topic: reviews
Submitted by dash on Sun, 17/07/2005 - 04:00.
Circle, the Cube 8th July
The thing about trying to get ten people together to go to a gig is that you're almost definitely going to be late. So I miss the solo set by Anton MAIOF as well as the apparently pretty good set by Big Naturals. (But others didn't, see Rottenmeat for a more comprehensive review). I don't miss Finnish Psyche-Rockers Circle though, oh no. The band are in metal mode today, studded wristbands and tight denim with improbably 'metal' spikey guitars. It is a bit slow to begin with, they seem to want to really lull us into trance this time, but since the Cube makes you sit down I am dangerously close to nodding off. My girlfriend actually is falling asleep and I have to keep nudging her to make sure she gets it. She doesn't and says that the band look bored, to which I reply no, they're just really into what they're doing. But I start to wonder.
The single note/chord is slowly building tension, the singer spits out some high Dickinson-style screams and then the gig really takes off. This is about twenty minutes in, mind. The psychelic, semi-improvisations kick off into furious heavy metal riffing, back to more of the hypnotic stuff then off with the metal again, spiralling upwards into the flaming backdrop. The clumsy guitarist repeatedly knocks over microphone stands, the bass player is humping his bass on the floor and while the singer screams his incomprehensible rock vocals at the stunned audience the drummer is impassive, unmoved. I can't see his hands but the sounds indicate he is as active as the rest of them.
It is all over too early and following the encore we emerge blinking into the real world a little drunk, serene and purged of all emotional stress. I am anyway, I sense relief from my other half that it is finally over.
The thing about trying to get ten people together to go to a gig is that you're almost definitely going to be late. So I miss the solo set by Anton MAIOF as well as the apparently pretty good set by Big Naturals. (But others didn't, see Rottenmeat for a more comprehensive review). I don't miss Finnish Psyche-Rockers Circle though, oh no. The band are in metal mode today, studded wristbands and tight denim with improbably 'metal' spikey guitars. It is a bit slow to begin with, they seem to want to really lull us into trance this time, but since the Cube makes you sit down I am dangerously close to nodding off. My girlfriend actually is falling asleep and I have to keep nudging her to make sure she gets it. She doesn't and says that the band look bored, to which I reply no, they're just really into what they're doing. But I start to wonder.
The single note/chord is slowly building tension, the singer spits out some high Dickinson-style screams and then the gig really takes off. This is about twenty minutes in, mind. The psychelic, semi-improvisations kick off into furious heavy metal riffing, back to more of the hypnotic stuff then off with the metal again, spiralling upwards into the flaming backdrop. The clumsy guitarist repeatedly knocks over microphone stands, the bass player is humping his bass on the floor and while the singer screams his incomprehensible rock vocals at the stunned audience the drummer is impassive, unmoved. I can't see his hands but the sounds indicate he is as active as the rest of them.
It is all over too early and following the encore we emerge blinking into the real world a little drunk, serene and purged of all emotional stress. I am anyway, I sense relief from my other half that it is finally over.
