential calm settled over the crowd for the most of the remainder of the set. “1777” was next, in all its epic gloriousness, followed by “Calla” and the uplifting and mighty “Mladek” closing the set, only to be reprised by an encore of “Youngblood” from Station. I was struck by how many times throughout the show a crowd member would yell out an appreciative “Thank you!” at the end of a song, clearly illustrating how much this band means to its fans. Russian Circles knows how to put on a hell of a good show, and tonight we were all grateful to be there and once again experience that for ourselves.</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="462" data-orig-width="691"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/25eff8ae33173b72c50eefa340cd65d8/tumblr_inline_odgfanSUmK1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>click <a href="http://www.cvltnation.com/cvlt-nation-captures-russian-circles/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see the full photoset.</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="499" data-orig-width="738"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/0260323466921ec9c2b3535d8e43d61d/tumblr_inline_odgfb82V9d1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074131
2016-09-06T12:24:58-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:11-08:00
LIVE REVIEW: Russian Circles Sells Out Great American Music Hall // Live Photos From The Teragram Ballroom
<p><figure data-orig-width="1924" data-orig-height="1276" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/f2cb074d317dbfe350eaf10249f47b9f/tumblr_inline_od3jqgTDtN1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p>On Sept. 2, 2016, on a night when most of the city is either out at Burning Man, or recovering from the Kill Switch Engage show the night before, it was impressive to see that <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/russian-circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>, easily one of the best post-metal groups touring, still had sold out the iconic Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA.</p><p>On tour with support from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cloakroomisaband" target="_blank">Cloakroom</a>, Russian Circles put together a 2.5-hour package of mind-altering sonic fury. With a show time of 9pm, and a packed house long before that, Cloakroom was able to lull the crowd into a false sense of stability with their impressive instrumentals and melancholic vocals. Even Russian Circles sat along the stage to watch their brothers in arms perform.</p><p>Once Cloakroom finished up and cleared the stage, it was almost time for Russian Circles, but even after completing their tuning and sound checks, the three-piece from Chicago took another 15-20 minutes before starting the show. Word around the soundboard crew was there were some electrical issues, but once the clock hit 10:30 none of that mattered.</p><!-- more --><p>Starting the night off slowly, with “Asa” from their just-released sixth studio album Guidance, Russian Circles built up the crowd’s anticipation with long notes and ethereal guitar tones. As the drums started building and “Asa” flowed into “Vorel,” everything came to a climax. As soon as the guitars crushed down and Dave Turncrantz turned up the speed on the drums, the entire audience went from mild-mannered Bruce Banner to his monstrously angry green friend.</p><p>The first 10 minutes of Russian Circles would set the tone and pace for the rest of the evening, as the band would seamlessly slip back and forth between mellow rhythms and explosive breakdowns. Pulling from their last 10 years of music, Russian Circles took the sold-out San Francisco crowd on a journey through time and space, and at the end, only those with the strongest will were left standing.</p><p>Russian Circles will be on tour throughout the first week of October before heading overseas to Europe.</p><figure data-orig-width="1922" data-orig-height="1280" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/30fe4b41edf717b0e8e0cac62b0f31d2/tumblr_inline_od3jthqbbL1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1914" data-orig-height="1278" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/8eb51dfae73ace1aea230ede59401e63/tumblr_inline_od3jth65SV1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1916" data-orig-height="1276" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/672959808b0aca1375f704afe0c0ca1a/tumblr_inline_od3jtzaKqq1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Review by Derek Tobias via <a href="http://www.axs.com/russian-circles-sells-out-the-great-american-music-hall-in-san-francis-106017" target="_blank">axs</a></p><p>All Photos by <a href="http://www.debidelgrande.com" target="_blank">Debi Del Grande</a> via <a href="http://larecord.com/photos/2016/09/05/russian-circles-the-teragram-ballroom" target="_blank">LA Record</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074132
2016-08-24T13:11:44-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:11-08:00
OVERBLOWN Interview with Brian Cook
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="249" data-orig-width="959"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/d57e8dc0fef3b19452c892ecad9ecd5e/tumblr_inline_ocfj4obSbI1s6a0gh_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="462" data-orig-width="694"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/bd59a53a77efadb9544f55769cca2a40/tumblr_inline_ocfjczPiE01s6a0gh_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="578" data-orig-width="654"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/91a126b108ad337dce94540778c47b55/tumblr_inline_ocfjd4LNLc1s6a0gh_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><b>NEW ALBUM <i>GUIDANCE </i> IS OUT NOW VIA <a href="http://www.sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">SARGENT HOUSE</a>.</b><br>There’s not really any need to introduce post metal stalwarts <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>, is there? Suffice it to say, they are now over ten years into their career and have just released yet another excellent album in the form of <i>Guidance</i>. For me, it’s an album that sees the group push out the contrasts between the light and dark in their songs. Songs soar and swoop between pummeling drums and somewhat black metal guitar flourishes like on lead single ‘Vorel‘, and the slow build of more cathartic and euphoric tracks like ‘Mota’. An engrossing adventure as always.</p><p>Ahead of their upcoming US and European tour, <a href="http://overblown.co.uk/russian-circles-interview-mike-liar/" target="_blank">Overblown</a> had the pleasure of talking to Russian Circles’ bassist Brian Cook about Guidance, recording with Kurt Ballou of Converge, and how <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/mike-sullivan" target="_blank">Mike</a> (Sullivan, Russian Circles guitarist) is a liar apparently.</p><!-- more --><p><b>Overblown: You worked with the legendary Steve Albini on two records, and on this new album, Guidance, you worked with Kurt Ballou of Converge fame. How are their approaches different and how did that affect the recording of the records?</b></p><p><b>Answer:</b> Actually, we didn’t record with Steve Albini, We just recorded at his studio, Electrical Audio. But the studio is definitely based around his vision and recording philosophy, which is to replicate the sound of a live band as closely as possible.</p><p>I appreciate that approach because my favorite records have a very tangible element of sonic space. I like it when you can hear the room on an album. I like that sense of dimension—that sense that you can hear where all the instruments are situated in a room—and it feels like more and more these days people want their music to sound super compressed and squashed, like everything is battling to be up front.</p><p>And there are definitely cool records that make use of that philosophy, but I’d rather hear a more natural sounding album. I’d take John Bonham’s squeaky kick pedal over triggered drums any day of the week. But there are definitely times when you want to employ all the various tricks and technological advancements of recent years that make the process of recording a little less grueling and a bit more fun.</p><p>Working with Kurt was great because he still has that no-frills philosophy in his background, but he’s also very keen on making records that sound great in very limited time. He’s less concerned with doing records in a very specific way and more open to making records in a way that suits each individual band. The strange thing is that the recording process for Guidance felt much more traditional and old school than the Memorial album we did at Electrical Audio. That probably had a lot more to do with our level of preparation though.</p><p><b>O: For me, the contrast between beautiful melodic passages and ferocity is even more pronounced on this album. Was that intentional or something that happened naturally?</b></p><p><b>Answer:</b> It wasn’t intentional. I think we just have diverse musical interests and we’d rather be open to writing whatever feels natural than say “okay, this record is gonna be all heavy”. So our records wind up being exercises in contrast. It’s to the point now where I feel like people are like “oh, this new album is kinda in keeping with the tradition of their past records”, even though our tradition has been to make records that cover a broad spectrum of sound.</p><p><b>O: This is your first record where it is just the three of you without any guest musicians/vocalists etc. How did this affect the writing and recording of the album?</b></p><p><b>Answer</b>: Weird. I hadn’t even thought about that. In fact, I was going to say you had misinformation, but then I realized Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe on our first album, Morgan Henderson on our second, Helen Money on our third, a couple of the Secret Machines dudes on Empros, and Chelsea Wolfe on Memorial. I guess we dropped the ball this time around. With the exception of Chelsea, the guest musicians were auxiliary players that just added some extra texture and layering to the music, so I don’t think it really affected the creative process in any significant way.</p><p><b>O: Mike (Sullivan, Guitars) has said that your writing process is pretty set at this point. Do you ever worry that this may lead to stagnation? Do you ever consider mixing things up a bit or is it a case of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it”?</b></p><p><b>Answer:</b> There are still a lot of curve balls. “Lisboa” was really all Mike. He wrote the song, sent it our way, and we did very little to the arrangement other than adding the requisite bass and drums. That’s a very different scenario from a song like “Vorel” where we tinker with the parts and structure over a prolonged period of time. “Overboard” was basically two songs that Mike and I wrote independently of each other that somehow worked together. “Asa” was based on a baritone guitar demo I wrote awhile back, and we basically just trimmed down a few parts and ran with it. The songwriting process is still pretty varied. Mike is obviously a liar.</p><p><b>O: You have pretty extensive tour of the US and Europe on the way. After so many years on the road, is there any cities/venues you’re looking forward to seeing again or cities that you’ve never been before that you are looking forward to visiting and playing?</b></p><p><b>Answer:</b> I like playing new places. My favorite tours tend to be the ones where we venture into new territories. There are obviously cities we love returning to… touring would be really depressing if you didn’t look forward to revisiting cities. But I’m really excited to go to Romania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria on this upcoming tour. I never thought we’d venture that far into Eastern Europe.</p><p><b>O: From reading interviews and watching your progress over the last ten years, it strikes me that you are a band led by gut feelings and what feels right rather than any premeditated plan. Is this perhaps one of the reasons for your longevity?</b></p><p><b>Answer:</b> I’m not sure what the key to longevity is. Honestly, the band still feels very new to me. Even when we had our ten-year anniversary, all I could think was “well, it hasn’t been ten years for me because I only started playing with the guys in 2007.” But now it’s been almost 10 years since I joined up, and I’ve been in the band longer than I was in These Arms Are Snakes and almost as long as Botch, which both felt like they took up a huge chunk of my life. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting older and feeling the relativity of time. Or maybe it’s just that our willingness to do whatever we want creatively has made the band seem fresh to us even after all these years.</p><p><b>O: Who would you most like to collaborate with? Why?</b></p><p>Answer: Keith Huckins. That dude is a riff machine. Rorschach, Deadguy, Kiss It Goodbye… he really had a flawless track record. I’d collaborate with him just to get him to make music again.</p><p><b>O: What is your favourite record of the year so far? Why?</b></p><p><b>Answer:</b> I really like the Nonkeen album. I don’t generally listen to much electronic music just because, to me, a lot of it sounds like canned music, or it sounds like it was built on a grid, or—as I mentioned before when we were talking about studios—it sounds like everything is vying to occupy the same sonic space. But that Nonkeen album has a lot of dimension and depth to it. And I dig the whole backstory with the group being an ongoing recording project of childhood friends. And, c’mon, just listen to “Ceramic People”. That song is the jam.</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/276357357&color=ff5500"></iframe></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074133
2016-08-11T17:59:34-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:11-08:00
Spectrum Culture Interview with Brian Cook of Russian Circles
<figure data-orig-width="683" data-orig-height="91" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/27d221f17292b2cbadb394daa6b9057f/tumblr_inline_obrulfIN1v1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="774" data-orig-height="406" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/dfeeef16900fdaeddf0fd426c0ce4156/tumblr_inline_obrullVIU31qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><h2><i>“I look at young people in bands and I can’t help but wince.”</i></h2><p>With the recent release of <i>Guidance </i><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is now six albums deep in a career staked on instrumental post-metal that can be both bleak and beautiful. Few other bands can shift between darkness and light with such aplomb, especially without the aid of a vocalist. We touched base with bassist Brian Cook to discuss the new album, getting older in the music industry, the highs and lows of 10-plus years of touring and whether they’d ever consider recording a full-length collaboration with a vocalist like Chelsea Wolfe.</p><p><b>The cover to your new album, Guidance, depicts a military scene of a stoic man being led to his execution. I understand this was a photo that, along with others, was received with very little context from a war veteran. To what extent did these photos serve as inspiration for the music on this latest album?</b></p><p>Truthfully? None whatsoever. I know a lot of artists work with a muse of some kind. And I know a lot of artists like to have a concept before they start their work. We don’t work that way. We just compose a bunch of music, find the bits and pieces that resonate most with us, and then try to find some sort of subconscious impulse behind all of it. I think it’s more interesting to allow gut instinct to guide music and then try to decipher what it all means rather than trying to impose some abstract idea into sound waves.</p><!-- more --><p><b>After working with the same producer over the past few albums, what was it like to switch things up and record Guidance with Kurt Ballou at his GodCity Studio?</b></p><p>It was great. We really enjoyed working with Brandon Curtis on the last few records. And having a studio like Electrical Audio just down the street from [guitarist] Mike [Sullivan] was a real privilege. But it’s also nice to mix things up and hunker down in Salem, Massachusetts and really immerse ourselves in the recording process. It’s nice to have the creature comforts of your own home to look forward to at the end of a day of recording, but it was also refreshing to work in relative isolation without distractions and other commitments.</p><p><b>Russian Circles has always seemed to work in contrasts, capturing both beauty and ugliness, light and darkness. This is especially evident on Guidance. There’s been plenty of ugliness in the world lately. Do you derive inspiration from our society’s current climate, or do you turn elsewhere to capture these two poles of the human condition?</b></p><p>Darkness is inevitable. My husband and I were talking about celebrity suicides a while ago, and specifically how people tend to look at those deaths and think, “They had money and fame, why were they so unhappy?” But here were these people that had everything, and it still wasn’t enough. That must be so depressing. The more we sanitize the world and try to insulate ourselves against ugliness, the more inexplicably unhappy we become. I think we need that reminder of darkness and misery to make us appreciate what we have. And that’s why we gravitate to music that is uncomfortable and unpleasant. It fortifies us against harsh realities.</p><p><b>Congratulations on passing your 10th anniversary. That is a long time for any band to stick together. What do you credit for your longevity?</b></p><p>We’re old. Seriously. I look at young people in bands and I can’t help but wince. I’m not talking trash on the younger generation; I was a crappy bandmate in my younger years, too. I was irresponsible, selfish, anxious. I had a terrible work ethic. Your worldview is so much more limited. You make terrible decisions based on listening to the wrong people. We were lucky that we’d all been in other bands before and had gotten the bulk of that out of our systems. I’m still irresponsible, selfish and anxious, but I do a better job of hiding it now, which makes me a little bit more bearable to be around for weeks at a time. Hopefully.</p><p><b>What were some of the top moments during that run? Which shows do you consider the most triumphant and why?</b></p><p>Honestly, some of my favorite shows have been pretty recent. Our set at Hellfest last summer was one of my favorite experiences on stage ever. Similarly, playing dunk!festival in Belgium and Desertfest in London this spring were both really incredible experiences. Playing in St. Petersburg, Russia back in 2008 was a real trip. There were 2,000 people there. We couldn’t believe it. We’ve been really fortunate to have some amazing shows in places we’d never dreamed of playing—places like Serbia and Singapore. All of those shows felt very triumphant.</p><p><b>How about some low points? Any shows going horribly wrong or bad interactions with the crowd?</b></p><p>We build a lot of our songs around loops that we layer up over the course of the songs. If a loop gets off, or if the pedals we use malfunction, it can derail a whole song. We had to stop a song in Metz, France on this last tour because it simply wasn’t salvageable. When you rely on technology in that capacity, then sometimes you have those moments. Fortunately, we haven’t had a lot of bad interactions with crowds. I remember once on my first tour with the band, we played in Brooklyn and some guy yelled “connect with your crowd!” between songs. Like, he wanted witty between-song banter or something. We were happy to disappoint him. On a recent tour, some guy in the crowd was trying to ingratiate himself by rolling cans of cider to us across the stage. In the process, he knocked over a full beer onto my foot keyboard and shorted it out. That meant having to cut songs from our set. It was a really nice beer too, and I’m not a cider fan. Good intentions, bad delivery.</p><p><b>You like to play with minimal lights on you. Why do you prefer to play in darkness?</b></p><p>We’re shy. And we like to be in total control of our performance. And that’s easier to pull off if you have your own lights. Also, it discourages people from spending the whole set trying to take pictures on their phones. Or maybe it means that people have to spend more time getting a decent picture. Fuck. Maybe we need to rethink this.</p><p><b>I’m always curious how bands who make instrumental music name their tracks. How do you name yours?<br></b><br>First and foremost, phonetics. And we like ambiguity. Most titles are references to things in our lives. They’re places and people that have played a part in the band’s existence. They’re hat tips and inside references for those close to us, and mysterious markers for everyone else.</p><p><b>What about “1777”? Where did that one come from?</b></p><p>Not tellin’.</p><p><b>Chelsea Wolfe’s vocals on 2013’s “Memorial” is such a perfect moment. Have you thought of doing an entire album of songs with her or another vocalist?</b></p><p>We wouldn’t be opposed to doing more collaborations, but doing a full album with vocals might require a bit more logistics than we’d be willing to deal with. We love “Memorial,” but it’s a bummer we’ve only had the opportunity to play it with Chelsea a handful of times. I don’t think I’d want to commit a year’s worth of work to making an album that we never get to play live. But we’ll see what happens.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074134
2016-08-05T08:19:14-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:11-08:00
“Guidance” Officially Out Everywhere + 5/5 Review from The Guardian
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<p>If you were looking for a fitting soundtrack to the disaster movie of your life, one that uplifts but also shakes you to your core, Chicago instrumental trio <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> can provide. On their sixth album they have ditched the mathy time-signature changes of old and instead created towering vortices of foreboding noise that sound as if the band have been mainlining Roland Emmerich films on an endless loop. The album begins with a melodic, almost baroque folk guitar and post-rockish reverb on Asa, before moving on to amp-exploding metal and sludgy yet lip-curling riffs on Vorel; and indeed, they balance light with dark throughout. Calla is monolithic and muscular, with flickerings of Tool; Afrika is a brightly lit, Mogwai-ish crescendo with blast-beat drumming and their distinctive, 3D turbo-fuzz guitar; and the final fist-raiser, Lisboa, practically levitates with its oppressive, cinematic build. Perhaps we really are nearing the bitter end – but doom has never sounded so good.</p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKJVYQtkPnc" width="500"></iframe>
<p> </p>
<p>via <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/04/russian-circles-guidance-review" target="_blank">The Guardian</a></p>
<p>Happy release day to Russian Circles for their stunning sixth album, “Guidance”. Click <a href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles" target="_blank">HERE</a> to purchase.</p>
<p>Don’t miss them on their upcoming US Tours with Cloakroom and label mates <a href="http://www.helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a>, see all dates below. For all show and ticket details click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
<p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES - LIVE 2016</b><br>W/ CLOAKROOM<br>Aug 26 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon<br>Aug 27 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center<br>Aug 29 Missoula, MT - Palace Lounge<br>Aug 30 Seattle, WA - Neumos<br>Aug 31 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom<br>Sep 2 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall<br>Sep 3 Los Angeles, CA - The Teragram Ballroom<br>Sep 5 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom<br>Sep 6 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad<br>Sep 7 Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre<br>Sep 8 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room<br>Sep 9 Chicago, IL - Metro<br>W/ HELMS ALEE<br>Sep 23-24 Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Fest<br>Sep 25 Detroit, MI - El Club<br>Sep 26 Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace<br>Sep 28 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair<br>Sep 29 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer<br>Sep 30 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw<br>Oct 1 Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel<br>Oct 2 Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall<br>Oct 4 Atlanta, GA - Aisle 5<br>Oct 5 Birmingham, AL - Saturn<br>Oct 6 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon<br>Oct 7 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio<br>Oct 8 Austin, TX - Barracuda<br>Oct 9 Dallas, TX - RBC</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074135
2016-08-02T10:54:32-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
“Guidance” Full Album Stream Premiere via Noisey
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<p>Photo: Nicholas Sayers</p>
