Let’s rock and roll, hoochie koo.

FRIDAY

THE CELL PHONES
It’s hard to believe that the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Fever to Tell has been around for nearly a decade. The chaotic art punks, led by outrageous front woman Karen O, set a new standard, and one that Chicago dance punks The Cell Phones seem to embrace. The trio rattle off hard-charging grooves with ease; all the while led by an extremely charismatic lead singer who can belt it out with the best of them. Also appearing tonight are blistering psych-rockers Rabble Rabble, who are always enjoyable; garage rockers White Mystery headline. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 12/2. The Hideout. 21+ $10.

SATURDAY

RUSSIAN CIRCLES
It probably doesn’t get more epic than Chicago prog-metalists Russian Circles. The band is doing a victory lap after releasing its latest album Empros, which, as our editor Richard Giraldi stated last month, crushes. The band promised “its heaviest album to date,” but it got more complex than that. Russian Circles didn’t do away with melody, but they became more efficient at bringing forth destructive, hypnotic compositions while also giving way to life’s more serene moments. Eerie post-metal outfit Anatomy of a Habit, and Louisville, Kentucky, noise rockers Young Widows open the show. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 12/3. Lincoln Hall. 18+ $15.

THE LIFE AND TIMES
The Life And Times sure know their way around a fretboard. The Chicago post-rockers’ dense and swirling guitar attack is nearly cinematic, and yet they manage to not sound overblown via moody tones and spacey tendencies. Add to the fact that their live show is usually an ear blistering occasion that recalls the power and intensity of My Bloody Valentine, and you just might call the Life And Times a sure bet. Opening are Office Of Future Plans and All Eyes West. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 12/3. Beat Kitchen. 17+. $12.

MANNEQUIN MEN
Has anyone else noticed a parallel between Mannequin Men and the 2011 Chicago Bears defense? A little bit older, a little bit wiser and yet they’re still playing at the top of their game. But unlike hard sacks and athletic interceptions, Mannequin Men beat the opposition because their latest self-titled LP is full of infectious hooks coupled with jangly guitars antics. And they really prove that maybe the best approach is always the simplest. Locals Vee Dee open the show with their gritty blue collar psych blues. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 12/3. The Hideout. 21+. $10.

SUNDAY

MISSING MONUMENTS
Missing Monuments mastermind King Louie Bankston is a garage rock veteran, first starting out only for 25 years ago; in that time, he has played with The Persauders, The Exploding Hearts and even manned the skins for Jay Reatard. His new venture Missing Monuments dips its toes into the cooling waters of country-fied power pop. It’s not far from the mellowness of Cheap Trick, but it’s got a beat and you could dance to it. Also appearing tonight are swinging Chicago throwback rockers Tyler Jon Tyler and Lover!’s frontman Rich Crook. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 12/4. Empty Bottle. 21+ $3.

On Empros, Russian Circles trim the fat. And in this case, the fat for the Chicago prog-metal outfit is their tendency indulge in a more melodic, more indie rock driven side. Instead, the band plays to their strengths on the record, those being the ability to crush and pummel with a force that’s rarely heard from a power trio.

It’s fitting that since heavy metal has a “Big 4,” Chicago has an instrumental progressive metal big two: Pelican and Russian Circle. The latter burst on to the scene with their 2006 debut, Enter, that featured metal antics with an indie edge that wasn’t bloated. The band got especially moody on their 2009 release, Geneva, that took much more from post-rockers and did tend to falter a bit in its pacing.

But Empros certainly finds the band reclaiming their metallic roots. The first minute and thirty seconds of album opener, “309,” would not sound out of place on Mastodon’s latest with its bone cracking beat and wicked guitar crunch. The song then shifts suddenly to a more mechanical groove – something that Russian Circles have gotten quite well at doing – but this groove is decidedly darker with sinister riff swells and a trudging head-bang breakdown.

And that leads to maybe the most impressive aspect of Russian Circles, their ability to change moods quickly and seamlessly. While “Mladek” opens with hopeful airy riff play, it shifts to a cavernous rhythm section under spacey guitars.

Empros does indeed find Russian Circles digging deep into their metal consciousness for riffage that would make Tool and/or Metallica proud. But the album does have well conceived moments that won’t piss off your neighbors. “Schipol” is the closest thing Russian Circles will ever get to a ballad with lush guitar picking and harmonic feedback. That is until 3/4 of the way through when a wall of distortion encompasses the song to give it an ominous feel that’s not unlike the opening notes of the overture of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic The Phantom of the Opera.

