Circa Survive Fall Headline Tour – REVIEW

Circa Survive’s Fall Headline tour, with Maps & Atlases and States, brought them to Durty Nellies in Palatine. You can check out our review after the break!

To start off I have never been to a show with three bands on the bill in a 800+ venue that has ever felt so personal.  Also let me tell you, no writer on this earth can tell you in words how amazing these bands are, live, recorded, or what ever it takes you need to experience these bands. Opening act States with their tight sound, off beat drum rhythms and amazing belting vocals, second support act Maps and Atlases maxing out with ambient guitars and effects, and headliner Circa Survive impressing the whole venue with stage presence, lights, and filling every audio need.

Stated before States took the stage to open up the show at Durty Nellies in Palatine, IL and demanded respect with their impressive female vocals from Mindy White and driving bass guitar. They had the attitude of a band that has been doing this for a long time, but humbleness of a band that knew they still needed to gain fans from every song they performed. The vocalist controlled the crowd with her unforgettable female voice and catchy lines. The band complemented each other with guitar effects, amazing drum rhythms only played by true dedicated musicianship and driving, not over done bass lines. Two songs that got the crowd going was their original “Time To Begin” and their well done cover of Gnarls Barkley cover of “Crazy”. Well put on show for a opening band supporting their new CD release due out in October but available early on tour now!

Next band to take stage was Maps and Atlases. Before the band even took stage you knew it was going to be impressive with a concert style bass drum, xylophone style bells, and effect pedals like crazy being set up. Also the fact that the amps being set up were all small vintage looking rigs told you the musicians knew what guitar and amp tones were and how important they were to their sound. The amount of guitar finger picking, tapping and pull offs they used was mind blowing and showed they were not just writing music in a normal fashion. They meant business as you can hear in the song “Every Place Is A House”. You can see the talent in the band as the bass player switches to playing the concert style bass drum to the lead guitar switching to a synth type instrument all the way to the drummer playing his drum set with one hand and playing melodies on the xylophone.  This band was mind blowing between all the musicianship and vocal abilities of each member.

Last to take the stage was the much awaited Circa Survive! In my opinion putting the sound of Chiodos to shame with Circa’s perfection. Their stage presence and lighting was so welcoming to the crowd. The vocalist was so personal with everyone reaching their hand to him. Describing this band is so difficult because each member brought so much to the stage that was audio mind blowing.  With one of the crowd favorites “The Difference between medicine and poison is in the dose” they really showed how they can control the whole venue in singing and movement. I have never seen a band that every instrument was the driving force in each song from heavy rhythms of guitars and drums to catchy vocal lines to switching guitar effects to intricate bass licks. After the Circa set it is really hard to describe their audio beating on your ears where I just need to stress to see them live.

All three bands brought something amazing audio to the table that I will recommend all three bands to who ever I talk to. Each band had effects on the ears that can’t be described in a review or paper. You NEED to see each of these bands when there is a chance if you have any want to know what real musicianship is.

Information about the review…
Tour: Circa Survive Fall Headline Tour
Bands: Circa Survive, Maps & Atlases and States
Reviewer: Dustin Smith
Date: September 25, 2011
Venue: Durty Nellies in Palatine, IL