Good Riddance, The Nerve Agents, Downway & Indecisive Youth

Ah, the new wave of punk rockers has arrived. For you old-school junkies Indecisive Youth may seem like babies on stage, but they are the punk rock future and so we must celebrate their efforts. Indecisive Youth is a group of young men fresh into the punk scene. They played well and with youthful enthusiasm. The sharp chords and hasty drums reflected their age, but the sound they pounded out was sincerely punk rock and worthy of Chico's attention.

Now, in contrast to I.Y.'s naïve qualities, Downway took the stage with a negative attitude. The vibe they sent out was horrific and, needless to say, so was their music. Now, is it me, or does Canadian punk rock suck? Their ensemble was somehow off; they were not fully synchronized and I'll be damned if the lead singer was not off-key.

In preparation for the main feature, the Nerve Agents graced the stage. These guys have the complete punk rock ambiance. Their clothes, hair, lyrics and vocals made for a whole array of attitudes and atmospheres. This group of five was the epitome of punk rock 'n' roll. They were highly energetic and totally aware of what their audience wanted: high riding guitar solos and sharp drums. The Bay Area's own Nerve Agents were loved by our Chico crowd because soon the moshing began. The crowd was pushing, shoving and scratching each other to the beat of the high-pitched wails of the lead singer. The bassist pumped out harsh chords that set the audience into motion. The Nerve Agents fired up the punk rock fans who began to itch for Good Riddance.

How does it feel to be a superstar? Why don't you ask Russ Rankin of Good Riddance? Rankin was treated like a star on stage, with applause and people grabbing onto him when he got close - you'd think he was Enrique. The band began to play without hesitation and delivered the best damn punk rock you could hope for. Fast paced and intelligent words make up Good Riddance, along with talented musicians and a cool ass lead singer. Rankin performed a high velocity and damn entertaining show. The guitarist, Luke Pabich, cranked out the melodies with energy and obvious experience. Chuck Platt armed the bass and set the mode for the entire set. The newest member, Dave Wagenshutz, didn't exactly sit quietly in the corner - that man was beating the hell out of his drums. He was kicking out fast beats that pumped your libido. The sound that these men create is pure punk rock. The crowd was awesome - people were crowd surfing to the stage and back with enthusiasm. Rankin encouraged the moshers and invited them to come closer still. This was an amazing evening and all you who attended know why: a good band makes for a good show and this was a great fucking show.

- Brooke Haley

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