<p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is a band you can watch and think only one thing: How do three people make so much fucking noise? The Chicago-based instrumental three-piece is on their sixth album now, with the release of <i>Guidance</i>, and seem intent on digging a new layer of depth into their sound on each one. In the vein of Pelican or Mono, Russian Circles have risen to become one of America’s preeminent loud-as-hell bands, decadent in texture and volume.</p>
<p>On <i>Guidance</i>, Russian Circles drag the listener down an emotionally draining hole that’s at times cathartic and triumphant and at others crushing and melancholic. Lose yourself in the album below and find out what it feels like to come out on the other side.</p>
<p><i>Guidance</i> is out on August 5 via <a href="http://www.sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a>, and Russian Circles have a massive tour in support of it coming up. Dates below.</p>
<p>Listen to the full album stream <a href="http://noisey.vice.com/blog/russian-circles-guidance-stream" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
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<p>For all show and ticket details click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Dates Below.</p><!-- more -->
<p>RUSSIAN CIRCLES 2016<br>Aug 26 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *<br>Aug 27 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center *<br>Aug 29 Missoula, MT - Palace Lounge *<br>Aug 30 Seattle, WA - Neumos *<br>Aug 31 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *<br>Sep 2 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *<br>Sep 3 Los Angeles, CA - The Teragram Ballroom *<br>Sep 5 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom *<br>Sep 6 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad *<br>Sep 7 Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre *<br>Sep 8 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room *<br>Sep 9 Chicago, IL - Metro *<br>Sep 23-25 Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Festival ^<br>Sep 25 Detroit, MI - El Club ^<br>Sep 26 Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace ^<br>Sep 28 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair ^<br>Sep 29 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer ^<br>Sep 30 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw ^<br>Oct 1 Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel ^<br>Oct 2 Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall ^<br>Oct 4 Atlanta, GA - Aisle 5 ^<br>Oct 5 Birmingham, AL - Saturn ^<br>Oct 6 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon ^<br>Oct 7 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio ^<br>Oct 8 Austin, TX - Barracuda ^<br>Oct 9 Dallas, TX - RBC ^<br>Oct 21 Wroclaw, PL @ Firlej<br>Oct 22 Gdansk, PL @ B90<br>Oct 23 Warsaw, PL @ Hydrozagadka<br>Oct 25 Vilnius, LT @ Peleda %<br>Oct 26 Durbe, LV @ Community Hall %<br>Oct 27 Tallin, EE @ Rockstars %<br>Oct 28 Helsinki, FIN @ Tavastia %<br>Oct 30 Stockholm, SE @ En Arena %<br>Oct 31 Oslo, NO @ Vulkan Arena %<br>Nov 2 Bergen, NO @ Landmark %<br>Nov 3 Stavanger, NO @ Folken %<br>Nov 5 Athens, GR @ Smoke the Fuzz Fest at Iera Odos<br>Nov 6 Berlin, DE @ Kesselhaus %<br>Nov 7 Leipzig, DE @ Conne Island %<br>Nov 9 Brno, CZ @ Kabinet Muz %<br>Nov 10 Budapest, HUN @ Durer Kert %<br>Nov 11 Cluj Napoca, RO @ The Shelter %<br>Nov 12 Bucharest, RO @ Control Club %<br>Nov 13 Sofia, BG @ Club Mixtape 5 %<br>Nov 14 Skopje, MC @ MKC %<br>Nov 15 Belgrade, SR @ Elektropionir %<br>Nov 17 Zagreb, HR @ Vintage Industrial Bar %<br>Nov 18 Ljubljana, SL @ Orto Klub %<br>Nov 19 Vienna, AT @ Arena %<br>Nov 20 Prague, CZ @ Lucerna Music Bar %</p>
<p>* w/ Cloakroom<br>^ w/ Helms Alee<br>% w/ Helen Money</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074136
2016-07-29T17:39:08-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
The Black Market: The Month In Metal // Russian Circles “Guidance” at #1
<figure data-orig-width="820" data-orig-height="150" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/dc5255b8850eb475cd808f1831c793d6/tumblr_inline_ob3quwLu5A1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="500" data-orig-width="500"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/16744c349f04eab0fdf74a9d22f5c888/tumblr_inline_ob3r9kzV2O1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="704" data-orig-height="116" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/74764c27ce8e4d1fe1d59de962bd2419/tumblr_inline_ob3qz3nBdV1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>“Instrumental metal” is a little bit of an oxymoron. Metallica have one instrumental track on each of their first four LPs, and those tracks are fucking classic and fit perfectly into those albums, but play them back-to-back and they sort of feel aimless, unmoored. Metal is based on evolution, but there’s no clear lineage for the “instrumental” subgenre. John Zorn’s Painkiller? Joe Satriani’s Surfing With The Alien? Buckethead? Yngwie Malmsteen? So it’s kinda striking that, today, there are a lot of bands that might be categorized as “instrumental metal.” The best of the bunch include Earthless, Pelican, and Dysrhythmia, but the very best of them all is <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>, whose upcoming <i>Guidance</i> achieves the one crucial thing achieved by so few of the band’s peers: The music doesn’t sound like a derivation of post-rock or psychedelia or free jazz or ambient; it sounds like metal. It’s really tough to make that work when you don’t have vocals driving the music, but every instrument here manages to stand in for vocals at some point or another. It doesn’t feel like vocals are missing; it just feels like they’ve been delivered with a tool other than the human voice. That’s not to say Russian Circles don’t heavily draw from non-metal genres — you’d have to be deaf not to hear the post-rock in this one — but they don’t start there, and more importantly, they don’t end there. <i>Guidance</i> single “Mota” blasts and whirrs with fury and bursts to razor-edged climaxes, but for me, the song is exemplified by one tiny moment that occurs right after the 5:10 mark: By that point, the whole thing is just blazing when all of a sudden you hear this ghostly wail coming up in the mix — every time I hear it, I brace myself for a deep guttural roar — but it’s a guitar, and as soon as you realize it’s a guitar, the song shifts gears and crushes you with a stomp worthy of Nails or Black Breath or any of those Kurt Ballou-produced Entombed-style tough-guy hardcore bands. That’s not a coincidence: <i>Guidance</i> was produced by Ballou, too, and I’m not sure his ear has ever been put to better use. I am sure, though, that 2016 hasn’t given us too many albums that sound as good as this. [From <i>Guidance</i>, out 8/5 via <a href="http://www.sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a>] –Michael Nelson // LISTEN TO ‘MOTA’ BELOW</p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWoJs4QkvwE" width="500" height="315" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074137
2016-07-29T08:47:22-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
Dave Turncrantz Talks About New Album ‘Guidance’
<figure data-orig-width="697" data-orig-height="118" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/3d6e5f0925938da1583c2277c088e06b/tumblr_inline_ob324norxE1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="348" data-orig-height="481" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/19b17913d37257779f758f6a2b104be2/tumblr_inline_ob325eyjlA1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><br>This month we got a chance to catch up with <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> drummer and Istanbul Agop artist Dave Turncrantz. Russian Circles are <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">hitting the road</a> this summer and fall, if they stop near you, check them out, you won’t regret it. Their new record <i>Guidance</i> drops August 5th, 2016, you can check out a preview here. Dave is an incredible drummer, and a great guy; we’re happy he’s part of the Agop family. </p><p><b>A: Does being an instrumental band influence the way you write drum parts?</b></p><p><b>DT:</b> I think being an instrumental band makes everything more exposed and it makes me try to do things a little more musically. There are only three of us in the band so everyone needs to pull their weight to make things interesting live and in the studio. I think the hardest part of being an instrumental band is filling out the empty spaces a singer would normally fill up or another guitar player. Luckily for me, I play with two amazing musicians that have a good ear and are great at layering to fill everything out.</p><p><b>A: What was the process like working on <i>Guidance</i>?</b></p><p><b>DT:</b> The process we use for writing every Russian Circles record has always started with just drums and guitar. Our guitarist Mike Sullivan and I will go through a number of guitar riffs he’s been working on and once we both agree on something will start from there. Once we get a structure we both are happy with, Brian comes in and we start to form the riffs into a song. Its been a process that has worked on the last five records and its nice to get a different view of the song once Brian comes in with the Bass.</p><!-- more --><p><b>A:</b> <b>What were you listening to while prepping for <i>Guidance</i>? Did anything really inspire you or shape your writing?</b></p><p><b>DT: </b>While writing Guidance I was pretty obsessed with a Chicago band called Dissapears. The drummer Noah is an absolute beast and a pleasure to watch live. Noah definitely plays in the pocket and made me want to do the same with the new Russian Circles record. I always try to overthink things and the older I get the more I’d rather hear a simple groove done well over a double kick tom solo. The new Chelsea Wolfe Abyss was also another inspiring record for me before recording.</p><p><b>A: Russian Circles has such a great energy, how do you keep that up night after night when doing such big tours? Do you think its more difficult keeping that up as an instrumental band?</b></p><p><b>DT:</b> I’ve been finding out that the older I get the more my body hates me haha. I think the instrumental part doesn’t make it harder its the being a three piece and the loading in and out along with long drives every day. It doesn’t help when all of our gear weights a million pounds too haha. We have been touring smart not hard lately and it really makes being on the road so much more enjoyable. Instead of touring for a straight six weeks we have been taking breaks in between. Like on our next USA tour we are doing two 2 and a half week tours with a two week break in between. Really helps the body heal and makes for a more enjoyable show too.</p><p><b> A:</b> What cymbals did you use on the new record?</p><p>I used Istanbul XIST traditional finish cymbals on majority of the record. 15" XIST hi hats, 22" XIST ride as my left side crash, 24" XIST ride as my right side crash and a 24" XIST ride as my main ride. I always try to experiment with other styles of Istanbul Agop cymbals and it always comes back to the XIST series. They’re super versatile and the warmth they have makes them my number one choice. </p><p><b>A: What is your favorite track on the new record and why?</b></p><p>DT: I think my favorite track on the new record is “Vorel.” It’s that one song that just clicked from the beginning. We always have one of those songs on every record that just happens with very little effort on our part. Everything just happened at one or two practices and that doesn’t happen too often. </p><p>Keep up with Dave and Russian Circles on Facebook and their website <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">http://russiancirclesband.com</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074138
2016-07-27T13:42:45-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
“Guidance” Pitchfork Review
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="116" data-orig-width="507"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ff9bee3aac0fa35846bc0b59f35b9ea6/tumblr_inline_oazqa5k77S1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="350" data-orig-width="976"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/24c599b09f4b0221029383050c85c0f3/tumblr_inline_oazqadNEq21qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><h2><i>There’s an organic and unforced feel to the latest album by Chicago-based post-rock trio Russian Circles, as if songs were allowed to grow wild rather than carefully cultivated. </i></h2><p>For five albums now, the Chicago-based trio <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have made great use of post-rock most familiar’s dynamic tricks—loud and quiet; stop and start, swell and subside. But they’ve never had qualms about splicing elements of everything from metal and noise-rock to krautrock and post-hardcore into their darkly dramatic, instrumental compositions. Their last album, 2013’s <i>Memorial</i>, fleshed things out even further with keyboards, strings, and guest vocals from Chelsea Wolfe. But on the group’s sixth full-length, <i>Guidance</i>, a slightly different ethos is at play: the fine art of letting it flow.<br></p><p>There’s always been a sense of flow to Russian Circles, but on <i>Guidance</i>, it’s far more striking. On the folk-like opener “Asa,” Mike Sullivan’s delicate guitar is underpinned with surges of dusky ambience; from there, the band’s tried-and-true blend of glacial riffing and overcast atmosphere takes hold, with the chunkiness of “Vorel” tracing a direct path back to Through Silver in Blood-era Neurosis. Brian Cook’s bass churns with seismic force—the tone of his instrument remains one of the Russian Circles’ most instantly recognizable and arresting textures—and Dave Turncrantz turns his drums into an intricate apparatus of temporal dissection. Amid all that, though, the grooves reign. “Afrika” creates an pulsing undertow that’s desperate and triumphant at the same time; “Mota” switches up more often. But even when <i>Guidance</i> gets complicated, there’s a more organic and unforced feel to it, as if songs were allowed to grow wild rather than carefully cultivated.</p><!-- more --><p>Just as unforced is the emotional gravity of <i>Guidance</i>. In a recent interview with Destroy/Exist, Cook explained how the album was inspired by a handful of photos his husband was given at work one day—photos of public executions being held somewhere in Asia. No explanation was given, and since then, the photos had haunted Cook. Rather than turning <i>Guidance</i> into a album-length threnody—<i>Memorial</i>, after all, kind of fits that bill—there’s an urgency and even a sense of meditative acceptance to songs like “Mota” and “Lisboa.” It’s no accident that those are two of the most openly melodic tracks on the album, with chord progressions that evoke beauty, melancholy, and cautious hope as potently as Jesu. “Lisboa” is also the only song on <i>Guidance</i> that truly, fully commits to the sudden, super-quiet/super-loud dynamic that’s become post-rock standard issue. But here, when the band shifts abruptly from hush to hurricane, it feels like a introspective collapse rather than an explosion. </p><p>Unlike a huge portion of heavy and/or post-rock albums, lately or in the past—including records in Russian Circles’ own back catalog—there are no lengthy, eight-minute-plus tracks on <i>Guidance</i>. Nor are there any brief interludes. Aside from delicate, folk-like opener “Asa,” each track occupies a relatively uniform span of time: roughly around the six-minute mark. Conventional wisdom would lead you to believe that such uniformity would make for a flat feeling; instead, Russian Circles use the strictness of that structure to explore numerous ways of wringing contemplation and ecstatic out of its tightly bound, three-person setup. Then again, that’s what Russian Circles—even at their most sprawling—have always done: searched for resonance and depth in the turbulence around us. </p><p>Listen to featured tracks <a href="https://soundcloud.com/sargent-house/russian-circles-mota" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074139
2016-07-25T10:46:22-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
NEW TRACK PREMIERE: AFRIKA
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="824" data-orig-width="960"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/e6a55360f774b8924ca3d9bb626ce58b/tumblr_inline_oavsyi8nk21qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is now premiering a new track off of their upcoming album <i>Guidance</i>, out on August 5th via <a href="http://www.sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a>. </p><p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/sargent-house/russian-circles-afrika/s-KVcTR" target="_blank">LISTEN HERE.</a></p><p>They will be touring with Cloakroom at the end of August and continuing with <a href="http://www.helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> in September. See all dates below - for show and ticket details click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES - LIVE 2016<br>W/ CLOAKROOM</b> <br>Aug 26 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon <br>Aug 27 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center <br>Aug 29 Missoula, MT - Palace Lounge <br>Aug 30 Seattle, WA - Neumos <br>Aug 31 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge <br>Sep 2 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall <br>Sep 3 Los Angeles, CA - The Teragram Ballroom <br>Sep 5 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom <br>Sep 6 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad <br>Sep 7 Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre <br>Sep 8 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room <br>Sep 9 Chicago, IL - Metro <br><b>W/ HELMS ALEE </b><br>Sep 23-24 Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Fest<br>Sep 25 Detroit, MI - El Club <br>Sep 26 Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace <br>Sep 28 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair <br>Sep 29 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer <br>Sep 30 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw <br>Oct 1 Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel <br>Oct 2 Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall <br>Oct 4 Atlanta, GA - Aisle 5 <br>Oct 5 Birmingham, AL - Saturn <br>Oct 6 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon <br>Oct 7 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio <br>Oct 8 Austin, TX - Barracuda <br>Oct 9 Dallas, TX - RBC</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074140
2016-07-22T13:45:19-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
JUST ANNOUNCED: Russian Circles 2016 European Tour
<figure data-orig-width="640" data-orig-height="640" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/8507ac126e0740a6732e82518bdb4d9b/tumblr_inline_oaqhbnqvUM1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> has just announced their upcoming Fall 2016 European Tour that is starting immediately after their US Tour (see ALL dates <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE)</a>. Helen Money will be joining them starting in Lithuania for the rest of the tour.</p><p><b>for all show and ticket details, click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></p><p>Russian Circles EU 2016 all dates with Helen Money supporting starting on Oct 25<br></p><p>RUSSiAN CIRCLES EU 2016<br>Oct 21 Wroclaw, PL @ Firlej*<br>Oct 22 Gdansk, PL @ B90*<br>Oct 23 Warsaw, PL @ Hydrozagadka*<br>Oct 25 Vilnius, LT @ Peleda <br>Oct 26 Durbe, LV @ Community Hall<br>Oct 27 Tallin, EE @ Rockstars<br>Oct 28 Helsinki, FIN @ Tavastia<br>Oct 30 Stockholm, SE @ En Arena<br>Oct 31 Oslo, NO @ Vulkan Arena<br>Nov 2 Bergen, NO @ Landmark<br>Nov 3 Stavanger, NO @ Folken<br>Nov 5 Athens, GR @ Smoke the Fuzz Fest at Iera Odos<br>Nov 6 Berlin, DE @ Kesselhaus<br>Nov 7 Leipzig, DE @ Conne Island<br>Nov 9 Brno, CZ @ Kabinet Muz<br>Nov 10 Budapest, HUN @ Durer Kert<br>Nov 11 Cluj Napoca, RO @ The Shelter<br>Nov 12 Bucharest, RO @ Control Club<br>Nov 13 Sofia, BG @ Club Mixtape 5<br>Nov 14 Skopje, MC @ MKC<br>Nov 15 Belgrade, SR @ Elektropionir<br>Nov 17 Zagreb, HR @ Vintage Industrial Bar<br>Nov 18 Ljubljana, SL @ Orto Klub<br>Nov 19 Vienna, AT @ Arena<br>Nov 20 Prague, CZ @ Lucerna Music Bar</p><p>*Helen Money not playing</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074141
2016-07-07T15:15:46-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
Mike Sullivan Talks to Music Radar about 11 life-changing albums
<p> </p>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="96" data-orig-width="816"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/5b1ed7ff7a4e1afb33df69cffea61fcd/tumblr_inline_o9ysqkbqz11qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="439" data-orig-width="782"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/d287c9dc9a74c48c3622ecce9a816fa6/tumblr_inline_o9yss0GWmZ1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<p> </p>
<p>“My tastes have become broader, I’m more open-minded,” admits Mike Sullivan as we prepare to grill him about the albums that shaped his life as a musician, as well as his own band’s latest recording.</p>
<p>“What I like I’m in love with and can’t get enough of. I walk around with headphones and listen every day to certain bands and I’m humbled by them. I’ll think, ‘Maybe I should go into gardening or become a cook because I’m so knocked down by these guys who write great riffs.'”</p>
<p>Mike’s a humble man. Because he doesn’t just deliver inventive riffs of his own with instrumental trio Russian Circles, but a wide palette of expression and tone that has helped the band build an immersive discography. Post-rock, post-metal… whatever you want to claim this Chicago band as, they are masters of their own versatile craft.</p>
<p>Sixth album Guidance affirms that, a powerful seven-song journey through the emotive lengths Mike travels with bassist Brian Cook and drummer Dave Turncrantz to move deftly between crushing metal war marches (Vorel), delicate hymns (Overboard) and anthemic major-key positivity (Africa).</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKJVYQtkPnc" width="500"></iframe></p><!-- more -->
<p>And looking back on their journey to get here, it makes perfect sense that they would eventually collaborate with Converge’s Kurt Ballou as producer at his intimate God City Studios in Salem.</p>
<p>“That was a first for me, to work with a producer who is a guitar player himself,” admits Mike, as the mutual fans “went all in” for the project.</p>
<p>“When it came to the first day of tracking guitars, we sat there with just Kurt, myself and his assistant engineer for a good six or seven hours just dialling in the tones.”</p>
<p>A wall of Ballou’s amps and cabs would yield a combination of setups, with Mike’s live pedalboard and trusted 1985 Les Paul Custom providing the bedrock for distortion, discordance and delay.</p>
<p>Mike has expanded on both his use of drones and tremolo picking to enhance Guidance’s compositions with a depth that again belies the perceived limitations of a trio.</p>
<p>“With this record, there’s drones everywhere,” he admits, “and it’s a matter of keeping them interesting. They are low in the mix, and it’s fun to make sure they’re diverse.”</p>
<p>His Strymon Flint reverb pedal remains a favourite for this.</p>
<p>“The Flint is an ace in the hole,” Mike enthuses. “When you get to the '80s reverb setting and that outer space sound that has nearly infinite sustain, you can have so much fun.</p>
<p>“It’s really great for getting drones. You’re able to get a lot of cool things without necessarily looping. It’s not just a static, fixed sound. There’s more movement to it. You can go to town with those Strymon pedals and make no wrong turns.”</p>
<p>That was the case with the writing process, too.</p>
<p>“There wasn’t much discussion with this record,” Mike notes. “As far as when we started writing, it’s one of the fastest records we’ve done. It came together quite easily; we all saw eye-to-eye on each song, and it all fell into place without needing much cajoling.”</p>
<p>If Russian Circles’ creativity seems almost instinctive at this point, it’s still fuelled by a conscious desire to explore their potential as fully as possible.</p>
<p>“We are an instrumental band, three of us doing our thing: let’s find the peaks and valleys and play with major and minor. There are a million ways to make things different from song to song, and it’s not just tempo and volume. It’s more rewarding for us to take advantage of those opportunities to make songs different from one another.”</p>
<p>The time and care Mike obviously takes over his music seems to be reflected in his album choices, too. Because what emerges are considered selections that represent the facets of a unique and gifted guitarist. So if Mike’s list goes up to 11, it’s for a necessary reason.</p>
<p>“You never know what’s going to resonate with you,” he notes of his journey so far as a music lover. “Some people hit it off right away, and sometimes you expect it, but not always. I think music is the same way. Certain bands hit you, and certain lyrics cut to the soul right away. I look forward to that as a listener.”</p>
<p>Guidance is released on 5 August via Sargent House.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074142
2016-07-07T06:00:25-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:12-08:00
Pitchfork Review of New Track “Mota”
