Russian Circles

FUN FUN FUN FEST

• Preview

  The blurbing of Fun Fun Fun Fest

• Saturday

• Sunday

• Interviews

• Death

  BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ

• Altercation Comedy

  BY AUDRA SCHROEDER

• Fucked Up

  BY AUSTIN POWELL

• The Jesus Lizard

  BY AUSTIN POWELL

• Pharcyde

  BY CHASE HOFFBERGER

• Pack of Wolves

  BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ

• Mission of Burma

  BY AUDRA SCHROEDER

• GZA

  BY CHASE HOFFBERGER

• Danzig

  BY MARC SAVLOV

Fun Fun Fun Fest Phases

• The Jesus Lizard

  Head/Pure

  BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ

• Mission of Burma

  The Sound the Speed the Light

  BY AUSTIN POWELL

• Times New Viking

  Born Again Revisited

  BY AUDRA SCHROEDER

• Why?

  Eskimo Snow

  BY DOUG FREEMAN

• Broadcast & the Focus Group

  Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age

  BY AUDRA SCHROEDER

• The King Khan & BBQ Show

  Invisible Girl

  BY AUDRA SCHROEDER

• Lucero

  1372 Overton Park

  BY DOUG FREEMAN

• Russian Circles

  Geneva

  BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ

Russian Circles

Harder but with even more Explosions in the Sky-type finesse than last year's sophomore LP, Station, and yet unable to match the emotional and narrative wallop of still-best 2006 debut Enter, Chicago instrumentalists Russian Circles arrive at neutral ground with Geneva. Opener "Fathom," aria in one channel, subatomic bass burble in the other – all airborne guitar melodics in the center – acts as eerie intro to the gathering swarm of the title track. Drummer/leader Dave Turncrantz's cymbal beat and toms splay, roiling lithe and individual, segue into the stick play of the succeeding 7½-minute "Melee," an atmospheric proto-fugue featuring string quartet accents and a chiming interlude from guitarist Mike Sullivan. Quick-stepping drill bit "Malko" bursts into best instrumental title "When the Mountain Comes to Muhammad," moving prayer and propaganda rather than dirt and rock. Stringed sealant "Philos" tolls Friday Night Lights, wandering 10 minutes where the streets have no names. (Saturday, 3:35pm, Black Stage.)