Inverted Nine, Hit By A Semi & The Imps

Inverted Nines threw a party at LaSalle’s this past Wednesday night to celebrate the release of their new CD, We are the Ones. Chico’s punk scene came out to support, as did two other local bands, Hit By a Semi and the Imps.
Getting the party started was the Imps. I’d seen these guys perform once before, at The Brick Works for Indecisive Youth’s CD release party, and I liked them then. After seeing them this second time, the Imps are becoming one of my favorite Chico bands. Using full chords and simple song structures, they played stripped-down, no frills rock ‘n’ roll with an indie flavor. The solid rhythms provided by Jim Rizzuto on drums and Erik Morton on bass allowed frontman John McCall to play loose riffs and some tasteful leads on guitar. The band also commanded great dynamics, especially on “Destiny’s Child,” which featured a galloping beat and staccato chords. By taking the volume down a few notches, the louder parts and build-ups were strikingly powerful. McCall’s wailing vocals sounded from the heart throughout. If you haven’t seen the Imps yet, make it a point to do so.
Next to take the stage was a band I go out to see every chance I get. Whether it’s at a club, backyard, playing acoustically or in a parking lot, Hit By a Semi usually blows the place up. Wednesday night was no exception. The band came to play, and that’s exactly what they did, bringing out a loose set without steering too far off course. They combined songs “Searching” and “When I’m Not Around” into an extended jam, and punk rock chant, along with songs like “Friends, Booze and Tattoos,” which got fists pumping and people shouting. Their already high-energy set hit fever pitch when two of the three Harmless Cherries, Hit By a Semi’s part-time female vocalists, took the stage.
And since it was their party, carrying out the duties of closing act were Inverted Nines. It was nice to see the band perform indoors for once, whereas on previous occasions I ended up freezing my ass off. Don’t get me wrong, it was worth braving the cold night air, but still… Frontman C.C. Huber’s unyielding vocals elevated their performance into something more akin to a hedonistic, punk rock sermon. Songs like “Glitter Queen” and “Only So Much” exemplified the band’s in your face approach. They were definitely up to the task of headlining act. The Nines left the stage only after performing pretty much every song they knew, and those who had gathered to celebrate the release of the CD wanted more.

– James Barone
– Photo by Alyssa Starkey

Bookmark: