THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES, RUSSIAN CIRCLES, PORTUGAL. THE MAN
(Neumo’s) Russssssian Cirrrrrcles! Duuuude! I’m so fucking stoked for this show and not because I’m a stoner who gets totally blitzed and zones out during the band’s dark, metal-tinged instrumentals. I’m 100 percent sober 100 percent of the time, and I still love their heavy sound. Their music is spooky, but not in a black-metal, skull-bearing way. It’s more moody than that—it sounds sort of like you’re being chased by a ghost. There are a lot of haunting guitar noises, really explosive drumming, and there are even some bright, almost pretty moments. And they’re fantastic live, they’re able to really take advantage of their strengths and even improv a little in a live setting. Worth mentioning, Russian Circles just got signed to local label Suicide Squeeze, which means they’re going to put out a new record as early as next spring, which means they probably have some new material right now, which they’ll hopefully play tonight because I’ve been listening to their latest full-length, Enter, for over a year now. It’s good, but I need more. Also, Brian Cook (of Botch fame, duders) is going to be playing bass with the band. Killer. MEGAN SELING

CLUB POP!: GLASS CANDY, MIKE SIMONETTI, DEVON VARMEGA, COLBY B., GLITTERPANTS
(Chop Suey) Former glam garage punks and current Italo disco revivalists Glass Candy are the obvious draw tonight. Their new full-length, B/E/A/T/B/O/X, is the ultimate triumph of their last few years’ mutation—a slick, shimmering album of cool, crystalline disco and retro-futurist soft-synth pop. Old single “Life After Sundown” benefits from improved production here, becoming the bouncing, echoing night anthem that its 12-inch version only roughly sketched. Other highlights include the narcotic clap-along fanfare of “Candy Castle,” the vintage coke and mirrors of “Rolling Down the Hills,” the phased arpeggios and Suspiria whispers of “Digital Versicolor,” and the Kraftwerk cover “Computer Love.” But while Glass Candy are the obvious lure tonight, Mike Simonetti’s DJ set should be equally instructive for the dancing masses. The founder and owner of Troubleman Unlimited (and Italo offshoot Italians Do It Better) has been releasing records for nearly 15 years from bands ranging from Black Dice to Tussle to the Walkmen, so you know he’s got an ace record collection to play out. ERIC GRANDY