After glancing at JZ’s list of reviews on Line Out, I noticed I completely forgot to tell you how awesome Russian Circles was on Thursday. They played a free show at Neumo’s with These Arms Are Snakes, and the place was pretty packed. And the Farm was there. Gross. Selling cigarettes and claiming to support indie music. Gross. You killed my Grandpa, Camel, fuck off.

Anyway, Russian Circles was really great, and though I stood in the back like a lame-o, they still managed to mesmerize me from across the room with their haunting instrumental metal meets rock meets something pretty. I wish they moved a little more, I wish they thrashed, I’ve seen them thrash, but I will forgive them as their songs were on fucking point.

And their drummer? Their drummer is a machine. A robot. An alien from a planet made of beats. Or something. He is (as far as I can tell) not human.

Brian Cook played with the band too (they’re currently without a permanent bass player) and he seemed a little nervous at first. His eyes were glued to his instrument and there wasn’t a lot of movement from his side of the stage, but he started to loosen up after the second or third song, when the crowd loudly cheered him on, waving fists and bottles of beer in the air.

It was over too quickly. But when you play six-nine minute epics, you’re done after four or five songs.

Next time, I’m standing up front. It’s dynamic and loud, but being close is the best way to experience all the intricacies that you miss when you’re standing in the back next to a group of dudes talking about last weekend’s party.