Ill Niño, Red With Envy & Brain In A Cage

Kicking off the evening at 8 PM sharp were Chico, CA, trio Brain In A Cage. The eager, nearly packed house was ready to rock, and Brain In A Cage got it started right. The growling, shout-style vocals caught most off-guard, and gave the band the crowd’s full attention. With much anticipation I was treated to a 30 minute set of near prog-metal bliss. I was quite fond of these young lads and their enthusiasm for double-kick percussion and grind-core guitar riffs. Songs such as "Wake Up, Smell the Violence" and "Break the Mold" took me back to my days of listening to Helmet in my bedroom. If you're a fan of Helmet or Mudvayne, you missed out on this group of emerging young talent.
Second on the bill for the evening were Chico's local musical crush, Red With Envy. I have to admit that I've seen the boys on many previous occasions, but it's been some time now. The guys were at the top of their craft and dominated the house for a full 40 minutes. Red With Envy sounded like a well-oiled machine, and the crowd reacted with energy that could be felt all the way up West 2nd St. The bulk of the crowd, sporting RWE swag, hung onto every word of Chavez's heartfelt vocals. The crowd moshed with such intense energy during "In Dreams," and then erupted when the quartet finished off their set with "You Are Me." These four young men have come a long way in such a short time, and are ready to test the waters nationally.
Headlining the evening was the internationally touring band, Ill Niño. The group made their successful return to Chico with a crowd that was ready to give all they had. With their new CD Confession out on the shelves, and currently on tour with Sevendust, this seven-piece Brazilian flavored outfit treated the crowd to one hell of a professional show. Lead singer Cristian Machado gave tons of love to the Chico crowd, which only left them hungry for more. Ill Niño blasted through such memorable songs as "What Comes Around," "Unframed" and their current radio single "How Can I Live." The group brought the house down, and worked the crowd like few can. This Wednesday night at The Brick Works was a must-see event for anyone who loves heavy rock, and for those who love bands that give 110 percent. Heavy music is not dead, and Ill Niño came to prove that they're here to stay.
– Casey R. Bowden
– Photo by Alyssa Starkey

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