<p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="173" data-orig-width="952"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/2650f819b032d50e8d5912c8c99794e4/tumblr_inline_o9x3cxm24P1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="510" data-orig-width="922"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/9300b5b56f45db88e7d5c4817926e1f2/tumblr_inline_o9x3c7eFyb1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p>The build-up is a well-worn staple of post-rock: transporting the listener from a place of quiet and calm to somewhere crashing and ecstatic. Because the trick is nowhere near new—especially for a long-running act like <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>—it must be executed with mastery and creativity in order to be anywhere near effective. “Mota,” the second single from Russian Circles’ upcoming album <i>Guidance</i>, shows the trio is more than up for the challenge, as each member attacks their instrument with an aggression that sounds both virtuosic and demonically possessed.</p><p>Dave Turncrantz’s swift, melodic drumming and Brian Cook’s distorted bass merge into a rhythm section with the dynamics and power of a band twice their size. Mike Sullivan’s layers of guitars, meanwhile, are dazzling, recalling both the staccato plucking of a string orchestra and the droning buzz of heavy machinery. When its inevitably massive climax arrives, after a tense midsection that sounds like a drill stripping away the head of a screw, it is with the subtle revelation of your plane taking off just as the drugs are kicking in. It’s less a question of “How did we get here?” and more, “How can I stay forever?”</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074143
2016-07-06T11:07:46-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
New Track Premiere “Mota” via Stereogum
<p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="157" data-orig-width="700"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/9b1c0879eaf7410f95061c093845c48a/tumblr_inline_o9wit1Md1l1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="69" data-orig-width="649"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/970fcba10a46a91e82a5a1fc475bd490/tumblr_inline_o9wiu4AXFr1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="515" data-orig-width="512"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3becfd958d0f0ba6b898b3007adaf05b/tumblr_inline_o9wiv2sdPH1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p>Back in May, the Chicago post-metal trio <i><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a></i> released “Vorel,” the lead single off their upcoming sixth studio LP <i>Guidance</i>. That song was a colossal rampage of terraforming guitars and pillaging drums that seethed steam through gritted teeth, liable to burn down the landscape even as it was willing it into shape. “Vorel” was music for smashing boulders or brandishing cigarette burns into glaciers, but the most exciting part about it wasn’t its battle march sweep or the throttling toms; it was when the song receded into itself and leaked these beams of transcendent guitar harmonics that suspiciously halted right when they seemed to signal light at the end of the tunnel.<br>A month and a half later, we finally get to hear that ray of illumination. “Mota” doesn’t crunch or crash like its predecessor; instead it’s a glowing orchard blooming fireballs. The song swells like a rising hot air balloon for the first two minutes, and then burrows all the sunshine into a pressurized hole during the next three, before it reaches a breaking point and supernovas into an earth-shattering frenzy of golden flames and propulsive shockwaves. And when the final residual screeching gives way to that hospitable bath of heavenly whispers that stops short before it can truly offer you salvation, its a cruel cliffhanger. This album can’t come soon enough. Listen to “Mota” <a href="http://www.stereogum.com/1885738/russian-circles-mota-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/" target="_blank">below.</a></p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="133" data-orig-width="512"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/ffb0cc1462a1b0b505caa8ccecd6aecf/tumblr_inline_o9wixcXsWT1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b>Tracklist:<br>01 “Asa”<br>02 “Vorel”<br>03 “Mota”<br>04 “Afrika”<br>05 “Overboard”<br>06 “Calla”<br>07 “Lisboa”</b></p><p>Tour dates:</p><p>08/26 Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *<br>08/27 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center *<br>08/29 Missoula, MT @ Palace Lounge *<br>08/30 Seattle, WA @ Neumos *<br>08/31 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge *<br>09/02 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *<br>09/03 Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom *<br>09/05 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *<br>09/06 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *<br>09/07 Englewood, CO @ The Gothic Theatre *<br>09/08 Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room *<br>09/09 Chicago, IL @ Metro *<br>09/25 Detroit, MI @ El Club ^<br>09/26 Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace ^<br>09/28 Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair ^<br>09/29 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^<br>09/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ^<br>10/01 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel ^<br>10/02 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall ^<br>10/04 Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 ^<br>10/05 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn ^<br>10/06 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon ^<br>10/07 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio ^<br>10/08 Austin, TX @ Barracuda ^<br>10/09 Dallas, TX @ RBC ^</p><p>* with Cloakroom<br>^ with Helms Alee</p><p>Guidance is out 8/5 via Sargent House. Pre-order it in <i>digital</i> or <i><a href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles" target="_blank">physical</a></i> formats.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074144
2016-05-25T11:14:39-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Pitchfork Reviews Russian Circles’ New Track, ‘Vorel’
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="147" data-orig-width="948"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/3ab264978052466b3e6303bfbf161931/tumblr_inline_o7qux1ofBk1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="369" data-orig-width="601"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/1ea5970148c8cc6085ad4b77fdd85f76/tumblr_inline_o7quxhsY8P1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>There are bands that conjure very specific personal images for me. Even when listening to them becomes habitual—for instance, Explosions in the Sky’s<i> The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place</i> for each and every jog—the music never loses its power. Instead, the sounds gather energy, ingrained and enmeshed in the everyday, like breathing.</p><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>’ <i>Memorial</i>, their fifth album, released in 2013, is one of those records. As its title suggests, it reflects on death, loss, and remembrance (there is a song called “Burial”). The best songs are melancholic, but also angry—as you often are when you lose a loved one. My friend Kenny died a little less than a year before <i>Memorial</i> was released; he was young and his wife gave birth to their first child a couple weeks after he passed. For me, <i>Memorial </i>became Kenny’s record, one that reminds me of our time together, a friendship that ended way too soon with me trying to hold it together while reading the eulogy at his funeral. It’s not easy listening, but I play it all the time—religion, I guess, for someone who doesn’t have it otherwise.</p><p>So it’s been interesting standing back and taking a listen to “Vorel,” a song from Russian Circle’s forthcoming Kurt Ballou-produced sixth album, <i>Guidance</i>. On it, guitarist Mike Sullivan, drummer Dave Turncrantz, and bassist Brian Cook move through their now familiar dynamics—gentle, pensive, clean guitars that eventually bloom into cathartic full-band metal crescendo. But they manage to keep it engaging and even enthralling. The trio’s been together for more than a decade and you can imagine them finishing each other’s sentences. On <i>Guidance</i>, they play with what feels like telepathy.</p><p>The cover of the collection features a photo of a man, his face unbroken, being led to an execution with stoic dignity. But there’s nothing stoic about “Vorel”: it kicks and punches and screams without words. It’s hard to know what the song means, and the album is too new to feel connected to anything outside of my headphones. That said, <i>Guidance</i>, in general, features a more bad-ass Russian Circles, a group that seems less elegiac, and more ready to plant their feet solidly on the ground, fighting back bloodied and bruised against each body blow.</p><p><iframe width="500" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKJVYQtkPnc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074145
2016-05-24T11:15:53-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Russian Circles New Track Premiere on Rolling Stone
<figure data-orig-width="725" data-orig-height="173" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/44de068dc15e3d3772c63a0071391216/tumblr_inline_o7p0m47fcT1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKJVYQtkPnc" width="500" height="315" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe><p></p><p><i>Hear Russian Circles’ new song “Vorel,” off the band’s forthcoming sixth album ‘Guidance.“</i><br><br></p><p>Over their decade-plus career, Chicago instrumental trio <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have toured with Tool, collaborated with <a href="http://www.chelseawolfe.net" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a> and won comparisons to Mogwai, associations that all make sense when you listen to the band’s new album, <i>Guidance</i>, which is due out August 5th. (The record is available for pre-order here now.) Like the music of the aforementioned artists, the album – the group’s sixth – is moody, dense and dynamic, the gripping soundtrack to an un-filmed drama. Above, you can listen to the second track from the LP, and the first to be released, "Vorel.”</p><!-- more --><p>“All our songs fluctuate between trying to wrangle some sort of order out of ugliness and rendering some sort of beauty out of existential despair, and we usually wind up touching upon both approaches within any given song,” says bassist Brian Cook. “I suppose 'Vorel’ leans a little heavier towards the former.”</p><p>Guitarist Mike Sullivan adds, “'Vorel’ has a sense of melody and underlying dissonance that we gravitate towards in our songwriting. It’s a great insight to the dynamics found on Guidance and really shows the strengths of the recording process with [Converge guitarist] Kurt Ballou; this was our first time working with him and it was an impactful experience.”</p><p>Russian Circles will tour in support of <i>Guidance</i> this summer; check out dates below and see all show and ticket details <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p>June 16 – Vancouver, BC @ Levitation Vancouver<br>June 18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Crucial Fest <br>August 26 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon <br>August 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center <br>August 29 – Missoula, MT @ Palace Lounge <br>August 30 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos <br>August 31 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge <br>September 2 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall <br>September 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Teragram Ballroom <br>September 5 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom <br>September 6 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad <br>September 7 – Englewood, CO @ The Gothic Theatre <br>September 8 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room <br>September 9 – Chicago, IL @ Metro <br>September 25 – Detroit, MI @ El Club <br>September 26 Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace <br>September 28 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair <br>September 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer <br>September 30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw <br>October 1 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel <br>October 2 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall <br>October 4 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 <br>October 5 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn <br>October 6 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon <br>October 7 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio <br>October 8 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda <br>October 9 – Dallas, TX @ RBC </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074146
2016-05-17T08:05:51-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
RUSSIAN CIRCLES ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, GUIDANCE & NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
<p><figure data-orig-width="570" data-orig-height="379" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://65.media.tumblr.com/58bd3eb7163715d610f350bcaf45bf5f/tumblr_inline_o7b2cyFGUK1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p><iframe width="500" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXXJ48_SiRU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p>Celebrated Chicago post-metal/rock trio <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> are thrilled to announce their highly-anticipated sixth studio album, <i>Guidance</i>, due out August 5th from <a href="http://www.sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a>. This 7-song, 40-minute LP was recorded by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios and showcases Russian Circles at their best and most realized yet in their decade-long career. Additionally, Russian Circles have announced an extensive North American tour in support of Guidance that spans from August through October and features Cloakroom and label mates <a href="http://www.helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> on select dates. This tour follows Russian Circles’ June appearances at Levitation Fest Vancouver and Crucial Fest in Salt Lake City, and all shows can be found below with more to be announced soon.</p><p><i>Guidance</i> will be released on CD, LP and digital formats on August 5th from Sargent House. More news and song premieres coming soon.</p><p><b>FOR SHOW/TICKET DETAILS CLICK <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br><br>RUSSIAN CIRCLES - ON TOUR</b><br>Jun 16 Vancouver, BC - Levitation Vancouver<br>Jun 18 Salt Lake City, UT - Crucial Fest ^ <br>Aug 26 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *<br>Aug 27 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center *<br>Aug 29 Missoula, MT - Palace Lounge *<br>Aug 30 Seattle, WA - Neumos *<br>Aug 31 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *<br>Sep 2 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *<br>Sep 3 Los Angeles, CA - The Teragram Ballroom *<br>Sep 5 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom *<br>Sep 6 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad *<br>Sep 7 Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre *<br>Sep 8 Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room *<br>Sep 9 Chicago, IL - Metro *<br>Sep 25 Detroit, MI - El Club ^<br>Sep 26 Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace ^<br>Sep 28 Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair ^<br>Sep 29 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer ^<br>Sep 30 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw ^<br>Oct 1 Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel ^<br>Oct 2 Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall ^<br>Oct 4 Atlanta, GA - Aisle 5 ^<br>Oct 5 Birmingham, AL - Saturn ^<br>Oct 6 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon ^<br>Oct 7 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio ^<br>Oct 8 Austin, TX - Barracuda ^<br>Oct 9 Dallas, TX - RBC ^</p><p>* w/ Cloakroom<br>^ w/ Helms Alee</p><figure data-orig-width="500" data-orig-height="500" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://67.media.tumblr.com/2a395bb6fa2167f52119da7180dfef13/tumblr_inline_o7b2usjL831qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><i>*top photo by Nicholas Sayers</i></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074147
2016-04-25T12:31:11-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Russian Circles 2016 European Tour Kicks Off This Week
<figure data-orig-width="723" data-orig-height="387" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/a9c361eb066c3576b448756710cc47c3/tumblr_inline_o67et9cE9i1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><i>photo by Andrey Kalinovsky</i></p><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>’ upcoming 2016 European Spring Tour starts this week 4/28 with DesertFest Dunk!Fest and more festivals along the way. For all show/ticket details click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>. All dates are listed below:</p><p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES EU//UK TOUR 2016</b><br>Apr 28 Glasgow,UK @ Saint Luke’s<br>Apr 29 Liverpool,UK @ Constellations<br>Apr 30 London, UK @ TheDesertFest @ Electric Ballroom<br>May 01 Utrecht,NL @ Pandora TivoliVredenburg<br>May 03 Orleans,FR @ L'Astrolabe *<br>May 04 Yverdon Les Bains,CH @ Amalgame <br>May 05 Lyon, FR @ Nuits Sonores / L'epicerie Moderne<br>May 06 Metz, FR @ We Are A Young Team @ Les Trinitaires<br>May 07 Zottegem, BE @ Dunk!festival<br>May 09 Wiesbaden,DE @ Schlachthof<br>May 10 Dresden,DE @ Beatpol*<br>May 11 Duisburg, DE @ Grammatikoff *<br>May 13 Copenhagen,DK @ A Colossal Weekend - Få billetter/few tickets!<br>May 14 Hannover, DE @ Cafe Glocksee<br>———————————-<br>*support by: This Will Destroy You</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074148
2016-02-25T10:46:38-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Just Announced: Russian Circles 2016 European Tour
<figure data-orig-width="3700" data-orig-height="1900" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://56.media.tumblr.com/b62cdb22b3ec6808043c893ae408c70a/tumblr_inline_o348qzhPDa1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have just announced their headlining European tour this April with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thiswilldestroyyou/" target="_blank">This Will Destroy You</a> supporting some of the shows. Russian Circles are also set to headline Desertfest, Dunk! Festival, and A Colossal Weekend. Click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a> for show and ticket details.<br>All dates below:<br></p><p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES EUROPEAN TOUR 2016</b></p><p>Apr 28 Glasgow,UK @ Saint Luke’s <br>Apr 29 Liverpool,UK @ Constellations <br>Apr 30 London, UK @ Desertfest @ Electric Ballroom <br>May 01 Utrecht,NL @ Pandora TivoliVredenburg <br>May 03 Orleans,FR @ L'Astrolabe *<br>May 04 Yverdon Les Bains,CH @ Amalgame w/ Oregon Trail<br>May 05 Lyon, FR @ Nuits Sonores / L'epicerie Moderne<br>May 06 Metz, FR @ Young Team festival @ Les Trinitaires<br>May 07 Zottegem, BE @ Dunk! Festival * <br>May 09 Wiesbaden,DE @ Schlachthof <br>May 10 Dresden,DE @ Beatpol * <br>May 11 Duisburg, DE @ Grammatikoff *<br>May 13 Copenhagen,DK @ A Colossal Weekend<br>May 14 Hannover, DE @ Cafe Glocksee</p><p>*Supported by: This Will Destroy You</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074149
2016-02-02T22:21:58-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
More shows and Festivals in Europe still to be announced.
info...
<img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/f2b7839246c45aff93cb6985d3343fa5/tumblr_o1ykcmRBxw1qbmkuto1_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br><br><p>More shows and Festivals in Europe still to be announced. <br>
info @ russiancirclesband.com</p>
<p>April 30 London, UK @DesertFest <br>
May 7 Zottegem, BE @DunkFestival</p>
<p>May 13 Copenhagen, DK @ A Colossal Weekend</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074150
2016-01-28T15:13:50-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Russian Circles to Headline Desertfest London 2016
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1191" data-orig-width="842" style=""><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/98d1d40305417b44745f027c5c73f6e8/tumblr_inline_o1oqbebcaQ1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>Just Announced: <a href="http://www.russiancircles.com/shows" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will headline this year’s Desert Fest @ The Electric Ballroom on Saturday, April 30 alongside Pelican, Godflesh, and many more. </p><p>For tickets // show info, click <a href="http://www.thedesertfest.com/london/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </p><p>Stay tuned for more dates TBA.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074151
2016-01-18T16:56:30-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Photos from Russian Circles NY Shows
<p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="492" data-orig-width="312"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/72dca12e8a185c133096e7ae7dbc2b46/tumblr_inline_o16cgqFsh91qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p><i>“Having just wrapped up a three-date mini-tour, Russian Circles played two sold-out shows at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus. Metal Insider contributing photographer Sarah Churchill was there and captured some photos and summed up the evening.</i></p><p>Russian Circles took a short break from working on their sixth album at GodCity Studio to play three dates with support from Wildhoney out of Baltimore and Cloakroom, hailing from Indiana. They played two sold out nights at Saint Vitus to a welcoming crowd.</p><p>I don’t know what they put in the water in Chicago but it seems most of my favorite bands come from there, Russian Circles and Shellac being at the top. Russian Circles mesmerizes the crowd with their music, which to me feels almost orchestral. Dark, moody lighting seems to fit their complex and hauntingly beautiful sound. Their sixth album is in the works and will drop some time this year. I hope with the album comes another tour, it is hard to get tired of seeing these guys play.” <a href="http://www.metalinsider.net/photos/photos-russian-circles-wildhoney-cloakroom-brooklyn-ny-saint-vitus-1816" target="_blank"> Metal Insider</a></p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="800" data-orig-width="1200"><img src="https://56.media.tumblr.com/82f4dc77fdcea8e1731d65bdb4a65d47/tumblr_inline_o16cp1DUdr1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="800" data-orig-width="1200"><img src="https://56.media.tumblr.com/ed4e87e1b05db0774f2d7fb9690e8155/tumblr_inline_o16cpb9Qq21qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="800" data-orig-width="1200"><img src="https://56.media.tumblr.com/3a1909ba84cf8bae0d0fcbeb63fd985e/tumblr_inline_o16cp7Cu8T1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>See the full gallery <a href="http://www.metalinsider.net/photos/photos-russian-circles-wildhoney-cloakroom-brooklyn-ny-saint-vitus-1816" target="_blank">HERE.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074152
2015-11-24T11:50:50-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Russian Circles Adds January 2016 Shows
<figure data-orig-width="612" data-orig-height="792" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/677036d773e1e608784f6c3201d133cc/tumblr_inline_nyc3ysWyBa1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>JUST ANNOUNCED: <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be playing 3 shows in January 2016 with Cloakroom and Wildhoney.</p><p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES + CLOAKROOM + WILDHONEY </b><br>Jan 7 // Boston, MA @ The Sinclair<br>Jan 8 // Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar<br>Jan 9 // Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar</p><p>For all show//ticket details click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074153
2015-07-22T10:58:35-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:13-08:00
Russian Circles // New Tour Dates Announced
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="960" data-orig-width="640"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/d67ef1166005870929014cae0f051da3a24b85e0/original/screen-shot-2015-07-21-at-5-18-28-pm.png?1437524333" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></figure>
<p><a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/blogs/www.russiancirclesband.com">Russian Circles</a> will be joined by <a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/blogs/www.facebook.com/cloakroomisaband">Cloakroom</a> for a short run of shows as they make their way to the East Coast to record their newest album.</p>
<p>For all show//ticket details click <a href="https://russiancirclesband.com/blogs/www.russiancirclesband.com/shows">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074154
2015-07-22T10:53:33-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Russian Circles will be joined by Cloakroom for a short run of shows as they make their way to the...
