The venerable Cactus Club has been absolutely blowing out its 15th Anniversary celebration concert series by lining up an impressive list of top tier local and national acts from Collections of Colonies of Bees to Helmet. The party raged on again Friday night with an unbelievable show from Chicago-based instrumental trio Russian Circles.
If there was any doubt that word was out about one of the Midwest’s worst-kept secrets, they were crushed by the sheer number of bodies standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the Cactus Club crowd eagerly awaiting Russian Circles’ set. Both the bar and the show room were packed to capacity and only advanced ticket sales were honored as the club tried to maintain some level of order.
Louisville alternative rockers Young Widows preceded RS on the Cactus Club stage and wasted no time kicking the crowd in the teeth. Dark and moody with an infectious Queens of the Stone Age-esque angst and attitude, the band ripped through a wildly entertaining set, elevating the already palpable air of anticipation for the night’s main event. Plus with what looked to be Music Notes-own Tyler Maas on bass, the band had no troubles winning over the crowd!
Russian Circles followed and immediately blew the roof off of the place with a stellar performance of the epic “Carpe.” A steady mix of old favorites and new tracks off of the indescribably brilliant Empros (count on that album garnering some serious Album of the Year considerations in the coming weeks) bellowed from the Cactus Club stage with a clarity and force that is difficult to believe could be emanating from three guys.
In a 3-piece band, especially one as dynamic and intense as Russian Circles, it is important for all members to bring something to the table, and these guys fully fit that description. Enigmatic guitarist Mike Sullivan lead the charge with pitch-perfect guitar tones, a dynamic range that effortlessly glided from dreamy atmospherics to throttling metal riffing, and a complete mastery of looping techniques that gradually built into the wall of sound that is the band’s hallmark. Bassist Brian Cook angrily hammered away at his instrument providing the brute force low end and drummer Dave Turncrantz with his controlled chaos style is quite simply one of the most technically advanced and brutally energetic drummers in all of music.
What better way to continue the celebration of one of the Midwest’s premiere live music destinations than with a blockbuster, sold out performance by one of the Midwest’s premiere live bands?
Photo by Andrew Weiss
