Russian Circles post 1st of 3-part in-studio video series

Russian Circles, who will be at Cat's Cradle tomorrow night (Aug. 15) have released part one of a three-part in-studio live series of songs from their latest, Empros. The first video is for "309," yours truly's favorite song on the album. The live sessions were engineered and mixed by Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business) at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood. The video series is the debut of a new live in-studio sessions series by Sargent House in conjunction with Terroreyes.TV. Watch VIDEO HERE (or, alternate Vimeo link). Tickets to the Cradle show are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Chelsea Wolf and Marriages open; doors at 7:30, show at 8:30.

Agalloch at Kings

If you saw my post below, you know I had pretty high hopes for Agalloch, who played Kings on Sunday. I've been to quite a few heavy shows lately that were pretty disappointing -- not because the bands were bad, but because the venue was practically empty. No matter how great a band may be, they just won't have the same energy while playing to a half-empty venue. There are a lot of open-minded metal heads in this area. I'm not sure why so many shows are bombing. I've heard a few theories about the split between the Volume 11 loyalists and various other factions. I'm not sure it's that simple. I can say that most of the metal heads I know are in their 30s  or early 40s and have stable jobs that require them to be at work at 9 a.m. or earlier. If the average weeknight show doesn't start until 10 p.m., they're not going to come out unless it's a band they really want to see. I can also say that if we as a community don't find a way to get out and support heavy shows, the venues are going to stop booking them.

Having said all that, Agalloch played to a packed house and totally lived up to expectations. In retrospect, their show last year at Kings was probably my favorite of the year, and Sunday's show was easily my favorite of 2012. Singer-guitarist John Haughm once again began the show by lighting incense and placing it around the stage in tiny iron cauldrons. No offense to the band, but I honest to God think that incense made the show for me. Last year I liked it so much I Facebooked Aesop Dekker who said he thought it was actual agalloch wood. Evidently I'm not alone in my love of that incense because as soon as it started billowing over the rapt audience, the dude next to me looked at me and said, "they should sell that at the merch table." He's right; they should sell that at the merch table.

The band is touring behind their latest one-track release, "Faustian Echoes,"which they played during the show. Personally I was more looking forward to once again hearing songs from "Marrow of the Spirit," especially "Into the Painted Grey," and they didn't disappoint. That song might actually be one of my favorite songs of all time, and it was wonderful to hear it live again.


I didn't quite know what to make of openers Taurus (above), a two-woman, guitar-and-drums band that included Stevie Floyd of Dark Castle. I was pretty enthralled by the ethereal, 1970s Middle Eastern art movies that they projected onto the walls behind them. The music itself was loud, heavy, and exotic, recalling Diamanda Galas on more than one occasion. Each of their songs had at least one part I really dug, but a lot of stuff that did nothing for me. See more photos.

Photos from Mike Scheidt/Nate Hall and Town Mountai

Last week I saw two shows that were a bit mellower than what I've been listening to recently. The first was Mike Scheidt (aka the frontman for Yob) and Nate Hall (U.S. Christmas) at Kings on Wednesday. I wrote about the show for the Independent's Scan blog. Hall played first - focusing on songs from "A Great River." Scheidt joined him onstage toward the end of the set, then played a set of his own. It was good to see some of my metal buds at the show -- as well as some folks who aren't normally into metal, but love good singer-songwriter music. 

The next night I saw Asheville's Town Mountain, who were holding their CD-release party at the Pour House. I don't see as much bluegrass as I would like, and I'm going to make an effort to change that. The band sounded phenomenal, and I had a great time, even if I did have to put up with a bunch of frat boys basically making idiots of themselves. Not sure why the frat boy/jam band crowd has become so enamored of bluegrass -- maybe it's the influence of the Avetts and Mumfort & Sons. Regardless, I hope that trend passes soon.

This week's cool shows: Mike Scheidt & Nate Hall, Town Mountain and more

Lots of good shows happening this week, but I'm personally most looking forward to the solo acoustic show featuring Mike Scheidt of Yob and Nate Hall of U.S. Christmas, Wednesday, July 18, at Kings. If you're familiar with Yob's driving, mystical doom, then the uplifting AM Gold melodies on Scheidt's solo record "Stay Awake" (Thrill Jockey) might be a bit surprising. But if you free your mind of pre-conceived notions about heaviness, and just surrender yourself to the music, you'll find that "Stay Awake" is just as deep as anything Yob has created. Nate Hall's excellent solo record, "A Great River," is out now on Neurot. Looking forward to seeing both of these guys at Kings.  

Also this week: Up-and-coming Asheville bluegrass band Town Mountain will be at the Pour House on Thursday, July 19. On Friday, July 20, Valeint Thorr, Holy Grail, Royal Thunder and Caltrop will be at Cat's Cradle. All four of those bands put on some of the most amazing shows I saw last year, so this is going to be a killer show. Finally on Saturday, July 21, Hog, Sons of Tonatiuh, Man Will Destroy Himself, and Stampede will be at Casbah. Looking ahead, get ready for Agalloch at Kings on July 29!

Photos and video of Demon Eye

One of my favorite local bands to see live is a cover band, Corvette Summer, mainly because the covers they choose tend to be the deep album cuts like "Rat Bat Blue" by Deep Purple (RIP Jon Lord) and "Rocka Rolla" by Judas Priest. Their alter ego, Demon Eye, plays originals that sound like they could be deep cuts from all your favorite albums of the '70s. Here's footage of them last Friday, July 13, at Dive Bar.

UPDATE: Demon Eye will play Casbah in Durham with Grohg and Chest Pains on July 26


Demon Eye - "Devil Knows the Truth" from Mann's World on Vimeo.