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="960" data-orig-width="640"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/1d8de6041d9832c52172abfcad0e4d1f/tumblr_inline_nrwhjaPnL21qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will be joined by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cloakroomisaband" target="_blank">Cloakroom</a> for a short run of shows as they make their way to the East Coast to record their newest album.</p><p>For all show//ticket details click <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074155
2015-06-25T17:03:56-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Russian Circles + Wovenhand London performance photoset up on The Farm Family
<a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thefarmfamily.com/wovenhand-russian-circles-live" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/bdf70da5dd3ba1979663d92e09aa80cbac492399/large/screen-shot-2015-06-25-at-4-57-11-pm.png?1435276686" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/40edb603f97eb7881fe3f921f947c71a0373412b/medium/screen-shot-2015-06-25-at-5-05-46-pm.png?1435277240" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/158639/a25a13f8c5bb1f4106d575fbf2ae455c78a096f2/medium/screen-shot-2015-06-25-at-5-06-21-pm.png?1435277243" class="size_m justify_center border_" /><br>After a string of separate shows and festival dates across Europe, <a href="http://russiancircles.com/">Russian Circles</a> and <a href="http://wovenhandband.com/">Wovenhand</a> united in London for a special show together at the London venue Scala. Photographer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nick-Sayers-Photography/284591928258529">Nick Sayers</a> was there and captured both sets. <br><a contents="CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL PHOTOSET AT THEFARMFAMILY.COM" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thefarmfamily.com/wovenhand-russian-circles-live" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL PHOTOSET AT THEFARMFAMILY.COM</a>
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Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074156
2015-06-25T13:12:22-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Russian Circles featured in Issue #12 // Music&Riots Magazine
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="154" data-orig-width="534"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/c971c918570b5719cfa58883430a08a8/tumblr_inline_nqilib4BHd1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="659" data-orig-width="783"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/d0c4374106962869cbcd28508088cfde/tumblr_inline_nqilip1fB11qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> live show review from their performance at RCA Club in Lisbon is now up on the new Issue #12 of Music&Riots Magazine. Read the full issue <a href="http://musicandriotsmagazine.com/?p=18011" target="_blank">HERE</a> or below:</p> <div data-configid="0/13769543" style="width:525px; height:371px;" class="issuuembed"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="//e.issuu.com/embed.js" async="true"></script>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074157
2015-06-09T15:49:39-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Russian Circles European Dates // June 2015
<figure data-orig-width="960" data-orig-height="565" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/92280bc3944db5ff29ab70e7de5663a1/tumblr_inline_npp6zybkLu1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is returning to Europe this month where they will meet <a href="http://www.wovenhandband.com" target="_blank">Wovenhand</a> in London to play at <a href="http://scala.co.uk/events/an-evening-with-russian-circles-and-wovenhand/" target="_blank">The Scala</a> on June 23. A full of list of shows can be found below.</p><p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES EU/UK SHOWS </b><br>June 18 - Munich, DE @ Feierwerk<br>June 19 - Düdingen, CH @ Bad Bonn<br>June 21 - Clisson, FR @ Hellfest Open Air Festival <br>June 23 - London, UK @ Scala w/ Wovenhand <br>June 25 - Dublin, IE @ Hangar</p><p><br>see all show and ticket details <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074158
2015-04-22T13:35:31-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Live Show Review of Russian Circles’ London Performance in Islington Assembly Hall
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="80" data-orig-width="384"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/faa272beb2b20678a4af381aa40c291f/tumblr_inline_nn85i7IuFy1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="437" data-orig-width="777"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/fd59c118d82112860740cad1d0412a4e/tumblr_inline_nn85irEkwe1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><h2><i>“Chicago trio blows minds without muttering a single word”</i></h2><p>As the Crossrail development in Tottenham Court Road has all but decimated central London’s live music scene, bands have been forced to look further afield for suitable venues. A newly refurbished, Grade II listed building on Islington’s Upper Street is fast gaining a reputation for becoming the mid-sized venue in the capital. With its modest art deco interior and stunning sound system, it’s the perfect setting for the Illinois instrumental trio’s headline show.</p><!-- more --><p>They open with the sprawling <i>Deficit</i>, a track taken from their 2013 album <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/memorial-2013" target="_blank">Memorial</a> and guitarist <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/mike-sullivan" target="_blank">Mike Sullivan</a>’s surgically-precise muted thrash riffing causes hundreds of heads to nod in unison. Refreshingly, there’s no macho posturing here; people don’t go to <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> gigs to throw their weight around. They go to absorb and escape; to stay rooted to the spot and immerse themselves in Sullivan and <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/brian-cook" target="_blank">Cook</a>’s thunderous loops and layered riffs. So much so, in fact, that a security guard to the left of the stage is so untroubled by the crowd that he takes time to apply some lip balm and gaze up at the undulating shadows the duo’s headstocks cast on the ceiling.</p><p>Maybe it’s because they’re winding down promotion on <i>Memorial</i> that tonight’s set is free of obligation and takes in highlights from their decade-long career. What follows is the soundtrack to tectonic shifts. There’s the brooding <i>Carpe</i> from their 2006 release,<i> </i><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/enter-2006" target="_blank"><i>Ente</i>r</a>. It’s followed by the doom swing of <i><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/empros-2011" target="_blank">Empros</a></i> opener 309 and chased by the rumble and clatter of Harper Lewis. </p><p>Wrapping up their 95-minute set with a transcendental <i>Mládek</i>, <i>Death Rides A Horse</i> and colossal version of <i>Youngblood</i>, Russian Circles prove tonight why they’re leaders in their field. And while their crowd interaction is limited to a raised hand and smile as they leave the stage, who needs words when their stunning musicianship speaks with the volume and confidence of a city banker on a Friday night?</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074159
2015-04-13T14:30:54-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Andrea Petrovicova is a Prague photographer whose work is mind-melting and otherworldly. When I look...
<figure data-orig-width="383" data-orig-height="165" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/664bf351f5c28e19a2c8bfe3dbc44134/tumblr_inline_nmrk6nHIXB1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="757" data-orig-height="457" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/87d73f98e5e8a695c674dddc7a600324/tumblr_inline_nmrk71Zx2A1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b>Andrea Petrovicova</b> is a Prague photographer whose work is mind-melting and otherworldly. When I look at her pictures, I lose myself in them only to find a new part of my imagination. Check out this killer photo essay featuring her most recent pictures of <a href="http://www.helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> and <a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> performing in Prague…Stay tuned for more work by Andrea Petrovicova on <a href="http://www.cvltnation.com" target="_blank">CVLT Nation</a>.</p><!-- more --><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/cd7c474bd0df09216ac77fd43607f67a/tumblr_inline_nmrkg3Ap3U1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/d88d459ba28a66d95531fb6709f52bfb/tumblr_inline_nmrkgexJcM1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/cc276f8e8f61a7256bb03b56818ecdd8/tumblr_inline_nmrkglU5JU1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/0bcad0112aa2ef0e8612a12e2cbd52fd/tumblr_inline_nmrkgs55C41qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/f08b02c8f0c759915770668e9bd4f472/tumblr_inline_nmrkh1CftP1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/f5b0542ede261e4606ac2b8d2793a621/tumblr_inline_nmrkh7rguG1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/96a6242aea68025b62c371f293c15f67/tumblr_inline_nmrkhiLtPi1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/c6128d692af3433873e2a72464850e90/tumblr_inline_nmrki0vj6U1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/75fe0310114e1f7afeb213f1ea88d9bd/tumblr_inline_nmrki9WK4q1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/ef45a997e309724f3c053b16efa21fa8/tumblr_inline_nmrkijkmOz1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="667" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/62d84cbdff8ccffe95da041f8cff3efe/tumblr_inline_nmrkisTMtr1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="667" data-orig-height="1000" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/85e6413530e437e3e16f045bad66bfcb/tumblr_inline_nmrkj225xi1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>To view full photo diary w/ Helms Alee click <a href="http://www.cvltnation.com/a-mind-melting-russian-circles-helms-aleephoto-essay/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074160
2015-03-31T12:02:40-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Steel For Brains interviews Brian Cook for The Farm Family
<figure data-orig-width="721" data-orig-height="466" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/7d85229bc9d3c9669ea94c4f006ee623/tumblr_inline_nm3akyBLHt1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><br></p><p>As quietly unassuming as <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/brian-cook" target="_blank">Brian Cook</a> is in person or over the phone, the bassist has spent the last decade playing to the deafening other end of the spectrum, whether with the hugely influential Botch or These Arms Are Snakes, or in his current and longstanding role in instrumental metal band Russian Circles. Cook’s talents aren’t limited to the stage, either. Alongside his musical work, he’s written for various publications as well as his own personal blog. Cook’s distinctiveness as a musician draws primarily from an exploration of textures and an instinct for restraint over flippant composition. It’s a characteristic that in many ways mirrors the kind of contemplative nature he exudes in conversation. I recently spoke with Brian to talk about the non-metal music he’s always found himself returning to and why narratives make all things better. </p><!-- more --><p><b>You have a fairly wide array of music you listen to, and country is one I’m assuming you have at least a passing interest in, right?</b></p><p>Yeah, I feel like I’m a dilettante in most realms of music where I just find a handful of things in any genre that I’m really excited about, and then I have a really hard time getting immersed in anything beyond a handful of artists. The only kind would be 90s hardcore where I feel like I have any sort of real authority over the whole genre. Everything else is kinda pick and choose. But yeah, American folk music and country is something I’ve always been fascinated by just because a lot of it is the basis for early rock music, and I guess I hear a lot of that in the straightforwardness and simplicity of it. I think it also comes down to where I like music that’s complex and challenging, but then again I’m also gonna always fall back on things that can really command three chords and make something interesting just out of that. If you can make something out of three chords then you’re really doing something right, and I feel like country music kind of plays into that a little bit. </p><p><b>It’s funny because I grew up listening to Roy Acuff, and there is something about the simplicity of that verse/chorus, three-chord structure that has staying power. Growing up since then I’ve seen that same thing applied in other genres as well, with punk being a prime example. It’s deceptively simple because there’s a lot going on when an artist is able to use the basics to accomplish something much more complex. </b></p><p>Yeah, totally. I think it’s Woody Guthrie that said “If you’re using more than two chords, you’re just showing off.” I feel like most people in my generation got their musical legs in punk rock music, and I think it’s because it’s so simple and it’s something that’s very empowering when you’re like “Oh shit. It’s just power chords? That’s so fucking easy.” I remember finally learning about power chords and it was like oh my god, every fucking rock song is just power chords. It was like this whole world opened up – the fact that people who’d made so many different types of songs were just using the simple structure of three chords or four chords or whatever was really fascinating when I started off. Then at some point you can maybe get too proud of yourself and go “Oh, well I need something more complex and meaningful than that,” but again I think it’s the same kinda thing you were saying with Roy Acuff. You get older, and it’s like “Holy shit, you know what’s really awesome? You can fucking write a really good song with three chords, and that’s all you need.” I think making more out of less is somehow more gratifying to me now as I’ve gotten a little older.</p><figure data-orig-width="500" data-orig-height="331" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/e87a33f9c4f202033ee27d013169a6ae/tumblr_inline_nm3askM04J1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b>I think there’s a lot to be said for simplicity especially when today’s culture is increasingly more adept at discarding music and art. </b></p><p>I think that’s sort of the depressing thing about modern music is that it’s so easy to make and so easy to get it out there into the huge canon of contemporary music, but it’s so hard to make something that’s really compelling and really stands out. I think a lot of times people will fall back on something that’s flashy or very groundbreaking texturally or will have a very interesting backstory in terms of “We recorded this song in a cave or in a castle or whatever.” It’s so mystical and the mythology behind it’s so fascinating, but if you actually just write a song that will catch your ear but not wear itself out after one listen I think is really trick. For me that’s the real challenge is to figure out how to make something where people will listen to it, they hear it, and then they wanna listen to it again even if it’s just out of curiosity or trying to figure out what they just heard, and then drawing more people in so that it’s kind of a lasting piece of music that will come back instead of burning themselves out on it after a week. </p><p><b>Where did it all start for you initially – that discovery of music and realization that you could and wanted to play? Was it heavy music or was it something else?</b></p><p>It wasn’t heavy music at all, and maybe something about that is very tied into the type of music I fall back on in my leisure listening. The first song I remember being sort of obsessed with was “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin. I remember being five and that song would come on the radio on whatever station my parents listened to, and I was always really excited when that song came on. I think a lot of songs from then on that always sort of popped out at me were things like that or Neil Diamond ballads, Simon and Garfunkel songs, so there’s always this attraction to sort of narrative songs with some folk leanings to them. As I got a little older and got more into pop music and things like hair metal and stuff like that, the entry point for me was always the ballads that they would have. I didn’t like Motley Crüe until I heard “Home Sweet Home.” It was always shit like that where I would be like “Oh okay, this I can understand,” and then I could wrap my heard around the more obnoxious elements of what the band was doing. </p><p><b>Does that mean you’re a big Journey fan, Brian? Because Journey are magic. </b></p><p>I somehow missed out on Journey, but I was a big fan of Survivor. That was a big one. I like some Foreigner. I was really big on Chicago, especially the 80s era of Chicago. My first cassettes were Chicago cassettes. My entry point was really sort of wimpy rock music that was more geared towards balladry, I guess.</p><figure data-orig-width="1000" data-orig-height="663" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/ee261b9beef5bad59ca2ac76ac4cbfc2/tumblr_inline_nm3av3tblS1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><i>photo by Allen Wan</i></p><p><b>It’s interesting because a lot of those bands like Chicago or Boston are being more and more embraced or at least less dismissed as uncool or whatever the hell. </b></p><p>Boston’s funny because I have some friends that are metalheads that are a little bit older, and they’re just like “Ugh. Boston.” Really? The first Boston record? How can you hate on the first Boston record? There’s not a bad song on there. Pretty much every song on that record is a hit. I’m sure if it was the early 80s, and I was really into Venom and Iron Maiden, Boston would seem pretty wimpy, but I think now living in this decade and not having that sort of context, you can go back and listen to Boston and realize those are fucking great songs. I think sometimes having a little distance from the original context of something can actually make it better. Journey’s kinda the same way. I know some people now that have come to embrace Journey. It’s great music. It’s not Led Zeppelin great, but there’s nothing to be ashamed of in liking Journey anymore in a kind of interesting turn of events. </p><p><b>Seems like time and retrospect have served a lot of those bands well. That said, some bands still maintain that kind of trademark pariah status for whatever reason like Rush, for example. </b></p><p>I think that one’s weird, too. I love Rush, but I also came to Rush kinda backwards. The first time I heard “Tom Sawyer” to me it sounded like classic rock mixed with Nomeansno. It sounded like The Who with Nomeansno’s rhythm section, so I’ve always loved Rush since that point, but I realize that my take on it’s probably a little backwards from what most other people approach it from. It’s always weird, though. I was reading an interview with Jeff Tweedy, and he was talking about ABBA, and he was just like it’s a shame that people really fucking hated ABBA. Maybe it’s what ABBA represented at the time because it was just total bubblegum pop music. It’s understandable why if it was this very modern thing it would be seen as being disposable ephemera, but now it’s like looking back who really can hate ABBA? Who can really hate those songs? They’re about popular culture, they’re well written and well recorded. It’s easy to not be an ABBA fan, but to hear “Knowing Me Knowing You” and be like “Ugh. What a fucking pop venture,” and it’s not. It’s just a fucking song. It’s a well-written song which is what people hate about it. </p><figure data-orig-width="992" data-orig-height="157" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/4c8b94da8b5c9a07102a709ca3fc7922/tumblr_inline_nm3ayy3acZ1qbab62_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="500" data-orig-height="750" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/45129ba76a59fea71100c67a0d2c4197/tumblr_inline_nm3b1jbgNQ1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b>I wanted to go back to your comment earlier about listening to songs with narrative or that are viewed as more complex. Do you see that kind of early fascination with the folk music and acts like Simon and Garfunkel as a sort of precursor to you becoming involved with writing yourself?</b></p><p>I think so. “The Boxer” is a great song. I remember Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” coming out when I was in fifth or sixth grade, and I remember that song really fucking me up. It was so depressing to me as an eleven or ten year old. It was like Jesus Christ. That song was dangerous to me. [Laughs] I was really terrified when the song would come on the radio, because it was like this is the kind of song that would drive people into depression. I was fascinated by that. I couldn’t believe people could write a song that was so dark and depressing. I was approaching that age I was realizing that a lot of the music I liked was sort of empty. Here I am trying to talk about how ABBA is such a great band after all, but at the time hearing that kind of music I was like “Oh, the melodies are great, but what are they actually trying to say?” I think it was hearing things like Dead Kennedys and Minor Threat where it was like “Whoa, these people actually have something to say.” Tracy Chapman or Simon and Garfunkel and others had these heavy lyrical meanings in their songs. In the case of Dead Kennedys it might be something more topical or specific socially, but to me that came across as being more genuine and more real because it was about something and wasn’t just about abstract, very generic feelings, or love, money, or dancing or whatever. Which is what most pop music is singing about. I really got into things that were very intense lyrically, and I think it really jumped off from punk music. I actually ended coming back to American folk music when my brother made me listen to Bob Dylan, and I remember listening to Blood on the Tracks, and just thinking “Holy shit! This is a very lyrically dense record,” and it’s a record that I still listen to constantly and still find really fascinating because there’s so much to untangle lyrically on that record. I think the type of music that I enjoy now has a strong lyrical component. There just has to be something going on lyrically to keep it compelling. Empty, vacuous lyrics can easily ruin an otherwise great record or great artist for me. I still think a narrative is kind of crucial for me. </p><p><b>That kind of goes against the general consensus of metal fans who say that lyrics are essentially unimportant, and I think there’s a lot of truth in that but I also think there’s a tendency to be wholly dismissive of the value in lyrics. </b></p><p>I think that’s one of the things I often find problematic about a lot of heavy music. I feel like a lot of it is sort of unsatisfying from a lyrical vantage point. A lot of the times I feel it adds texture or maybe some other extreme element, but it doesn’t really add another dimension to the music, and that can be kind of frustrating. A lot of what I’ve always gravitated towards musically is still sort of punk and hardcore, so a lot of the bands that I listen to like His Hero is Gone have really amazing lyrics that are dark, but you can definitely tell they’re about certain situations. It’s not Bob Dylan level of beat poetry put to music, but you still know what they’re fucking singing about and that makes it all the more impactful. I guess the more grind-based metal bands where it’s just the guttural vocals you think well, okay, it’s not really there for any other purpose than to have a frontman for the band. There’s still stuff about that music that I appreciate on a different level, but it’s a more basic level I guess. </p><p><b>You’ve published a book, The Second Chair is Meant for You, and you maintain a fairly steady presence in other areas writing for various publications. Does music inform your writing, or do you see those two things as being mutually exclusive?</b></p><p>I think there’s some crossover. I definitely like writing just because it’s a little easier to articulate very specific ideas. I think a lot of times when you have something to say, and you’re trying to say it in a song, you can get held back by rhyme and meter. A three-minute song isn’t always the best format for tackling a very complex subject. Sometimes it’s just easier to write about it and say what you want to say. But there’s also the inverse where you sometimes can’t convey an idea or an emotion just through the words. It just comes across as words, but music has a certain quality where you can make someone feel sad or get the idea of sad or triumph or anger across through the inflection of notes, and that can be a lot easier. With writing I feel like it was sort of an outlet to get more specific ideas that I had out there, but I also feel like it informs my music. A lot of times I’ll have a scene in mind or a setting that I’m envisioning but having music in the background that sort of plays in with that theme really helps get it down on paper for some reason. I think they’re sort of intertwined. They aim to compensate for what the other end of the spectrum can’t do, if that makes sense. </p><figure data-orig-width="500" data-orig-height="375" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/9ac3dc039c9b237697cc9e088686494c/tumblr_inline_nm3b3msK1G1qbab62_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b>With the musical project Roy you definitely explored those ideas of lyrical narratives. What was the origin for that project? Do you see that as kind of the culmination of that love you have for folk music and writing?</b></p><p>Yeah, definitely. I mean, that band came together as Botch was winding down. With Botch we were always touring with other heavy bands, and it was just heavy music night after night. When we were in the van we’d never listen to heavy music. Ever. [Laughs] I think every once in a while someone would listen to Tool or something but otherwise it was listening to Oasis or Belle and Sebastian or Neutral Milk Hotel or for a while there we were listening to Dixie Chicks because we thought it was funny, but I think we all sort of secretly liked it. But it was like listening to anything that wasn’t loud and heavy because we were listening to so much loud and heavy music night after night. I specifically remember having this conversation on one of the tours that we were on. I think it was when we were out with Jesuit and Dillinger Escape Plan, but we were all out at some friend’s house barbecuing that night and people started talking about their favorite records. It was interesting because everyone was throwing out something like OK Computer or The Queen is Dead and all these sort of formalized pop records, and someone just said “If these are what our favorite records are, why are we playing super heavy, obnoxious music?” Obviously I think everyone who was involved in all of those bands was very passionate about what they were doing, but when you’re not aiming for something higher or aiming something that you really love, why not try and write a record based around what your favorite artist did? I think that kind of planted the seed in my head of well, it would be kind of fun to try to do something that’s more sort of what the majority of my listening habits were at the time like Camper Van Beethoven or Neutral Milk Hotel. It was 1998, and that stuff still seemed really new and interesting and fresh to me. The opportunity to be a lyric writer and formulate something very specific lyrically was really appealing, so over the course of however many records we did was finally getting to get out all of these opinions and anecdotes and stories that had built up. It was an outlet that I’d never had before and really haven’t had since that in terms of playing music. It’d be super fun to do again. We never really broke up. It just sort of got to the point where we were always kind of a miserable live band because we didn’t really rehearse enough to be good live, and everything just got kind of busy. I think it was just one of those things where it was a lot of like the country folk stuff we were talking about earlier where there’s the simple three chords, and it was like “Okay, we tried those three chords. Now let’s try five chords,” and things just got sort of complicated until the point where I was playing beyond my guitar playing abilities and singing stuff that was basically hard to sing while playing those complicated guitar parts. My interest in developing musically outpaced my technical ability and that didn’t really help the process. </p><p><b>What’s on the horizon for you both with music and writing at this point?</b></p><p>I don’t really know. We’re sort of winding down with the touring on this record. We have a few more things left to do like our ten-year anniversary shows. Until then we’ll be writing and working on a new record and gearing up to do the whole circuit all over again. Musically outside of that I don’t really have a lot. I played on a record with Aaron Turner and Nick from the band Baptists. I think that comes out next year, but that was really just Nick and Aaron, and I was the fill in guy for the time being while they figured things out. We’ll see what happens with that. I think the record’s really cool and hopefully people will like it. </p><p>Read more of Jonathan’s interviews at <a href="http://www.steelforbrains.com" target="_blank">SteelForBrains.com</a></p><h2>
<a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is on tour in Europe with <a href="http://www.helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee<br></a><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank"> See Dates Here </a>
</h2><p>via <a href="http://www.thefarmfamily.com/brian-cook" target="_blank">The Farm Family </a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074161
2015-03-13T11:42:25-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Ponto Alternativo talks to Brian Cook about Russian Circles' upcoming European tour and more
<figure><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/26fdf4127281e4337711ba9321898c54/tumblr_inline_nl0ieamW5O1qbab62.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/1b6f997ec0c1a57669f82c6ea68b8919/tumblr_inline_nl0iklvJv91qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><i>An exhaustive introduction is not quite needed when the subject is <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a>. Let’s just say they’ve kept instrumental heavy music alluring enough to the point of having now a reliable and growing fanbase, particularly when it comes to Europe. Far from hunkering down behind what they’ve already achieved through five exalted records -“Station” or “Memorial” being discographical pinnacles -, the Chicago folks keep pushing forward and do not flatter themselvs aimlessly. What lies next is a European tour along with their <a href="http://sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a> mates <a href="http://helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a>, which will have a Portuguese gig - April 16th, Lisbon - and a special stop at <a href="http://www.roadburn.com/roadburn-2015/" target="_blank">Roadburn 2015</a>. We’ve chatted with bassist <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/brian-cook" target="_blank">Brian Cook</a> about it. But not only.</i></p><p><b>Time does move fast. And I find particularly curious that some press sources are starting to call Russian Circles «veterans». After being active for more than a decade, is the word veteran comfortable to you? Is aging, as a band, somehow scary?</b></p><p>I’m comfortable with aging. There are downsides, I suppose. Specifically, I’ve found that the longer I play music, the more prone I’ve become to wondering how our current work relates to things we’ve done in the past. I don’t worry so much about whether it’s as good, because I think whatever we’re working on at the time will be more artistically relevant to us, and will consequently be more favorable to our ears than our older material. But I am aware of the audience, and I’m aware that as a veteran, there is a lot of expectation. Different contingents of our audience expect a different ratio of the familiar to the new. Being aware of those expectations doesn’t change the way we write music, but it hovers in the back of my mind when we have to do things like write up a setlist. In that sense, it’s more liberating to be a new unknown artist, because there is no expectation. Whatever you do is occurring on a blank slate. There is a certain luxury in that. But ultimately I really like having a body of work beneath our belt. I feel like there is a certain artistic freedom that also comes from having an extensive back catalog. People are more willing to stay with you through your artistic risks, even if it’s outside of their comfort zone. </p><!-- more --><p><b>You’ve probably seen half the world already, you’ve been in a million places playing songs you know by heart and you keep yourselves motivated to pack things up, drive to the nearest airport and do it all again. What keeps you pumped up to repeat it? Are you constantly setting new goals for an upcoming tour?</b></p><p>I like being busy and I like being in motion. And tour is all about being busy and being in motion. There are bad days on tour when you can really start to dwell on the reality of your situation in a very negative way, but I’m generally much happier when I’m on tour. Every day I wake up with a new destination and a new goal. That’s ideal, as far as I’m concerned. </p><p><b>As a musician in his thirties, who has a career beyond Russian Circles, I picture that you do not want to leave your house if you’re not certain that the tour will be cozy enough: a comfortable place to crash, an appropriate van and so on. But do you still get some unpleasant surprise these days?</b></p><p>All I really care about is sleep. We did a couple of Australian tours where there was literally no time scheduled to get any sleep. For example, on our first tour over there we played a show in Canberra, drove three hours to Sydney after the show to catch a 6am flight to Brisbane. We landed in Brisbane, went to play an in-store at a local record shop, loaded in to our evening show, soundchecked, played the show, then went and DJ’ed an afterparty ‘til 3am, then had to be at the airport at 6am to fly back to Sydney to do an afternoon show AND a late show. I can’t handle schedules like that anymore. Or rather, we can tour like that, but we’re very aware of how it affects both our moods and our performances. It’s not good. In those kinds of situations, I definitely find myself thinking «why are we doing this?» What’s the point in flying to the other end of the world to wear ourselves so thin that we can’t even perform well? It makes no sense. We’re very picky about our gear and making sure we can recreate the sounds from our recording. And we like sleep. If we can ensure a good night of sleep and good gear, then I’m usually pretty content.</p><p><b>I’ve seen you a couple of times and people always love “Harper Lewis”, for example. That song is now seven years old and you must have already played it a zillion times. From the crowd’s point of view, it is always a great moment, but I’d like to know the musician’s perspective who has to rock it day in day out. Can a song like that become exposed to erosion?</b></p><p>“Harper Lewis” is an interesting example. I don’t think a show has gone by since I’ve been in the band where we haven’t played it. It’s a song that we all enjoy playing on a nightly basis even though we’ve been playing it for years. It’s a song that we’re so acclimated to that it almost serves as our way of EQing the stage, because it’s structured in such a way that we can usually dial in any small changes we need in terms of tuning, amp volume, monitors, and pedal settings during the course of the song. If we can get “Harper Lewis” to sound good, we can get through the whole set. “Geneva” is another song that we don’t really tire of, and we usually soundcheck with it for the reasons I mentioned with “Harper”— if we can make “Geneva” sound good, then all the other songs should fall in line. But there are definitely some songs that we’ve had to weed out over time, or only play them every so often. I think that’s just the nature of hearing a song over and over again. It eventually loses its luster.</p><p><iframe width="500" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nj99_o9RJnc" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p><br></p><p><b>I guess this question can extend itself to another subject: writing new music. With five full-lengths, how do you keep things interesting when creating – does the old press cliché which goes by introducing new elements work for Russian Circles? Do you add subtle changes? Do you try to blaze some new ground instead of repeating the same steps? The Chelsea Wolfe collaboration comes to my mind as an example.</b></p><p>It can be tempting to throw in a new element to freshen up the creative process. I’m starting to feel like that’s a pretty common cop-out, though. Isn’t it about time for us to do our electronic record? Our “Kid A”? Our “Zooropa”? I like to see bands expand upon their sound, but I almost have more respect for bands like Converge or Shellac who work within a specific framework and explore every corner of it. And I have even more respect for them because they’re not sprucing up their production in the process — they’re keeping things really straightforward. I like that. We’ve added some new elements to our arsenal, things like <a href="http://www.chelseawolfe.net" target="_blank">Chelsea</a> singing on “Memorial” or adding the Moog Taurus to our sound, but those additions weren’t desperate measures to expand our horizons — they were ideas that we were really excited about and wanted to have as exceptions to the rule.</p><p><br></p><p><iframe width="500" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJYJdPEy0TY" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p><br></p><p><b>Are you talkative when writing or are you at that cohesion level where you know each other so well that the words are scarce and you easily understand when something is right and something is not?</b></p><p>Actually, most of our writing process is talking. We talk through an idea, try it out, talk through another idea, try it out, and so on. There is very little jamming. </p><p><b>Is perfectionism something that you fight against when writing and recording? Or perfection is what you strive for? I’m asking this because perfectionism might lead you to doing nothing at all, afraid of taking the wrong way. Is it hard to say okay, this song is done, let’s leave it and move forward?</b></p><p>I find the more polished realms of rock music to be really fucking boring. The more you autotune, beat map, and edit music, the more it winds up like electronic music. It winds up being music made on a grid. No offense to electronic music meant there, it just seems to defeat the purpose of being a living, breathing rock band. I’ve brought this up in the past a bunch, but I’ll repeat it here: when These Arms Are Snakes recorded with Jack Endino, the guy who recorded all the early grunge classics, he had a very casual attitude towards our takes. The record we did with him (our split with Harkonen) was the loosest recording we did in our career. Jack’s theory was that the tiny inconsistencies in tempo and pitch were what made all the classic rock records so enduring. The brain recognizes the flaws on a subconscious level, and those imperfections keep the brain interested in the song way longer than if it had been polished and quantized to perfection. We want things to be tight. We don’t like obvious fuck-ups to slide by in our music, but if you listen closely to our records there are weird little mistakes and flubs all over the place. We had a particularly hard time finding the balance between making things sound raw and live in a good way versus a bad way when we were making “Empros”, but hopefully we’ve found a good middle ground now.</p><p><b>With a growing discography, how do you balance your setlist as well? I imagine that, immediately after completing a record, you want to play the full thing on stage, but how hard is it to leave some oldies at the sideline?</b></p><p>We’ve never wanted to play a new album in its entirety. There are so many weird little variables that we have to plot out and rehearse before we play a song live that playing an entire set of new material would be too complicated and stressful to enjoy. It’s more rewarding to balance out the set with old songs that we’re comfortable with and new songs that still present a challenge to us. It keeps things interesting without being too much of a brain drain.</p><p><b>And are you already thinking about the sixth LP? Will your perhaps play something new at this upcoming European tour?</b></p><p>We’re planning to try some songs that we haven’t played in Europe before for this tour, but we aren’t ready to play any new material at this point.</p><p><b>Bonus question: I see people wandering about a These Arms Are Snakes reunion, but I’m a diehard nutcase about Botch. Don’t you miss playing those songs and play those insane hardcore gigs? Is there a remote chance of witnessing Botch coming back from the dead? I’m willing to give away a kidney.</b></p><p>I’m pretty lucky in that These Arms Are Snakes were up and going before Botch played our last show, and the end of Snakes overlapped with my first year or two in Russian Circles. So I’ve been playing loud, dissonant music on stage consistently for over twenty years now, without any sort of hiatus. I’m glad people still like These Arms Are Snakes and Botch — we made those records with the hopes that they would still be interesting after the bands were no longer active. But I don’t really miss playing those songs. Like I said, I’ve never stopped playing loud, abrasive music, so there’s never been a moment where I feel like that stuff is missing in my life. The other guys in those bands might feel a little differently, though. They’ve all had some time away from beating the shit out of an instrument on stage. But I’m too stubborn to quit playing obnoxious music, and too stubborn pushing ahead to want to revisit the past.</p><figure><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/6df82f7d6ccf6aef763ceecdce2cf91c/tumblr_inline_nl0ixjQCR31qbab62.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><a href="http://www.russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">SEE ALL RUSSIAN CIRCLES SHOW DETAILS HERE</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074162
2015-03-04T14:57:41-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
Dave Turncrantz "Behind the Beat" for Ludwig Drums
<iframe width="500" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iFpSx5cCNNs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Dave took some time out to talk drums with <a href="http://ludwig-drums.com/" target="_blank">Ludwig</a> for “Behind the Beat” before playing a sold out show in Chicago at The Metro in January 2015. </p><p>Russian Circles European tour starting March 31st with <a href="http://helmsalee.net/shows" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a><br>as support on all shows. </p><p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">See ALL Russian Circles Dates and Details HERE </a></p><p><br>RUSSIAN CIRCLES // HELMS ALEE 2015<br>Mar 31 Vienna,(AT) @ Arena Vienna <br>Apr 01 Padova,(IT) @ Circolo Mame <br>Apr 02 Rome,(IT) @ INIT club <br>Apr 03 Milan,(IT) @ Lo Fi Club<br>Apr 04 Inssbruck,(AT) @ Platform Mobile Kulturinitiativen<br>Apr 05 Ljubljana,(SI) @ Kino Siska <br>Apr 07 Prague,(CZ) @ Podnik <br>Apr 08 Leipzig,(DE) @ UT Connewitz e.V. <br>Apr 09 Tilburg,(NL) @ 013 - Roadburn Festival <br>Apr 10 Paris, (FR) @ La Maroquinerie <br>Apr 11 Karlsruhe, (DE) @ Dudefest @ Jubez <br>Apr 12 Zürich,(CH) @ Rote Fabrik <br>Apr 14 Barcelona,(ES) @ Bikini <br>Apr 15 Madrid,(ES) @ Joy Eslava <br>Apr 16 Lisbon,(PT) @ RCA Club <br>Apr 17 Santiago De Compostela,(ES) @ Sala Capitol <br>Apr 18 Durango, (ES) @ Wombat Fest <br>Apr 21 London, (UK) @ Islington Assembly Hall<br>Apr 22 Bristol, (UK) @ The Fleece <br>Apr 23 Leeds, (UK) @ Brudenell Social Club <br>Apr 24 Tourcoing, (FR) @ Le Grand Mix <br>Apr 25 Esch-Alzette,(LU) @ Out of the Crowd Festival<br>Apr 26 Brussels, (BE) @ AB Box <br>Apr 28 Copenhagen, (DK) @ Copenhagen Jazzhouse <br>Apr 29 Hamburg, (DE) @ LOGO<br>Apr 30 Groningen, (NL) @ Vera <br>May 01 Dortmund, (DE) @ F Z W <br>May 02 Berlin, (DE) @ Lido<br>May 03 Wroclaw, (PL) @ Asymmetry Festival<br></p><p><b>RC ONLY</b><br>May 15 Santa Ana, CA @ Pyscho Fest @ The Observatory </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074163
2015-02-06T01:00:19-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
EUROPEAN TOUR starts March 31st with Helms Alee on All shows
<figure><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/024569a86901bf98bec4e892e26bbc22/tumblr_inline_njbt0zpjo51qbab62.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> & <a href="http://helmsalee.net" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> European tour starts March 31st - May 3rd<br>See all dates and details <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a> and below:</p><!-- more -->
<p><b>RUSSIAN CIRCLES // HELMS ALEE 2015</b><br>Mar 31 Vienna,(AT) @ Arena Vienna<br>Apr 01 Padova,(IT) @ Circolo Mame<br>Apr 02 Rome,(IT) @ INIT club<br>Apr 03 Milan,(IT) @ Lo Fi Club<br>Apr 04 Inssbruck,(AT) @ Platform Mobile Kulturinitiativen<br>Apr 05 Ljubljana,(SI) @ Kino Siska<br>Apr 07 Prague,(CZ) @ Podnik<br>Apr 08 Leipzig,(DE) @ UT Connewitz e.V.<br>Apr 09 Tilburg,(NL) @ 013 - Roadburn Festival<br>Apr 10 Paris, (FR) @ La Maroquinerie *<br>Apr 11 Karlsruhe, (DE) @ Dudefest @ Jubez *<br>Apr 12 Zürich,(CH) @ Rote Fabrik *<br>Apr 14 Barcelona,(ES) @ Bikini *<br>Apr 15 Madrid,(ES) @ Joy Eslava *<br>Apr 16 Lisbon,(PT) @ RCA Club *<br>Apr 17 Santiago De Compostela,(ES) @ Sala Capitol<br>Apr 18 Durango, (ES) @ Wombat Fest<br>Apr 21 London, (UK) @ Islington Assembly Hall<br>Apr 22 Bristol, (UK) @ The Fleece<br>Apr 23 Leeds, (UK) @ Brudenell Social Club<br>Apr 24 Tourcoing, (FR) @ Le Grand Mix<br>Apr 25 Esch-Alzette,(LU) @ Out of the Crowd Festival<br>Apr 26 Brussels, (BE) @ AB Box<br>Apr 28 Copenhagen, (DK) @ Copenhagen Jazzhouse<br>Apr 29 Hamburg, (DE) @ Logo<br>Apr 30 Groningen, (NL) @ Vera<br>May 01 Dortmund, (DE) @ F Z W<br>May 02 Berlin, (DE) @ Lido<br>May 03 Wroclaw, (PL) @ Asymmetry Festival </p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074164
2015-02-05T17:08:20-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:14-08:00
PopMatters Review: Russian Circles 10th Anniversary Show in Chicago
<figure><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/0ff662480e2c11d27df88d9429c357f4/tumblr_inline_njbi6iZuIU1qbab62.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/2d98520007946385b0caba71ef99690c/tumblr_inline_njbi6rKWLM1qbab62.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>The way anniversaries are typically celebrated in the music world tends to be arbitrary. Although these usually come up in neat multiples of five—the tenth anniversary, 25th, 50th, and so on—the fanfare is regularly thrown without any concern for whether or not the time that has elapsed, however neat a number it may be, actually holds any meaning for a particular artist’s career. Come the start of each calendar year, publications across the web and globe ready their lists of album anniversaries for a regular glut of thinkpieces—whether or not the albums in these albums are actually worth the retrospective is up for debate. So when the Chicago-based post-metal trio <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> kicked off 2015 with a tenth anniversary tour, there was only one obvious question: are the past ten years meaningfully significant for this band? </p><p>After their final United States tenth anniversary show, a homecoming event held at the North Chicago rock venue Metro, Russian Circles confirmed what their five studio albums in their ten years as a group had already made obvious: yes, this is an anniversary well worth celebrating. Based on the amount of moving bodies and battered eardrums that left Metro just after midnight, much celebration was certainly had.</p><!-- more --><p>Russian Circles’ most recent LP is 2013’s <i>Memorial</i>, which <a href="http://www.popmatters.com/review/175767-russian-circles-memorial/" target="_blank">I gave a perfect 10 out of 10</a> for this very publication upon its release. That’s a score no critic should take lightly, and to this day no matter times how many I revisit that record I stand by that rating. <i>Memorial</i> stands as the apotheosis of what Russian Circles have been building to since their solid but unassuming 2006 debut, <i><a href="http://www.popmatters.com/review/russian-circles-enter/" target="_blank">Enter</a></i>. That album, a compelling mixture of Explosions in the Sky-esque melodic guitar lines with moments of chugging brutality, displays techniques that have remained constant with the trio ever since. However, it would not be until 2011’s <a href="http://www.popmatters.com/review/148715-russian-circles-empros/" target="_blank"><i>Empros</i></a> that these techniques would reach a truly distinctive form, and with <i>Memorial</i> that form is perfected in a manner that can only be described as sublime. This is a band that has yet to make a bad album, a feat that on its own is impressive. Even more stunning, however, is that with every outing Russian Circles improved their sound. The only negative thing one could say about this group is that it’s quite tough to imagine them topping <i>Memorial</i>.<br></p><p>For that reason and many more, the sold out crowd that floods the Metro on a chilly Friday night in Chicago is to be expected. The two-level rock venue in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood is busy but not packed for the first two sets of the concert. By the time the Russian Circles to the foggy and dimly lit stage, however, rows of people push their way to the front to get the best possible view of the instrumental trio.</p><p>Russian Circles guitarist Mike Sullivan sets up when he comes to check his rig onstage, just minutes before the trio begins their performance. Sullivan’s skill in layering multiple guitar loops at once is one of the hallmarks of his band’s sound, which is on full display throughout this gig at the Metro. <a href="http://wovenhandband.com" target="_blank">Wovenhand </a>passed on the torch aptly, proving themselves to be appropriate label-mates to these post-metal titans. With a headlining gig already set for the 2015 <a href="http://www.roadburn.com" target="_blank">Roadburn Festival</a>, Wovenhand have a promising year ahead of them. One has good reason to believe this won’t be the last time this group performs with Russian Circles (who will also be playing at Roadburn).</p><p>Once Sullivan, bassist Brian Cook, and drummer Dave Turncrantz take to the stage, Metro is full to the brim with anxious concertgoers. At one point, I’m awkwardly sandwiched between two people as a line of fans crowds their way to the front. While it’s easy to complain in a standing room situation where one is packed in like sardines in a tin, once the powerful music of Russian Circles begins emitting from the stage, all complaints dissipate away. This is a showcase of a trio operating at the height of its powers, and they do not disappoint. At every Russian Circles concert I’ve been to, there have never been microphones for any of the members to speak, but as this night evinces, they don’t need to. The band’s performance shows clear appreciation for how far they’ve come, and the jublilant audience response makes it clear that the “homecoming” designation is no mere appellation. More than most metal shows I’ve been to, this feels like a party—a party with a great deal of headbanging, that is.</p><p>I’ve been to a considerable deal of metal gatherings in my time, and while rhythmic head nodding and devil horns raised in the air constitute a regular occurrence in these cases, rarely have I seen a crowd get so physically involved as they do once Russian Circles open with the <i>Memorial</i> cut “Deficit”. On the more rhythmic tracks, such as the militaristic march of “Station” and the near tribal drumming of regular favorite “Harper Lewis”, the crowd goes absolutely nuts. The security at Metro does their best to wrangle the crowd into a moderately unthreatening buzz, but even that is no small task. From the standing-room floor to the balcony area, spectators both look on and goad with eager anticipation. At one point, the requisite mosh pit forms in the middle of the standing room main floor.</p><p>Such energy is unsurprising given the dynamic push-and-tug of many of the songs performed. “Deficit” and “Harper Lewis” in particular are masterclasses in building anticipation and then subverting it. The former treads territory nearing black metal as it builds towards a thudding riff, and the latter is the archetypal example of Sullivan’s tension-building, with clipped guitar leads punctuated by chugging riffs. The title track of <i>Geneva</i> gives Cook a chance to shine, with his delightfully gnarly bass riff positively barraging the eager crowd with its ferocity. The frenetic audience reciprocates, matching Cook and Turncrantz’ pitch-perfect interplay with pumped fists and ersatz dance moves.</p><p>Although the call-and-response of all three members is what makes Russian Circles so distinctive, it’s the rhythm section that rises particularly to the top. Turncrantz is the kind of drummer that any metal band should aspire to acquire; even though his kit is minuscule compared to, say, <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Portnoy_2327714382_52470a147d_o.jpg" target="_blank">Mike Portnoy’s</a>, he utilizes every part of it to its full potential. Beats like those central to “Harper Lewis” and encore number “Youngblood” are of the kind that should send aspiring drummers to their practice rooms for hours on end. No one balances economy and complexity quite like Turncrantz, and even though he is the most shrouded in darkness of the trio during this concert, he constantly makes himself known with his nuanced beats.</p><p>To understand what it is that makes Russian Circles so special as an instrumental trio, one need only listen to “Death Rides a Horse”, a track off of the <i>Enter</i> LP. It’s become a major fan favorite over the years, and it’s particularly invigorating in this night at Metro. The crowd goes deliriously wild the second Sullivan’s two-hand tap riff kicks in, and the energy only increases as Turncrantz’s impeccably tight drumming and Cook’s staccato bass build the tension right up until the song’s climactic drum break. Paradoxically, “Death Rides a Horse” shows how far Russian Circles have come and shines light on all of the composite materials that have been there since the beginning: Sullivan’s layered guitar parts, Cook’s gurgling bass, and Turncrantz’s preternaturally taut drumming. (Cook joined the group after <i>Enter</i> with 2008’s <i>Station</i>, but he’s been involved in the core Russian Circles style for so long it’s impossible to imagine it without him.) Simply put, it’s improbable to imagine J.K. Simmons’ totalitarian drum instructor in <i><a href="http://www.popmatters.com/review/186796-whiplash-life-lessons-and-drum-battles/" target="_blank">Whiplash</a></i> ever saying to this band, “Not my tempo”. If there’s one thing a person can count on Russian Circles to be, it’s on tempo—and splendidly, at that.</p><p>I first encountered Russian Circles just after the release of <i>Geneva</i>. At that time, I could tell this was an exceptionally skilled instrumental metal group, but I had no idea that the trio would evolve into the powerhouse that it has today. As I leave Metro just after the next day has begun, I am confirmed in an opinion I made when I reviewed the breathaking <i>Memorial</i>: Russian Circles are the true heirs to the legacy established by post-metal greats like Isis. In fact, not only are they the heirs, but they’re the leaders of the sound at the present: few instrumental outfits, post-metal or otherwise, have made as much of an impact in the past ten years. Ten years may be an arbitrary if neat number, but this trio proves that anniversaries are sometimes genuinely worth the looking backward. The journey from <i>Enter</i> to <i>Memorial</i> has been a crescendo that any artist would have reason to be envious of.</p><p>If the buildup to <i>Memorial</i> is any indication, then I think it’s safe to say that one would be wise to toast to another ten years of music from this superlative band.</p><p>by Brice Ezell</p><p>Link to <a href="http://www.popmatters.com/post/190247-russian-circles-celebrate-ten-years-in-chicago-30-january-2015/" target="_blank">Article</a> to see full review</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074165
2015-01-28T21:46:36-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
The final show of the 10th Anniversary ones will take place in Chicago on
January 30th at the...
<figure class=""><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/76a95e85e654af4ad2699c97ae86ab52/tumblr_inline_nixbuxMs3Z1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>The final show of the 10th Anniversary ones will take place in Chicago on
January 30th at the Metro. Special guests on the bill are <a href="http://wovenhandband.com" target="_blank">Wovenhand</a> and Taiga, the solo project of Bryant Clifford Meyers (Isis, Red Sparowes, Palms) The show is already close to selling out so make sure to get tickets <a href="http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=6300680" target="_blank">HERE</a><br></p><p>**EUROPE** don’t miss seeing both bands Russian Circles and Wovenhand
on their own headlining Spring tours which includes them playing
together again at <a href="http://roadburn.com" target="_blank">Roadburn Festival</a> on April 9th. </p><p>See ALL Russian Circles w/ <a href="http://helmsalee.net/shows" target="_blank">Helms Alee </a>EU Tour Dates <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE </a><br></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074166
2015-01-09T19:28:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
Chicago instrumental outfit Russian Circles spent much of the...
<img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/8d0bca1da3230afc16155b3b7d39bfa8/tumblr_nhxyz4sTmD1qbmkuto1_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/f3070e4ebb406be63f1e341394e1d70b/tumblr_nhxyz4sTmD1qbmkuto2_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/4999ba3e27b16bf652450de87155a062/tumblr_nhxyz4sTmD1qbmkuto3_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/928dfbfd92f41ea72d74fa53fed9600a/tumblr_nhxyz4sTmD1qbmkuto4_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/79033dd0947229a77d47b1086efcf777/tumblr_nhxyz4sTmD1qbmkuto5_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/7580b0f3565493361166fc98b6e68571/tumblr_nhxyz4sTmD1qbmkuto6_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/caeabffcf3cf3b06777324073e23259e/tumblr_inline_nhxypq5Y1q1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p>Chicago instrumental outfit <strong><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">R</a><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">ussian Circles</a></strong> spent much of the final month of 2014 celebrating their 10th anniversary on the road, with a series of East Coast shows accompanied by the <strong>Converge/Cave In</strong>-affiliated trio <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Mutoid_Man" target="_blank">Mutoid Man</a>. While their recorded output is worthy in its own right, Russian Circles have long shined brightest as a live act, and a run of packed club shows felt like the perfect way for them to mark a decade together. The two trios brought their disparate-yet-complimentary live acts to Cambridge’s The Sinclair on December 10, 2014.</p>
<p>The founding members of Russian Circles, guitarist Mike Sullivan and drummer Dave Turncrantz, have been playing with bassist Brian Cook since 2007, and it comes as no surprise that the trio are by now a tight and cohesive unit. By way of pedal arrays and massive tones, Sullivan and Cook have no trouble sounding like more than the sum of their parts. Backed by Turncrantz’s consistently on-point percussion, they do more with a single bass and guitar than many other bands are capable of in a live setting. Each song of a career-spanning 10-track set-list sounded appropriately epic, deftly navigating from hushed interludes to headbanging climaxes and back again while keeping a sold-out audience totally spellbound.</p>
<p>Russian Circles also know the tricks of using atmosphere to deliver a properly memorable gig. The band travels with their own back-lighting rig, which illuminates them in dramatic shadows and silhouettes, foregoing the house lights until a particularly stirring passage demands an extra burst. The three men say nothing on stage and rarely glance at the audience, which might feel dull or disengaged were their attention to detail and mood, both sonically and visually, not so readily apparent.</p>
<p><!-- more -->Mutoid Man, the brainchild of Cave In singer/guitarist Stephen Brodsky and Converge drummer Ben Koller, offered less in the way of ambience, but made up for it with plenty of unhinged personality. Rounded out by bassist Nick Cageao, the band ripped through a breathless opening set comprised of much of their debut LP <em>Helium Head</em>, a handful of new songs and a show-stopping cover of Sabbath’s <em>Mob Rules</em> cut “Falling Off the Edge of the World” with a guest vocalist. Mutoid Man transpose Koller’s frenetic drumming and Brodsky’s guitar and vocal talents to a more lighthearted project than either’s primary gig, and they’re undeniably a blast to watch.</p>
<p>The bill was perhaps an odd match up of bands, but with so much talent involved, it was hard to find fault with it. Mutoid Man got us psyched up and Russian Circles kept us riveted, celebrating their 10 years with a set that perfectly summarized their strengths. Here’s to hoping the first decade won’t be the last.</p>
<div><a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2015/01/russian-circles-live-at-cambridge-mas-the-sinclair/" target="_blank"><span><em>—Ben Stas</em></span></a></div>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074167
2014-12-15T14:35:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
Russian Circles Continue 10th Anniversary shows with Mamiffer on West Coast
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/fc9ac41894303a81275599c51d41129d/tumblr_inline_ngnagjhWLa1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> will play their last show of 2014 in Denver, CO on <a href="http://www.axs.com/events/255175/russian-circles-tickets?skin=gothictheatre" target="_blank">December 27th at the Gothic Theater</a>. They have also added some more Tenth Anniversary shows on the West Coast and Pacific Northwest with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mamiffer/110768695615501" target="_blank">Mamiffer</a> joining them for those. Finally on January 30th they will play their hometown of Chicago at the Metro with special guests to be announced - tickets for all shows are now on sale at links below.</p>
<p>Also just announced are the Spring 2015 EU/UK Tour dates with <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Helms_Alee" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> joining them for all including <a href="http://www.roadburn.com/" target="_blank">Roadburn Festival</a>.<br><br><!-- more --></p>
<script src="https://widget.bandsintown.com/javascripts/bit_widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p><a class="bit-widget-initializer" href="https://www.bandsintown.com/Russian%20Circles" data-artist="Russian Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles Tour Dates</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074168
2014-12-15T14:24:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
See full show review with more photos by Jess Rechsteiner at...
<img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/25dabe061ad31b4d747a41ffb3a30186/tumblr_ngna9nJbyr1qbmkuto1_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/3c803502a7fa47df7b332e17d3651ccd/tumblr_ngna9nJbyr1qbmkuto2_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/38f838dd40465ab99f87c7fd9f919445/tumblr_ngna9nJbyr1qbmkuto3_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/9cb7e4e983015e426bb13dfaa67ca458/tumblr_ngna9nJbyr1qbmkuto4_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/1ac22f09ad4b86ca74d572594548b3dc/tumblr_ngna9nJbyr1qbmkuto5_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><p><a href="http://newnoisemagazine.com/show-review-russian-circles-mutoid-man-music-hall-williamsburg-brooklyn/" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/ce28e9df684daee5eccf1c09fe9563ce/tumblr_inline_ngn925LR0z1sdy2if.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a><strike><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/e2d7f5fa9230e6f016b80d338a15181a/tumblr_inline_ngn92cKLal1sdy2if.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /><br></strike></p>
<p><strong>See full show review with more photos by Jess Rechsteiner at <a href="http://newnoisemagazine.com/show-review-russian-circles-mutoid-man-music-hall-williamsburg-brooklyn/" target="_blank">New Noise Magazine here </a></strong></p>
<p>…As Mutoid Man was wrapping up and leaving the stage the crowd was filled with excitement for <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> to do what they do best. As I mentioned earlier, this was not the first time I had seen Russian Circles, and I knew going into it that I most likely would not be disappointed.</p>
<p>The room was dark, and there was a quiet drone coming from guitarist Mike Sullivan’s amp setting the mood before they came out to play. We were all eagerly wondering what songs they would play while we had those we were hoping to hear in our minds. They played a set filled with diversity between albums, which was more than anyone could have asked for. At least one song from each of their five records was presented. Everything about them was flawless. Some of my favorites were their older songs off the album Enter. The most outstanding track they performed in my eyes was a song titled “1777” off of their latest album, <em>Memorial</em>. There was something about that song that captured me into a trance that I hadn’t felt at a show in a long time. Russian Circles opened my eyes and ears to some things about their style that I never noticed before. Being up front the whole time and fully attentive, I was able to pick apart their riffs, and hear what influenced them. They have gone from being a really good post-metal band, to a band that explores both the heavy and ambient parts of their songs with riffs influenced by other genres, such as black metal. Every time I watch them play, I experience various feelings of depression, beauty, and darkness. Russian Circles also proved yet again just how good they were as players. While they each have their expertise individually, together they were like an unstoppable force of pleasantry to the human ear. Sullivan showed just how easy it looks to play guitar and made it look effortless. Drummer, Dave Turncrantz used his unique hard style of drumming to lead the band into their gaze. Brian Cook, who is always interesting to watch, played like an inhuman machine. Everything looked mechanical and effortless on his end, which is very inspiring to any fellow musician.</p>
<p>I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Russian Circles never disappoints with their live performance, and I’m not sure they ever will.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074169
2014-11-12T10:34:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
Russian Circles add more 10 Year Anniversary Shows with Mutoid Man
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/cb4b3c137c1cf4d6e1869b2e48c73e81/tumblr_inline_nexv91b80d1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have added two more shows on their East Coast run with <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/mutoidman" target="_blank">Mutoid Man</a> the new band from Steve Brodsky (Cave-In) and Ben Koller (Converge) joining them on all five of the east coasters. West Coast & PNW dates will be announced soon and will take place in January. See dates below <br><!-- more --></p>
<script src="https://widget.bandsintown.com/javascripts/bit_widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p><a class="bit-widget-initializer" href="https://www.bandsintown.com/Russian%20Circles" data-artist="Russian Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles Tour Dates</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074170
2014-11-12T09:58:40-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
Russian Circles to play Roadburn Festival 2015 - Spring EU Tour To Be Announced
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/548d99ca8df3e47324744bcbef04166a/tumblr_inline_nextp7MtMt1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have just been announced to play the 20th Anniversary of <a href="http://www.roadburn.com/2014/11/russian-circles-bring-rich-evocative-instrumentals-roadburn-2015/" target="_blank">Roadburn Festival</a> on April 9, 2015 in Tilburg, Netherlands. A full headlining EU Tour will be announced soon for the entire month of April, joining them on all shows will be <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Helms_Alee" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a>. <br><br><a href="http://www.roadburn.com/" target="_blank">See Full Roadburn Lineup Here </a><br><br><a href="https://www.bandsintown.com/RussianCircles/start_tracking?came_from=176" target="_blank">And Make sure to TRACK Russian Circles so you can get alerts for your city when shows are announced HERE.</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074171
2014-10-16T23:12:22-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
4 New Shows Announced in December
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/b491bcafdefdc3a869bb2ace72a5ddaf/tumblr_inline_ndkq53heFf1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/49c445d519c8edd3eac67bf5ffe99502/tumblr_inline_ndkq5hpod21qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p>Post-metallers <strong>Russian Circles</strong> are going out on a short tour with their Cave In/Converge-related label mates <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/mutoidman" target="_blank"><strong>Mutoid Man</strong></a> this December. The Sargent House acts are playing shows in Cambridge, Philly and a Brooklyn stop on <strong>December 11 at Music Hall of Williamsburg.</strong> <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=4103&awinaffid=141047&clickref=bv&p=http://www.ticketmaster.com/russian-circles-brooklyn-new-york-12-11-2014/event/00004D4EA8C33042?artistid=1085530&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60" target="_blank"><strong>Tickets</strong></a> for all North East shows go on sale this Friday (10/17) at noon. The currently announced tour schedule is below.</p>
<p>Look forward to new tracks from <strong>Mutoid Man</strong> at these shows, they’ve got a new LP <a href="http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/06/the_heavy_lowdo_19.html" target="_blank">lined up for release next year.</a> In case you missed it when it originally dropped, the band’s stellar 2013 debut, <a href="http://mutoidman.bandcamp.com" target="_blank"><em>Helium Head</em></a> was just <a href="http://hellomerch.com/collections/mutoid-man/products/helium-head" target="_blank">reissued through Sargent House.</a> Russian Circles’ last release was 2013’s killer <em>M<a href="http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/memorial" target="_blank">emorial</a></em>, and they’re reissuing their 2006 debut <a href="https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/enter" target="_blank"><em>Enter</em></a> on November 25 (<a href="http://hellomerch.com/collections/russian-circles/products/enter-12-vinyl-pre-order" target="_blank">pre-order</a>) and in stores in Mid December.</p>
<p><span class="userContent"><strong><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank">All Russian Circles Dates & Details HERE</a></strong><br><br><strong>Russian Circles & Mutoid Man- 2014</strong><br> 12/10 - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SinclairCambridge" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=169694033165986" target="_blank">The Sinclair</a> - Cambridge, MA <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/01004D4DF82073A6" target="_blank">(Tix)</a><br> 12/11 - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/musichallofwb" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=22200834587" target="_blank">Music Hall of Williamsburg</a> - Brooklyn, NY <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00004D4EA8C33042" target="_blank">(Tix)</a><span class="text_exposed_show"><br> 12/12 - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Underground-Arts/108590882538053" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=108590882538053" target="_blank">Underground Arts</a> - Philadelphia, PA <a href="http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=5425125&pl=uarts" target="_blank">(Tix)</a><br><br><strong>RC w/ support TBA</strong> <br>12/27 - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gothictheatre" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=85196412058" target="_blank">Gothic Theatre</a> - Englewood, CO <br><a href="http://www.axs.com/events/255175/russian-circles-tickets" target="_blank">tickets on sale 10/24 </a><br></span></span></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074172
2014-09-10T16:20:30-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:15-08:00
Russian Circles Canadian Tour & 2 US Fests starts September 13th
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/f97ecd53577b0023a19e18fd975c428c/tumblr_inline_nbpkgrFbeZ1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> headlining Canadian tour starts on September 13th with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theatlasmothband?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">The Atlas Moth</a> as support on all shows. They will also play two US festivals at the end of the run, the first in Minneapolis on Sept 26th at <a href="http://thedowntownfestival.com/msp/" target="_blank">The Downtown Festival</a> with <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Deafheaven" target="_blank">Deafheaven</a>, then ending in Dallas, TX where they will play <a href="http://www.index-festival.com/" target="_blank">Index Festival</a> with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/palmsband?fref=ts" target="_blank">Palms</a> on 9/28.</p>
<p><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank"><strong>SEE ALL RUSSIAN CIRCLES DATES, DETAILS HERE</strong> </a><br><strong><br>RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE 2014</strong><br>09/13 London, ON @ Rum Runner Room (London Music Hall) #<br>09/14 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile End #<br>09/15 Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace #<br>09/18 Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid #<br>09/20 Calgary, AB @ Palomino #<br>09/22 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Stop #<br>09/24 Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop #<br>09/26 Minneapolis, MN @ <a href="http://thedowntownfestival.com/msp/" target="_blank">Downtown Festival </a>@ Skyway Theater ** <br>09/ 27- 28 Dallas, TX @ <a href="http://www.index-festival.com/" target="_blank">Index Festival </a>^^<br><br># w/ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theatlasmothband?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">The Atlas Moth</a> <br>** w/ <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Deafheaven" target="_blank">Deafheaven,</a>The Atlas Moth & False<br>^^ w/ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/palmsband?fref=ts" target="_blank">Palms</a>, Senses Fail, Joyce Manor, Zorch</p>
<p><!-- more --><br>*photo above by Chuck Brueckmann - taken at Chicago’s Millenium Park on August 12, 2014</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074173
2014-08-04T10:42:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
Russian Circles announce August Shows and Canadian Headline tour in September
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/cccb2e12ed35f67b5e577277d76d4ad0/tumblr_inline_n9riaaZKIQ1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have just announced a headlining Canadian tour beginning in September with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theatlasmothband?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">The Atlas Moth</a> as support on all shows as well as two festival plays at the end of the run in the USA, at <a href="http://thedowntownfestival.com/msp/" target="_blank">The Downtown Festival</a> in Minneapolis then at <a href="http://www.index-festival.com/" target="_blank">Index Festival</a> in Dallas. Prior to all this the trio will play a free hometown show in Chicago at Millennium Park on August 11th as part of the <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park1.html" target="_blank">Downtown Sound New Music Monday Series</a> starting at 6pm. Russian Circles will also headline the<a href="http://arctangent.co.uk/line-up/" target="_blank"> ArcTangent </a>Festival in Bristol, UK and the <a href="https://secure.tickets.ie/Listing/EventInformation/19174/sargent-house-label-show-the-button-factory-27-August-2014" target="_blank">Sargent House Label Show</a> in Dublin, Ireland in August.</p>
<p><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank"><strong>SEE ALL RUSSIAN CIRCLES DATES, DETAILS HERE</strong> </a></p>
<p><strong>RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE 2014</strong><br>08/11 Chicago, IL @ Millennium Park / Pritzker Pavilion - FREE 6:30pm<br>08/27 Dublin, IE @ <a href="https://secure.tickets.ie/Listing/EventInformation/19174/sargent-house-label-show-the-button-factory-27-August-2014" target="_blank">Sargent House Label Show @ Button Factory</a><br>08/29 Bristol, UK @ <a href="http://arctangent.co.uk/line-up/" target="_blank">ArcTangent Festival </a><br>09/13 London, ON @ Rum Runner Room (London Music Hall) #<br>09/14 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile End #<br>09/15 Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace #<br>09/18 Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid #<br>09/20 Calgary, AB @ Palomino #<br>09/22 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Stop #<br>09/24 Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop #<br>09/26 Minneapolis, MN @ <a href="http://thedowntownfestival.com/msp/" target="_blank">Downtown Festival </a>@ Skyway Theater ** #<br>09/ 27- 28 Dallas, TX @ <a href="http://www.index-festival.com/" target="_blank">Index Festival </a><br> <br>** w/ <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Deafheaven" target="_blank">Deafheaven </a><br># w/ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theatlasmothband?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">The Atlas Moth</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074174
2014-06-30T11:34:54-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
Russian Circles add Summer shows in Asia, Chicago, Dublin & UK
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/b4f2a649d36223b14a299edaad0f4e32/tumblr_inline_n6r68iaMD41qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> have now added three more shows in Asia immediately following their Japan dates in July. Then on August 11th they will be playing a free show at Millennium Park In their hometown of Chicago as part of the <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park1.html" target="_blank">Downtown Sound series</a>. They will then fly to Ireland where they will play the <a href="http://sargenthouseeurope.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/sargent-house-digital-compilation-w-early-bird-guest-list-to-dublin-label-show" target="_blank">Sargent House Label show</a> in Dublin on August 27th and on August 29th they will headline the <a href="http://arctangent.co.uk/line-up/" target="_blank">ArcTangent Festival </a>in Bristol, UK.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank">See all Russian Circles Tour Dates and Details HERE. </a></strong><br><br><strong>RUSSIAN CIRCLES ASIA 2014 <br><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/629089cd06ff08fab09d04cdfdde80ea/tumblr_inline_n6r77cRgGf1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>July 12</strong> - Tokyo, Japan @ Daikanyama UNIT <br> Leave Them All Behind Fest w/ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesu" target="_blank">Jesu</a>, <a href="http://monoofjapan.com/en/" target="_blank">Mono</a> & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cohol.jp?fref=ts" target="_blank">COHOL </a><br><strong>July 13</strong> - Osaka, Japan @ Pangea w/ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesu" target="_blank">Jesu</a><br><strong>July 15</strong> - Tokyo, Japan @ Shibuya West <br>w/ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Broadrick" target="_blank">JK Flesh (Justin K. Broadrick Solo</a>) & <a href="http://endon.figity.com/" target="_blank">Endon</a><br><strong>July 18</strong> - Taipei, Tawain @ The Wall <br><strong>July 20</strong> - Singapore @ Zouk <br><strong>July 22</strong> - Hong Kong @ Hidden Agenda <br><br><strong>August 11</strong> - Chicago, IL @ Millennium Park (Free Show) <strong><br></strong><strong><br>August 27</strong> - Dublin, Ireland @ Button Factory <br>w/ <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/And_So_I_Watch_You_From_Afar" target="_blank">And So I Watch You From Afar</a>, <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Tera_Melos" target="_blank">Tera Melos</a>, <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Emma_Ruth_Rundle" target="_blank">Emma Ruth Rundle</a>, <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Mylets" target="_blank">Mylets</a> and <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/No_Spill_Blood" target="_blank">No Spill Blood</a><br><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/7f1f70ef20a0580057825a73bb786d7b/tumblr_inline_n6r7mwSMOj1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /><br><br><strong>August 29</strong> - Bristol, UK @ <a href="http://arctangent.co.uk/line-up/" target="_blank">ArcTangent Festival </a></p>
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/b1f2fe6d61875025f54700603ca3a3fb/tumblr_inline_n7zvltTctm1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p>
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Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074175
2014-04-28T16:27:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
Australian Tour starts Tonight April 29th - Interview with Russian Circles
<p><a href="http://www.spaceshipnews.com.au/interview-russian-circles/" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/62bfa373c2e13aad7bcbc8c7b4f2111f/tumblr_inline_n4rkzspXfC1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.spaceshipnews.com.au/interview-russian-circles/" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/0832c2575bd846171a0906e2d59e4e3c/tumblr_inline_n4rl1bzMgv1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/57a588474bb2ff0c8de4caad846e57af/tumblr_inline_n4rl1ryu101qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><em>Ahead of their third Australian tour, <strong>Mike Sullivan</strong> of instrumental trio <strong><a class="st_tag internal_tag" href="http://www.spaceshipnews.com.au/tag/russian-circles/" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with russian circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a></strong> talks to <strong>Matthew Tomich</strong> about the songwriting process, expectations and working with <a href="http://chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a>.<br><br><strong><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank">SEE ALL RUSSIAN CIRCLES AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES HERE</a></strong><br></em></p>
<p><a class="st_tag internal_tag" href="http://www.spaceshipnews.com.au/tag/russian-circles/" rel="tag" title="Posts tagged with russian circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> deal in polarities. From minimalist progressions to expansive crescendos, the Chicago trio’s sound oscillates from one extreme to another. Over the course of five albums and ten years, the they’ve made a career of defying the clichés of post-rock, eschewing delay pedal abuse and the loud/quiet/loud dynamic in favour complex song structures, gargantuan rhythms and unpredictable movements. For guitarist Mike Sullivan, it’s all about the emotion.</p>
<p>“That’s the most important part, the feeling of it.That’s the only real point — that it sits with you at an emotional level. Not just, ‘oh, that’s a cool riff, that’s a cool drum solo,’ but that it just kind of creeps into the dark spots settles somewhere.”</p>
<p>Those dark spots are most apparent on Russian Circles’ fifth record, <a href="http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/memorial" target="_blank"><em>Memorial</em>.</a> While the trio’s brand of post-rock has rarely been described is rarely described as uplifting, <em>Memorial </em>is easily the their most downbeat record. “It’s more melancholic, a little more bleak and more intense overall, and that’s pretty much the point,” says Sullivan. “The song titles have a meaning to us — cryptic meanings, different meanings to all of us in a way — but the whole point is how it makes you feel.”</p>
<p><!-- more -->From its not-so-subtle track names (‘Burial,’ ‘Memoriam’) to the sombre synth lines that underpin the majority of the record, <em>Memorial </em>plays out like a eulogy, the soundtrack to an unwritten tragedy in 37 minutes. A lot of that owes to the band’s experimentation with new sounds, from harsh feedback to old synthesizers to string sections.</p>
<p>“There are things we always wanted to do, but didn’t know how to do the best way until this record,” explains Sullivan. “After five years with Brian [Cook, bassist] and ten years as a band, it’s a little more liberating to venture out of our comfort zone, because we can only play so many songs live. So with each record we release, there’s more of that sense of, ‘okay, how many songs can we play live?’ We don’t let ourselves say, ‘we’re a three-piece rock band and we have to play everything live.’ There’s a certain element of that, but if we know a song would be better suited with a certain string section or some horns here or there, we won’t step back and shy away from that. We’ll embrace that and find a way to make it connect in a live setting. Usually the song will come first.”</p>
<p><em>Memorial</em> not only marks an aesthetic evolution in Russian Circles’ sound, but it also features the first instance of vocals in the band’s catalogue. Sargent House labelmate Chelsea Wolfe guests on the album’s closing track ‘Memorial’ with a beautiful and ghostly performance that feels like the final moments of a funeral.</p>
<p>“That was a song written especially for Chelsea’s performance and her style of singing,” says Sullivan. “We didn’t want to distract from what she was doing with the song. That was definitely a turn for us, as far as, okay, we did not go overboard here. Let’s leave some room for her to do her thing. That was fun, so I had a good time doing that and that was a positive experience. Who knows what will happen in the future, by no means will we shy away from that.”</p>
<p>Yet for the majority of the group’s writing, Sullivan — who’s been playing in bands since he was in 4<sup>th</sup> grade – prefers the songwriting opportunities that arise when vocals are taken out of the picture. “It makes it easier because there are no expectations. So as long as we challenge ourselves whenever we’re excited about a song, we just follow that excitement and make sure we can continue that through the duration of the song or into the next song. There’s no rule of what we can or can’t do for ourselves. We just gravitate towards songs that that all three of us agree on, like, ‘yeah, that part speaks to me, I kind of like that part, let’s check that out, let’s see what that can go with.’ So it’s very freeing for some reason. There’s no preconceived idea of, ‘oh we have to do this.’ No, we don’t have to — we can just kind of take it as it comes and see what feels natural to us. But still it feels a little bit different and we’re trying something new.”</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074176
2014-03-13T14:28:34-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
By Greg Kot for Chicago Tribune
Russian Circles works in a relatively esoteric area – an...
<p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/ct-russian-circles-chicago-music-metro-shows-20140313,0,4875228.column" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/8274ad1aa2d4cd3e832e322a31b165a3/tumblr_inline_n2e8rixRG31qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/9b6891271c971a605117977474aca3cc/tumblr_inline_n2e8rwad1a1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/ffd95734cace48a149b1cf66f7675185/tumblr_inline_n2e8s7vdxO1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p>
<div class="byline"><span class="byline"><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/ct-russian-circles-chicago-music-metro-shows-20140313,0,4875228.column" target="_blank">By Greg Kot for Chicago Tribune</a></span></div>
<p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> works in a relatively esoteric area – an instrumental trio that finds the sweet spot at the intersection of metal, hard rock, progressive and experimental music. Its five albums, culminating with last year’s elegiac “<a href="http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">Memorial</a>" (<a href="http://sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a>), demonstrate just how expressive and dynamic a rock band without a lead vocalist can be. If an album can be both thrashy and poignant, “Memorial” is it.</p>
<p><!-- more -->Guitarist Mike Sullivan says he and drummer Dave Turncrantz (later joined by bassist Brian Cook, who replaced Colin DeKuiper) didn’t set out to be an instrumental band, but ended up loving the freedom of being able to compose music without being restricted by a singer’s range or a lyric sheet. He describes early rehearsals as open-ended, guided only by a motto of “keep it simple, stupid.”</p>
<p>"Find the groove, line up the kick (drum) with the bass, create a solid foundation, get into repetition. It wasn’t about having notes coming at you at a million miles an hour. It was more about building themes than licks. We wanted to look at composition and arrangement, and learn more about the song than individual parts."</p>
<p>Early jams could sprawl past 10 minutes or more. “That would’ve been tough for a vocalist, and after a while we didn’t see why it was necessary. Besides, when Dave and I started playing together, if either one of us sang, it would’ve been an abomination. If we ever try to sing, we should be put in front of a firing squad. Fortunately, it never got to the point where we even had to consider singing because the music was working on its own.”</p>
<p>Sullivan had moved to Chicago from St. Louis in 1999 to attend DePaul University. He was already a fan of the city’s independent music scene, and soon put together a band, Dakota/Dakota in that spirit. After that band imploded, he rejoined forces with Turncrantz, an old music companion from St. Louis, to launch Russian Circles. The band takes its name from training drill that Turncrantz and Sullivan remembered from their high school ice-hockey practices. “We needed a band name for our first show …,” Sullivan explains, and it stuck.</p>
<p>"We practiced every day, holed up in our practice space, and friends like Pelican helped immensely by putting us in touch with booking agencies and playing shows with us," says Sullivan, affirming that his long-distance admiration for the Chicago music scene was not misplaced.</p>
<p>Along the way, all the band members worked jobs that they’d rather forget.</p>
<p>"I was a greeter at a (retail) store," Sullivan says. "I’m not the most social person, but I had to say ‘Hello’ to customers. It was like asking me to climb Everest. I had to wear a headset. That was a fun one to walk away from. But it’s great to have jobs you can’t stand. What better motivator is there than that? I’d get to practice and it would be like, ‘Let’s jam, because I need to forget about that eight hours of embarrassment I just went through.’"</p>
<p>Despite low expectations – “our only goal was to play with a few bands we like, to have fun playing music, and have a few beers” – things evolved where day jobs were no longer a necessity, budgets increased and established labels distributed the recordings. A rigorous set of standards has evolved, where the trio is constantly challenging itself to stretch boundaries and expectations, with Cook playing a key role as a kind of editor for the songs written by Sullivan and Turncrantz.</p>
<p>"We’re very hard on ourselves and each other," Sullivan says. "It’s brutal. No one’s afraid to say, ‘That’s not working, man.’ I can work on a part for 18 hours and they can say it sounds like some band I can’t stand. We move on. It’s important to have that, and I’m grateful for it. It makes it harder, but it also makes the music better."</p>
<p>The last three Russian Circles albums were produced by former Secret Machines member Brandon Curtis, with an uptick in sophistication and density. “Memorial” covers a range of textures, from acoustic delicacy to rapid-fire aggression. It also includes a rare vocal from a guest singer, <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/chelsea_wolfe" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a>, whose voice doesn’t articulate words so much as apply another color to the chillingly beautiful title song.</p>
<p>"We toured together two years ago, and we’re huge fans," Sullivan says of Wolfe. "The song was written in a key with her vocals in mind. When we asked her about doing some vocals, she says, ‘That’s funny. I always sing along while watching you guys.’"</p>
<p>As Wolfe suggests, the freedom the musicians find in not being bound by a vocalist also applies to their fans. “Memorial” is an album that evokes a certain darkness, various stages in the mourning process. But there are no lyrics to spell that out. Even Wolfe’s vocals are less about literal meaning than sound.</p>
<p>"The song titles mean something to us, but we like to keep it cryptic and open to interpretation," Sullivan says. "The goal is that people can get into it and apply whatever they hear in the songs to their own lives."</p>
<p><em><a href="http://bio.tribune.com/GregKot" target="_blank">Greg Kot</a> co-hosts “Sound Opinions” at 8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday on WBEZ (FM-91.5).</em></p>
<p><em><a href="mailto:greg@gregkot.com" target="_blank">greg@gregkot.com</a> </em></p>
<p><em>@gregkot</em></p>
<p><strong>When</strong>: 8 p.m. Sunday</p>
<p><strong>Where</strong>: Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.</p>
<p><strong>Tickets</strong>: $17; <a href="http://metrochicago.com/" target="_blank"><strong>metrochicago.com</strong></a></p>
<p></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074177
2014-03-12T17:16:06-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
All Photos and words by Debi Del GrandeWhile most LA bands...
<img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/c3ee64174a16a5b467c6385ce7aca8ee/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo1_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/1abfec8e56dae2ad0ca9979c3c66d84d/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo2_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/004425186340a0034aec1d46dc129349/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo3_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/3f2416ea1626102e82c2c56800ca0a60/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo4_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/6615061c51d36254cddfe3587f4bad96/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo5_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/793fd2114013bd6af968c18abe09c2e6/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo6_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/5890cad77b1f474de2a9fbec3acc2e40/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo7_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/8124229657e90dc48d9949ba9e65d197/tumblr_n2clmeqR2r1qblyljo8_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><p><a href="http://larecord.com/photos/2014/03/11/russian-circles-helms-alee-ken-mode-el-rey-theatre" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/7fa0dde715a7cf2d69d9894ce1ccc57c/tumblr_inline_n2cld35Hq81qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a><br><a href="http://larecord.com/photos/2014/03/11/russian-circles-helms-alee-ken-mode-el-rey-theatre" target="_blank">All Photos and words by Debi Del Grande</a><br><br>While most LA bands headed to SXSW, it was refreshing to have hard, pulsating bands from Winnipeg, Seattle and Chicago seize the El Rey for a night.<br><br><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> is a force that is capable of causing a powerful change in the air the second they hit the first chord. The instrumental trio has built a solid reputation and for good reason. <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/chelsea_wolfe" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a> was the only voice on this set as she sang “<a href="http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/memorial" target="_blank">Memorial</a>” from their latest album of the same title. Definitely not missing them the next time they come around.<br><br><a href="http://larecord.com/photos/2014/03/11/russian-circles-helms-alee-ken-mode-el-rey-theatre" target="_blank">SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW AT LA RECORD</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074178
2014-03-11T17:17:33-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
Metal Assault Live Review: Russian Circles at EL Rey w / video of Chelsea Wolfe performing "Memorial"
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/2909c913aad2c81f519796b1d684e03c/tumblr_inline_n2aqjhOJVa1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/2ed591809e17cb1b1cee79db56cbccff/tumblr_inline_n2aqjxHdkr1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
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<p><strong>March 10th 2014, The El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles CA: </strong>Chicago-based instrumental heavy rock trio <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles </a>have been going from strength to strength in recent years, and since the last time I saw them headline the Troubadour in December 2011, they’ve traveled quite a fair distance as a band, literally and figuratively. Their latest album ‘Memorial’ has gained widespread praise and as a consequence, they’ve been getting booked on plenty of tours both as headliners and opening act. Currently, they’re approaching the end of a headline US tour with support from <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Helms_Alee" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> and <strong>KEN Mode</strong>, and played at a <strong>Sold-Out</strong> El Rey Theater in Western Los Angeles last night.<span id="more-2977"></span></p>
<p>Rock/metal shows here are few and far between, but it’s always great to visit this lovely venue and last night was no different in that regard…<br><a href="http://metalassault.com/gig_reviews/2014/03/11/russian-circles-helms-alee-ken-mode-perform-at-the-el-rey/" target="_blank">SEE FULL SHOW REVIEW OF ALL BANDS</a><a href="http://metalassault.com/gig_reviews/2014/03/11/russian-circles-helms-alee-ken-mode-perform-at-the-el-rey/" target="_blank"> AT METAL ASSAULT </a><br><!-- more --></p>
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<p><strong><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/2fda522cced3ab7dcbc728bd076af211/tumblr_inline_n2aqxn4ele1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></strong></p>
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<p>This show was moving along rapidly, which was a true indication of the quality of the live music the audience was treated to so far. Not long after Helms Alee were done, headliners <strong>Russian Circles</strong> appeared on stage and went on to play a fantastic 80-minute set without speaking a single word for the entirety of it. Very seldom has a Los Angeles crowd been held captive by an all-instrumental band in this manner, as Russian Circles had everyone’s complete undivided attention even through the delicate moments of the set. They presented a selection of tunes ideal for a headline set, visiting each of the five albums in their short but much revered career.</p>
<p>The lighting on stage was minimal but very much deliberate. It was creatively executed, with all three members backlit and for the most part portrayed as silhouettes, shifting the focus on the music that much more. Guitarist Mike Sullivan and drummer Dave Turncrantz went about fulfilling their roles perfectly while Brian Cook efficiently juggled his bass, guitar, samples and pedal-board without missing a note. To cap off an incredible show with a fitting encore, they played the title track off of their latest album ‘Memorial’, with Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/chelsea_wolfe" target="_blank">Chelsea Wolfe</a> as guest vocalist, who also recorded the studio version of the song with the band. Following that, they closed the show with ‘Youngblood’ and said goodbye to a crowd that gave them a justifiably generous ovation.</p>
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<p><strong>Watch a video of Russian Circles performing ‘Memorial’ with Chelsea Wolfe at this show:</strong></p>
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<p>The smell of Marijuana engulfed the air, but even for those who weren’t smoking that good stuff, Russian Circles’ performance was nothing short of a hallucinogenic drug in itself. The Mexican hot dog stands outside the venue did excellent business for themselves, better than usual, as after the end of the show they were quickly flocked by those who did indulge.</p>
<p>Overall, it was a privilege to be a witness to the brilliance of these musicians, and when a venue of this size is packed to capacity for no reasons other than pure appreciation for good music such as that played by these bands, faith in humanity is momentarily restored.</p>
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Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074179
2014-03-10T16:16:00-07:00
2020-01-09T11:39:16-08:00
"309" by Russian Circles an Interview By Andy Downing Instru-metal trio Russian Circles long has...
<p><a href="http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/music/redeye-qa-russian-circles-20140309,0,2397398.story" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/7304872c202459515d6dfc3e909d4b94/tumblr_inline_n28tmkuxyF1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p>
<div id="r1PostCPBlock"><a href="http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/music/redeye-qa-russian-circles-20140309,0,2397398.story" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/4fb01aee791994ea12a7415d55b0e1e1/tumblr_inline_n28tmwBFhS1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></div>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JtpFOBJA7O8?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></p>
<p>"309" by <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> an Interview <a href="http://www.redeyechicago.com/entertainment/music/redeye-qa-russian-circles-20140309,0,2397398.story" target="_blank">By Andy Downing <br></a><br>Instru-metal trio <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> long has been a heavyweight presence in the local scene, releasing five albums, including last year’s monstrous “Memorial,” over the course of its decade together. Now that the band has both a burger and a beer to its name, though, it’s safe to say the guys have really made it.<br><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/242a6ad806bf67becdf893e00a4f6fdc/tumblr_inline_n28triUZxl1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p>Just this month the crew landed a burger on the menu at hard-rock haven <a href="http://www.kumascorner.com/hey-hey/" target="_blank">Kuma’s Corner</a> — a grilled patty topped with braised venison, fried beets and more — and <a href="http://www.dryhopchicago.com/2014/03/04/metal-beers-burgers-part-2-wednesday-march-5-6pm/" target="_blank">DryHop Brewers </a>released a Russian Imperial Stout named for Russian Circles’ 2006 song “Death Rides a Horse.”<br><br>It’s certainly not the group’s first brush with fame, however. Band members Mike Sullivan and Dave Turncrantz actually graced the RedEye cover just last year. For an article about an outdoor hockey league.<br><br>"There was no mention of the band whatsoever," said guitarist and Logan Square resident Sullivan, by phone. "It was just a picture of us two longhairs playing hockey outside and some [headline] like ‘Hockey’s back!’"<br><br><strong>Are your Google Alerts going crazy with everything that’s happening in Russia?</strong><br>That’s funny. Everything that’s going on in Russia I found out through our Facebook page. There’s all this Russian spam all over the site, so it’s like, “All right, here’s what’s going on.” I don’t think we’ll be going back to Russia anytime soon. That whole scene is dramatic and unfortunate. Hopefully it doesn’t get worse, but it’s not looking too good.<br><br><strong>Have you played there often?</strong><br>We played there on three different tours. We did St. Petersburg and Moscow last fall.<br><br><strong><!-- more -->Do people there assume you’re a local band?</strong><br>[Laughs] You’d think so. I think we stick out like sore thumbs, though, just looking at us. Our name does give us a built-in audience there. We could be the worst band on Earth and still draw people. If you’re a new band, name yourself and your albums after cities. It always helps to draw. That’s my advice.<br><br><strong>The name itself is actually taken from an ice hockey drill. Did you grow up playing?</strong><br>Me and Dave [Turncrantz], the drummer, both grew up playing hockey and are big fans. I grew up in St. Louis and was a huge Blues fan, but I’ve been here long enough I’ve made the switch [to the Blackhawks]. Dave and I were in an outdoor hockey league here.<br><br><strong>The music gets described fairly often as cinematic. Do you actually take any inspiration from film?</strong><br>Yeah, we do, and more importantly soundtracks for films. A lot of our favorite instrumental records are from composers who create very minimal but effective movements throughout a movie, and we take cues from that in terms of learning to create an atmosphere. We’re big fans of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis and their work on “The Assassination of Jesse James [by the Coward Robert Ford]” and “The Road.” And there’s also Johann Johannsson, who’s a little more obscure, but he’s done a lot of cool minimalist compositions that are equally impressive.<br><br><strong>Your songs are generally instrumental. Are you a fan of any other wordless pursuits? Silent film? Mimes? Can you speak sign language?</strong><br>That’s an interesting question. I’ve never thought about that. Not that I can think of, though. As far as silent movies and that kind of thing, I’m no different than the average person. I don’t seek it out by any means.<br> <br><strong>I love the cover shot of the Grand Tetons on the cover of “Memorial.” What’s the most impressive mountain range you’ve seen in person?</strong><br>The Alps in Europe are my favorite to drive through. You can’t stop looking out the window because every turn is another beautiful view. We’re driving through some mountains today, actually, heading up toward Seattle. But there’s something about the Alps. The architecture is cool, and you see a lot of castles and ruins, and the roads cut right through the mountains.<br> <br><strong>I know you’re a bit of a beer geek. Do you have a go-to Chicago brewery?</strong><br>Man, I’m really liking Revolution. I live down the street from it [in Logan Square], and their IPA is great. There’s actually a brewery making a Russian Circles stout that’s coming out in March. <a href="http://www.kumascorner.com/" target="_blank">Kuma’s Corner</a> is doing a [Russian Circles] burger of the month, and it’s getting released in conjunction with that. We were going to help in the actual brewing process, but it didn’t work out with our touring. I will definitely be at Kuma’s that afternoon after the Chicago show having a beer and a burger, just ‘cause I’m an ass like that [laughs].<br><br><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank"><em>Russian Circles, 8 p.m. March 16 at Metro. $18.</em> w/ Helms Alee and KEN Mode</a><br><br></p>
<p><span><strong>Mike Sullivan personality test</strong></span><br><strong>What’s the last album you bought?</strong> “I just picked up a record by the Groundhogs the other day. It’s called ‘Scratching the Surface.’”<br><strong>Song you’ve listened to on repeat recently?</strong> “Crossbreaker” by Power Trip “That’s gotten a lot of love on a daily basis.”<br><strong>Song you never want to hear again?</strong> “You know what? It’s a tough one because so many are popping into my head. To be honest, I stay away from all the crap I don’t like. God bless the modern age. You can just tune it out.”<br><strong>Best concert you’ve seen in the last year?</strong> “Probably Swans at the Metro. That was a great show.”<br><strong>New band you don’t know personally that deserves to be big?</strong> Chicago’s Anatomy of a Habit “I love that band, and I’m continually wishing them the best of luck and trying to help out in any way possible.”<br><strong>Favorite movie ever?</strong> “Bottle Rocket” “I’ve watched it a million times.”<br><strong>Chicago’s best music venue?</strong> “There are so many good venues. The Empty Bottle is fun to go to, but I’ve seen so many good shows at Metro that it’s hard not to mention them, too.</p>
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<p class="copyright">Copyright © 2014 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC</p>
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Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074180
2014-03-05T15:56:16-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:17-08:00
Rock trio Russian Circles sold out Neumo’s Tuesday, and the entry line was accompanied by...
<p><a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/soundposts/2014/03/05/russian-circles-bring-brute-force-to-neumos-concert-review/" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/5a68e7c8d8a6135e47f10285f2f769f3/tumblr_inline_n1zm53koSz1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/6200c6401171cf149daf5e5a928d22b5/tumblr_inline_n1zmd7TkUK1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/7d3c8d33a5f2eadec4dfd32895a72a02/tumblr_inline_n1zmdnYYyv1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p>
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<p>Rock trio <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> sold out Neumo’s Tuesday, and the entry line was accompanied by late-arriving fans, desperately trying to purchase second-hand tickets.</p>
<p><span id="more-18258"></span>The band opened with a dose of feedback as they set up and settled in, then broke the calm with an onslaught of noise that rode peaks and valleys, but never really stopped. They put “309,” the twisted album opener from 2011′s “<a href="http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/empros" target="_blank">Empros</a>,” on full display, and from their latest album, “Memorial,” the eloquent guitar-tapped interlude “Ethel” was used as a lead-in to a punishing wall of riffs.</p>
<p>It was an exceptionally well-thought-out set that flowed like a river through tranquil spots, then crashed like a waterfall over rocks. Not a word was spoken the entirety of the set, nor did one need to be.</p>
<p><!-- more -->Like their albums, Russian Circles’ live performance is a rhythmic experience. Their timbre and chord sequences are powerful, as well, but their masterful control of tempo and shocking entry and exit points are perhaps their most prominent feature. Their breakdowns don’t only kill with brute force, but often catch you off guard when they fly in from the side.</p>
<p>Before the band took an encore, an apparently drunk fan jumped onstage and begun dancing in the area where a lead singer might stand. Without breaking from the song, guitarist Mike Sullivan sauntered over and shoulder-checked the man back into the audience. It was the kind of calm-yet-forceful act that came through in the music all night.</p>
<p>Before the headline act came on, Canadian openers Ken Mode treated the crowd to an intense set. The heavy metal trio dished out grinding riffs one after another, dripping sweat and wearing dead-faced stares.</p>
<p>Seattle/Tacoma heroes <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Helms_Alee" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a> followed up with a blistering set. Bassist Dana James stood in front of a stack of Verellen amplifiers, the product of guitarist/vocalist Ben Verellen’s successful custom amp company. The whole band (rounded out by drummer Hozoji Margullis) shared singing duties, layering spot-on harmonies between thunderous crescendos, often capped by Verellen’s throaty roar. Margullis also stood out as one of the most powerful and technically concise drummers in recent memory.<br><br><a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/soundposts/2014/03/05/russian-circles-bring-brute-force-to-neumos-concert-review/" target="_blank">by Todd Hamm </a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074181
2014-03-03T15:10:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:17-08:00
Russian Circles live photos from Denver, Colorado at the Gothic...
<img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/141e9f6f3c4a43d91ec43ae49393bc46/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto1_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/70d5da7cc860aaa5942166f3869a00cf/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto2_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/6a2ca914d0ec335b96358b880bb0bfcd/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto3_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/803404f2c61ecbab9d5d6b981c3114bf/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto4_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/60cf23391a77dfb95500b6677b4bc6a7/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto5_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/a21dbc86df8d2de8e6531a0fbe4b683b/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto6_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/829b8a0fa044550f691489946d1af938/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto7_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/08aa6cc38620efd9bf9c6bdb372b8f18/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto8_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/ff8c63f372384c487c2948e7cb11ff71/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto9_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/2c7b7c004ec5a8219b9db07945756b5e/tumblr_n1vv20W0Rm1qbmkuto10_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><p><a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> live photos from Denver, Colorado at the Gothic Theater on March 1, 2014 taken by <a href="http://vinhnguyenphotography.com/" target="_blank">Vinh Nguyen</a>. Poster art by Ryan Mowry aka <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PENCILPLAN" target="_blank">Pencil Plan </a><br><br>Tour continues … <a href="http://artistdata.sonicbids.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank">SEE ALL SHOW DETAILS HERE</a></p>
<p><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><strong>RUSSIAN CIRCLES TOUR 2014</strong><br> 03/03 Boise, ID @ Neurolux #<br> 03/04 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s * - SOLD OUT<br> 03/05 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * - SOLD OUT <br> 03/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall * - SOLD OUT<br> 03/09 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah * - SOLD OUT<br> 03/10 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre * - SOLD OUT <br> 03/12 Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom * also w/ This Will Destroy You<br> 03/13 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *<br> 03/14 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory *<br> 03/15 Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar *<br> 03/16 Chicago, IL @ Metro *<br><br> # w/ KEN Mode, Inter Arma<br> * w/ <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Helms_Alee" target="_blank">Helms Alee</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kenmode" target="_blank">KEN Mode</a></span></span></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074182
2014-02-24T17:27:13-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:17-08:00
Invisible Oranges Live Review, Full Set Video and Photos
<p><a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2014/02/live-report-russian-circles-ken-mode-inter-arma-saint-vitus/" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/263321b6820b47404ad52a5e36a60bf3/tumblr_inline_n1j2c3zEOW1qbzv4w.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2014/02/live-report-russian-circles-ken-mode-inter-arma-saint-vitus/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-3.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /></a></p>
<p>I’ve written about all three of these bands’ power in the live realm over the past year: <a href="http://russiancirclesband.com" target="_blank"><strong>Russian Circles</strong></a> <a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2013/04/live-reportphotovideo-russian-circles-primitive-weapons-descender/" target="_blank">here</a>, <strong>KEN mode</strong> <a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2013/03/live-report-photos-today-is-the-day-black-tusk-ken-mode-fight-amp-fashion-week/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <strong>Inter Arma</strong> both <a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2012/09/live-report-pallbearer-royal-thunder-inter-arma-kings-destroy/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2014/02/catch-this-tour-ulcerate-inter-arma/" target="_blank">here</a>. There’s not much more to say about them, beyond that all three seem to get better the more time they spend on the road. (Which is a lot.) If any of these bands comes to your town, go see them, especially if you haven’t seen them before. If you have seen them before, go again. If you live in the sticks and despair of the possibility, you can witness some of the magic via Unartig’s full-set videos of each band <a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2014/02/live-report-russian-circles-ken-mode-inter-arma-saint-vitus/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
<p><!-- more -->This tour was also fun to witness because of the promising future it augurs for Inter Arma and KEN mode. It sold out Saint Vitus just a few days after selling out another NYC show at <a href="http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/02/russian_circles_12.html" target="_blank">Bowery Ballroom</a>. Russian Circles, who are an established band with a much broader non-metal fanbase, surely deserve much of the credit for its success. But both KEN mode and Inter Arma have spent the past several years building their reputations and fanbases with excellent studio work and unbelievably frantic tour schedules. (Inter Arma frontman Mike Paparo told me that his band is able to tour so heavily in part because rents in their native Richmond, VA are so affordable.) It is good to see such deserving bands rewarded with sold-out crowds and hefty merch sales. The music world is not always so just.</p>
<div><span><em>— words by Doug Moore</em></span></div>
<div><span><em>— photos by <a href="http://cargocollective.com/carolinedraws" target="_blank">Caroline Harrison</a></em></span></div>
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<p align="center"><strong>Russian Circles</strong></p>
<p><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-1.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /></p>
<p><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-4.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /></p>
<p><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-5.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /></p>
<p><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-6.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /></p>
<p><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-7.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /></p>
<p><img src="https://www.brooklynvegan.com/img/gc/russiancircles/saintvitusbar2/russiancircles-8.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Russian Circles" width="630" /><br><a href="http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2014/02/live-report-russian-circles-ken-mode-inter-arma-saint-vitus/" target="_blank">See All Photos and Videos from this show at Invisible Oranges </a><br><br></p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uRjCU6CZr_g" width="560"></iframe>
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Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074183
2014-02-24T16:03:42-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:17-08:00
One of the best crossover-metal tours of the year so far swung...
<img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/436238209f7bf3e2e383cb6f39bca8b4/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo1_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/1c688360860a722e60f827952d1aa7dc/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo2_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/bedbbd8a8b41d56be4c1a10596e8109d/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo3_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/784f852fbfd00da4b49c87209c94d269/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo4_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/c99d9ce5c42950bafab239179213f058/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo5_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/b552bec9848c5535f6c2e0db637f71ee/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo6_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/6440e24e857494cfe497ecaed27e3820/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo7_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/c01b13275aa9851a93683ac431d6aab9/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo8_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/16059d4b25a98b17b4842ae68b35c4ac/tumblr_n1iyofTPxW1qblyljo9_500.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><br> <br><p><a href="http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/02/russian_circles_12.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/1294f0261e9f4e25c09d754533d70fbf/tumblr_inline_n1iygkwf921qbzv4w.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/065c85d1a01b749b1d7b8dc674535af1/tumblr_inline_n1iygxeDzg1qbzv4w.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></a></p>
<p>One of the best <a href="http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/12/russian_circles_11.html" target="_blank">crossover-metal tours</a> of the year so far swung through NYC when post-metal/post-rockers <a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank"><strong>Russian Circles</strong></a>, furious post-hardcore rippers <strong>KEN mode</strong> and the psychedelic/black metal leanings of <strong>Inter Arma</strong> hit Bowery Ballroom this past Thursday (2/20) at Saint Vitus on Saturday (2/22). Both shows were sold out. A set of pictures from the Bowery show are in this post, and stay tuned for more in depth coverage of the Vitus show. - <a href="http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/02/russian_circles_12.html" target="_blank">Click HERE to see All Pictures and Set List<br><br></a><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank">Don’t miss Russian Circles On Tour Now - See All Dates HERE</a></p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074184
2014-02-20T15:32:00-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:17-08:00
Bass Player Magazine - Feature on Brian Cook in the March Issue
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/14aec577e62051057658786f4a8d9399/tumblr_inline_n1bioejAbZ1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/f3a236f6d19ccbe1830ba053cd69e933/tumblr_inline_n1bim6WEkM1qbab62.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" />Brian Cook is featured in the March issue of <a href="http://www.bassplayer.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Bass Player Magazine</a> on news stands now.</p>
Sargent House
tag:www.sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/6074185
2014-02-19T17:35:07-08:00
2020-01-09T11:39:17-08:00
The Aquarian Weekly Cover Feature: Russian Circles out today
<p><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/ef9f9db8c4085278e2d43ca20557c120/tumblr_inline_n19gsjkfql1qbzv4w.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></p>
<p><a href="http://sargenthouse.com/Russian_Circles" target="_blank">Russian Circles</a> are featured in this weeks issue of <a href="http://www.theaquarian.com/" target="_blank">The Aquarian</a> out today. They continue to <strong>sell out</strong> shows across the US - so make sure to get tickets in advance for the remainder of their shows so you don’t miss out. <br><br><a href="http://artistdata.com/russian-circles/shows" target="_blank">See All Russian Circles Tour Dates & Details HERE</a> <br><br><br></p>
Sargent House