Seven Mary Three & Inflatable Supermodel

I got off work very late, thanks to a bunch of those annoying last-second customers every food service employee loves, so by the time I got to LaSalle’s, the pounding force of Inflatable Supermodel was already echoing up and down the block. The reason for the loudness, I found, was that the band was on the outside back patio stage, arguably the best-sounding stage in Chico. Lead singer Joe Manente’s shirt was already off when I walked in, but he had not yet dumped his obligatory pitcher of water over his head. This he soon did, though, and continued to flail onstage as Zach Theiss’ beast of a guitar shredded the sound waves. Combining a punkish pop sound with a heavy dash of smartass, Supermodel’s music is perfect for onstage gladiator action, and on this spacious stage, it was in no short supply.
At one point Theiss started ripping out a loud, freaky riff I didn’t recognize, then the band tore into what sounded like a new song. It actually turned out to be an old song, rendered unrecognizable by the sheer energy Supermodel is capable of. Also of note was the fuzzy-headed drummer, whose kit becomes godlike when properly mic-ed. The band closed their set by inviting the crowd onstage to sing along to “Puff,” Manente very willingly sharing his mic with a couple of fine femmes while the rest of the band went into musical conniptions.
Nineties radio band Seven Mary Three then kicked into gear on the inside stage, taking the room back to high school. Contrary to what is unfortunately popular opinion, Seven Mary Three is not lame. Their combination of a Telecaster rhythm guitar and a Gibson lead, along with a deep, driving bass, produces a fist of sound that can pound your guts better than a lot of other bands. When they go fast, so does your head, whether you want it to or not.
The only mistake Seven Mary Three made was playing too many slow songs. Jason Ross’ lead vocals are veteran, and both guitarists rock, but people still leave when the vibe gets somber. Most college students don’t really slow dance at rock shows.
But between stretches of musical lamenting, Seven Mary Three played strong and hard, consciously avoiding radio hits, and it wasn’t even until halfway through that some jackass yelled, “Cumbersome!” Inevitably, a few songs later, there was the infamous single, and there were the cheers, the arms in the air and the singing along. “That’s the only reason we play that song,” Ross said after the cheering died down.
The energy was back in a hurry, though, as lead guitarist Thomas Juliano went crazy on an extended guitar solo, throwing out some Hendrix and bringing shouts and rock-out gestures out of the crowd. The gods of 1997 rock radio then ended their set with the almost-forgotten “Water’s Edge,” whose opening bars sent a shiver down my spine. Two hours later, it’s still playing in my head.

– Words and Photo by Peter Kimmich

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