The band even get in touch with their artier and maybe even folkier side with album closer “Praise Be Man.” It begins with a staticy introduction before revealing a a simple guitar line over muffled vocals. Later, a fuzzed out bass takes over and pushes the song to its hypnotic two-note conclusion.

After three pretty good releases, Russian Circles sound like they’ve finally found the perfect balance between melodic and menacing on Empros. But the fortunate thing is that the menacing moments are by far their most destructive, which makes this record their best yet.

Buy and/or Stream Empros at Russian Circles’ Bandcamp.
____________________________________________________________________
RUSSIAN CIRCLES
10:00 p.m. Saturday, December 3
Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave
18+. $13 advance/$15 at the door.
Tickets available at Lincolnhallchicago.com.
____________________________________________________________________

As previously mentioned, their new record Empros, hits stores next Tuesday, October 25. But you don’t have to wait that long to listen to the album.

Empros is streaming right now in its entirety at Spin.com.

While the first single, “Mladek,” is a pretty melodic affair, only mere seconds into the album stream showcase album opener “309″ as one of the group’s heaviest songs yet.

In other Russian Circles news, the band has just announced a North American tour for November and early December. The band hits Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on Saturday, December 3. Grab tix right now at LincolnHallChicago.com. And get all of Russian Circles North American tour dates after the jump.

RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE
11/02 Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds #
11/03 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves #
11/04 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest – Auditorium Shores
11/05 Austin, TX @ Red 7 – Fun Fun Fun Fest Nights w/ Boris , Tera Melos & #
11/07 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s #
11/08 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl #
11/09 Newport, KY @Southgate House $#
11/10 Columbus, OH @Ravari Room $#
11/11 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick $#
11/12 Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace # !
11/13 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab # !
11/14 New York, NY@ Bowery Ballroom # %
11/15 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s # %
11/16 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #
11/18 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop #
11/19 Grand Rapid, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme #
11/25 Portland, OR, @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Helms Alee and #
11/26 Seattle, WA @ Neumos w/ Crypts and #
11/28 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour #
11/29 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah #
12/02 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club $ ^
12/03 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall $ ^

# w/ Deafheaven
$ w/ Young Widows
! w/ Indian Handcrafts
%w/ The Men
^ w/ Anatomy of a Habit

While the group’s label Sargent House deemed the new album Empros, to be Russian Circles’ “heaviest album to date,” the new track is heavy in a way no one likely anticipated: it’s very melodic. Melody in metal isn’t a terrible thing, though. And “Mladek” plays beautifully with feedback and has plenty of pulsing rhythms to get your head bobbing.

On the bright side, Russian Circles amp up the intensity toward the end of “Mladek,” which could suggest that the track that follows could be an all-out-assault. We’ll just have to wait and see when Empros is released on Oct. 25.

LISTEN: Russian Circles – “Mladek”

The record is set to drop on Tuesday, October 25, via Sargent House records. Russian Circles kept Empros‘ recording a hometown affair as it was tracked at Chicago’s Phantom Manor studio with producer Brandon Curtis (The Secret Machines & Interpol), who also was producer of their last LP, 2009′s Geneva.

Speaking of Geneva, while we thought it lacked some punch, an Empros press release states that the record is Russian Circles’, “heaviest album to date,” and is, “poised to take the crown as innovators reinvigorating the staid trappings of genre.” So, yeah, go ahead and color us excited.

The trio will also hit the road this fall, primarily in Australia and New Zealand beginning next month, but will head to North America in October and November, including a stop at Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. No Chicago dates yet, but they’re coming, no doubt.

Lastly, you can find the full track list for Empros below.
Empros Track list:

01. 309
02. Mladek
03. Schipol
04. Atackla
05. Batu
06. Praise Be Man

Guitarist Mike Sullivan told Guitar World that the band plans to release the new, and currently untitled new record, in October on Sargent House.

Regarding surprises on the upcoming release, Sullivan said:

“I don’t want to get too into it, but there are definitely things that are new to us, that we didn’t really put thought into but just started happening in the writing process.”

“We were more adventurous with our tones,” he added. “It’s a broader spectrum of tones.”

Beginning later this month, Russian Circles have a quite a few European dates this summer both solo and in support of Boris, but the article doesn’t state whether the band will be taking a break from the studio to tour or will record on the road.

Additionally, if you’re new to Russian Circles or just want to check out their previous releases, you can now download all three of their albums – Station, Enter and Geneva – for free at Russiancircles.tumblr.com.

