When I saw Aaron Barrett (singer of Reel Big Fish) looking at pigs at the Minnesota State fair this year, I walked the other way because I was too star struck to introduce myself. When I met Benji Madden (from Good Charlotte, don’t judge) I literally started hyperventilating and thought I was going to die.
It started with the ride to the venue where my buddy Ian was talking about how he didn’t bring the book that the bassist wrote even though he wanted it signed. I asked him why and his only response was… “I haven’t finished it yet! What if Brian Cook (bassist/author) asks me about it?!” When we got to the venue, Brian was having a conversation with some of the people in the crowd. We got to the bar and that’s when it started, “Oh my God, Brian is over there talking to people…. He’s right there…. I can’t go up to him! He’s having a deep conversation.” Ugh, I could have slapped Ian. Why didn’t he just go up and say something? It was because he was fan girling too hard and I have no room to judge him for this. I can fan girl just as hard as the best of them, I’ve just never been on the other side. I’ve never seen someone go all fan girl until last night and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Last night was the Russian Circles show at The Triple Rock. The last time I saw these guys was February of last year. I couldn’t tell you if they played any of the same songs. Usually that would annoy the crap out of me. I would hate to see a band twice and see the exact same set list. With Russian Circles, I couldn’t care less. I just want to watch them play for hours and hours.
Russian Circles is a three piece instrumental rock/metal band from Chicago. I know I’ve said it a million times, I hate instrumental music. Actually, hate is the wrong word. I do appreciate instrumental music and listen to it when I’m trying to sleep or in the zone booking shows but the problem is- I am all about the lyrics. When I’m at an instrumental show, (especially in the middle of a concert bender) I am notorious for nodding off while leaning on the wall or sitting and a table using my purse as a pillow. With Russian Circles, I’m not given that option.
There’s something about seeing these guys live that keeps me awake and alert. For being only a trio, these guys make so many interesting sounds with the instruments that it’s hard to pinpoint where it’s coming from. When you listen to their album at home, you think that there is no way they would be able to replicate the sound live with only three people. Good god they prove you wrong with the first note.
There were no microphones on stage. None. There was very little lighting on the stage. They never announced who they were. They never pointed out where their merch was being sold. They walked up on stage played their songs, and got down. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I want to see something! Don’t just get up on stage and stand there with no energy! Stage dive, crowd surf, jump… anything! I didn’t realize until I got home last night that none of this happened and I still had nothing bad to say about the show.
Last night was a true example of music being so great and in depth that you don’t need anything to distract you. Some people in the crowd were head banging to some of the heavier parts but majority of the crowd was just standing there, half of them with their eyes closed. It was too much to comprehend. The music was too good and the talent was too immense.
Like I said, I couldn’t tell you the set list. I honestly couldn’t even tell you how many songs they played because it all seemed to blend together. Ian did say that they opened with a new song but that’s about all I could get out of him after show because he was still in fan girl mode. Regardless of if they played new or old songs, they were amazing and mesmerizing.
Cloakroom opened the show last night. These guys opened for Brand New back in July (My post: We Sleep Inside of This Machine). They were great last night. They sound like the most professional and most together garage band you have ever heard. Unfortunately, they seemed to play a very short set but I expect big things from these guys in the near future. I do hope to see them headline a show here soon so they have longer than thirty minutes!
I was the support for someone who was fan girling too hard for his own good last night. I apologize to all of my friends that I have ever done this too. Next time, just slap me!
Line Up:
Venue: Triple Rock
Sausage Fest Meter- 8 out of 10
Broken Bones- None
Average Age- 26
Coolest Merch Being Sold- Russian Circles were selling magnets of their album covers
Times Ian Said Something Dumb Because He Was Fan Girling- 34,123,654
Jaw On The Ground During Russian Circles’ Set- 94
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