Photos & Review - Russian Circles - Gothic Theatre

When it comes to no words bands, Russian Circles is the gold standard for me. Six albums in, and I’m still as intrigued as I was the first time I heard them at the tiny Sokol Underground (capacity 314) in Omaha, NE back in 2006. On tour in support of that sixth LP, Guidance, Russian Circles rolled in to the Gothic Theater Wednesday night with a new set of songs added to the same recipe that makes them one of the most anticipated shows of the year for me.

From Brian Cook’s delicate guitar work on “Asa”, through the dark, brooding “Afrika” and thundering “Harper Lewis”, to the last notes of “Youngblood”, it’s difficult to pinpoint any one, or even a few highlights from a Russian Circles set. And maybe that’s the thing I like most about this band. From start to finish, this trio pulls you in, and keeps you there, hanging on every note, riding their wave, brutally heavy one moment and tranquil the next. That’s the way it went Wednesday night, as it has every time I’ve seen Russian Circles. And it’s the reason I’ll buy their records and do everything I can to see their shows as long as they’re making music.