Pelican

It’s that time again, Chicago! May we present Loud Loop Press’ picks for top weekend shows. There’s plenty to go ’round including Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan at Lincoln Hall, Chicago’s own Pelican at the Bottom Lounge, Max Weinberg’s Big Band at Old Town School of Folk Music and much more!

Let’s get to it, shall we?

FRIDAY

ISOBEL CAMPBELL AND MARK LANEGAN
Chanteuse and mad genius Isobel Campbell plays a game of Beauty and the Beast with former Screaming Trees/frequent Queens of the Stone Age collaborator Mark Lanegan on their third folk pop album Hawk. Lanegan’s sultry, gritty vocals take center stage as Campbell relishes her place in the shadows, pulling the strings, composing the songs and singing ghostly backing vocals. Folk singer Willy Mason – who appears on the Hawk track “No Place to Fall” – will open. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 10/22. Lincoln Hall 21+. $17.

BLONDE REDHEAD
Blonde Redhead is hard to describe, but that’s a good thing… honestly. Early in its career the band drew comparisons to noise rockers Sonic Youth. These days the three piece of Kazu Makino (vocals), brothers Amadeo (guitar) and Simone Pace (drums) have settled into dreamy, experimental pop rock. Blonde Redhead’s latest album Penny Sparkle pushes the group further into experimental territory but one thing will always remain the same, singer Kazu Makino’s soothing ethereal voice, which serves as a guide through any Blonde Redhead album. (Audrey Leon)

8:30 p.m. Friday, 10/22. The Vic Theater. 18+. $32.75.

TV GHOST
Indiana’s TV Ghost remind me of someone. That someone? Early Butthole Surfers, that’s who. Between their dark chaotic tunes and paranoid vocals, they summon all the greatness that was the pre-MTV Surfers. That’s not to say they are a mere clone. Not many bands have done what the Surfers did and hearing TV Ghost’s take on that sheer madness is pretty rad. Chicago’s Loose Dudes want you to believe they are a smart band. I’ll buy that. Punk rock may seem childish at times, but, like pretending to be bad at roller skating, it’s not as easy as it looks. (Ross Meyerson)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 10/22. Hideout. 21+.$8.

SATURDAY

HOLLOWS
After witnessing Chicago quintet The Hollows fill the Pritzker Pavilion with serious 60’s throwback cuteness earlier this summer, the Empty Bottle stands no chance against their sweet, sugary retro-pop styling. Hollows will get you in a mood to twist and shout every day until Halloween with songs like “Shadows in the Dark” and “Do the Scarecrow.” Recently reunited Detroit garage rockers The Gories will headline. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/23. Empty Bottle. 21+. $15

PELICAN
There isn’t much more to add about Chicago’s Pelican. If there’s ever a conversation about Chicago metal, Pelican are undoubtedly brought up as their album, The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw, is a near instrumental metal classic. The band have influenced quite a few including the Russian Circles, who have notched quite a name for themselves. But Pelican aren’t ones to be hold anything against anyone, as the band lent brothers-in-metal-arms Russian Circles their touring band after Circles’ was totaled in an accident. Still touring on their 2009 release, What We All Come To Need, prepare for some of the biggest riffs this side of the Mason Dixon. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Saturday, 10/23. Bottom Lounge. 17+. $13.50.

SUNDAY

MAX WEINBERG’S BIG BAND
It’s impossible to think of Max Weinberg without thinking of two people: Bruce Springsteen and Conan O’Brien. As a fan of the latter, I can’t really see Weinberg without thinking of all the skeevy (and hilarious) sketches in which he willingly participated on both of O’Brien’s shows. Now that Weinberg won’t be accompanying O’Brien to his latest late night home, this is the one chance fans will get to see the man live since his recent open heart surgery in February. So if you like swing music, 15-piece orchestras and dapper drummers, you’ll want to attend this show. (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 10/24. Old Town School of Folk Music. All Ages. $38

• • Jim DeRogatis goes back and takes a second look at his Lollapalooza tax math and if Chicago is earning what it should from the “Wal-Mart on the Lake”.
• • Chicagoist has a nice Riot Fest 2010 recap complete with some sweet shots of Circle Jerks, Bad Religion and more.
• • Over at the Sun-Times’ Via Chicago music blog, Thomas Conner gives his picks for 10 Chicago Bands on the rise.
• • Greg Kot gives his take on the new album from Belle & Sebastian, who play the Chicago Theatre tonight.
• • Our editor, Richard Giraldi, reviewed last week’s X Japan show for the Sun-Times.

Today, the band announced a headlining tour that opens in St. Louis on October 16 and, so far, has an end date set for November 6 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. No Chicago date as of yet, but more dates will be announced soon. We’re betting, and we hope, a hometown show will be announced for the tail end of the trek soon, seeing how their opening spot for Boris at the Metro last month was pretty rad. Cleveland’s Keelhaul and Milwaukee/Chicago thrashers Call Me Lightning will join Russian Circles for this new run of dates.

And for our international readers, all .00087% of you, Russian Circles will be in Singapore tomorrow and Malaysia next Thursday. Anyway, check out the complete set of new Russian Circles dates after the jump.

Russian Circles LIVE!

Oct 16 2010 Off Broadway St. Louis, MO
Oct 17 2010 Conservatory Oklahoma City, OK
Oct 19 2010 Plush Tucson, AZ
Oct 20 2010 Chasers Nightclub Scottsdale, AZ
Oct 21 2010 Casbah San Diego, CA
Oct 25 2010 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA
Oct 26 2010 Rotture Portland, OR
Oct 27 2010 Neumos Seattle, WA
Oct 30 2010 Kilby Court Salt Lake Cith, UT
Oct 31 2010 Marquis Theater Denver, CO
Nov 2 2010 The Riot Room Kansas City, MO
Nov 3 2010 MOJOs Columbia, MO
Nov 6 2010 Blind Pig Ann Arbor, MI

Russian Circles guitarist Mike Sullivan

As the trio Russian Circles took the stage last Friday, August 14, at the Metro, they showed no signs of being in a major auto wreck merely weeks earlier. Instead with little to no crowd interaction, they focused all their energy on the instrumental metal journeys they specialize in. This was no joyful and warm homecoming party, but rather a testament to the band’s passion and drive as working musicians.

When Dave Turncrantz’s drum pummels for “Harper Lewis” from Russian Circles’ 2008 release Station opened the show, it seemed more then appropriate. The song begins with a throbbing bass line before becoming a bit subdued for a minute or two until guitarist Mike Sullivan’s massive metal-juggernaut of a riff bears down on the crowd. The song is a tumultuous affair, similarly to the trio’s lives over the past three weeks.

On Friday, July 30, the band’s touring van, which they purchased from Chicago instrumental metal brethren-in-arms Pelican four days prior, and instrument trailer was plowed into by a pick-up truck on a highway bear Baton Rouge, LA, and was ultimately totaled. The band came away unscathed, but Turncrantz’s vintage drum set was destroyed as was there van. After missing a few dates following the incident, the band pressed on dishing out $5000 for a new van from their own, and their parents’, pockets as well as using a borrowed drum kit.

While their set at the Metro didn’t feel triumphant, much of the crowd was still filing in for the night’s headliners Boris, Russian Circles shrugged off any notions that they were even looking to garner any sympathy with a powerhouse set.

The epic climax of “Carpe”, which breaks through nearly four minutes into the nine-minute opus, had all the intensity of a tidal wave dropping into wreak havoc, but gone before the realization of what just occurred. “Death Rides A Horse” was a brutal outburst of tapping guitar-lick loops and gritty, nearly industrial riffage, but even when it slows, the song overs a driving-rhythmic approach that kept the crowd engaged.

Russian Circles bassist Brian Cook

Things slowed somewhat during “Melee” from their latest effort, Geneva, which slowly simmers with Brian Cook’s thunderous bass line vibrating everyone and everything within a few feet of the stage. Unfortunately at nearly eight minutes in length, “Melee” lacks some of the hard hitting dynamic shifts that powers their early tunes and instead offers more indie rock atmospherics.

But when “Geneva”, title track from the 2009 record, ended the show, it was full circle back to their loud-quiet-loud roots as the metallic riffs acted like gear work over the floating melody line suddenly shifts into overdrive. During Cook’s fuzzed-out bass bridge, Turncrantz sounds like he’s playing with four-arms while Sullivan’s mind-bending guitar lines weave in and out before the explosive coda.

Russian Circles’ set proved once again that they have the power and chops to compete for best metal act in Chicago. While at times the slow parts lacked the crunch of their more aggressive punch-to-the-jaw moments, they were still played with a machine-like precision. But their set was most impressive knowing the kind of adversity they went through just to make it back home, and it’s that kind of raw ambition that can carry a band for years to come.