The i9 Party Continues
Chicago Battle @ Elbo room, The HuB w/ JWP, Caterwaulla CD release
It’s been a crazy past few weeks.
We got some more press. Thanks to the Gazette and Hoopla! Check it:
http://hooplanow.com/2012/05/10/item-9-and-the-mad-hatters-is-a-local-rock-band-worth-following/
On April 30th, a Monday night, item9 and the gang journeyed once again to the Elbo Room in Chicago for a Rock Show. This time the stakes were high, it was a battle. We got to Chi town, ditched our bags in the hotel, then headed downtown. The owner was pretty happy to see us as a few bands had already dropped out. We watched the first band, then setup and rocked it. Thanks to all our great friends and fans we won! Winning 90% of the online AND bar crowd vote along with perfect scores from all the judges. It was a good night.
May 4th, Friday, we had the honor of playing the Eliminate Through Music benefit put on by the University of Iowa. Playing alongside Caterwaulla and Intersection, it was a great night. The next day we headed up to Cedar Rapids and partied with good friends John and Matt D at Just Jules with some AWESOME hard rock/metal bands: Dueling at Dawn and Numbered Existence. They both really brought the metal and set the bar pretty high for the night. Check them out. All in all that was one hell of a weekend.
The next weekend would be no different. Thursday we headed up to party at the HuB, we really digg that place as it’s a great venue and some really good friends live close Cody, Sommer, September, etc…. Forgot to mentioned that we played with Jon Wayne and the Pain + Sun Company (Ames). It was SIIIIIICK. Sun Company really laid down the jams moving from one dance-able groove to another with long instrumental breaks in between. It was pretty sick when the keyboard player started using a Melodica! As for Jon Wayne and The Pain, not much to be said. They fuckin’ KILLED it. Their mix of Dub, Reggae, Ska, and electronic really brought the pain and had the whole place dancing. As always it was a good time at the HuB, with a little extra spice from Amo as he was carrying around a boa all night. The people didn’t know what to think. The after party at Sommer’s was, as always, one hell of a time.
The next day we were lucky enough to have our show in West Bend Iowa canceled. No grad party, no long road trip makes for a happy band.
Saturday was the grand finale, and what a finale it was. The Caterwaulla CD release extravaganza. We played with some AWESOME Iowa rock bands that night. Velcro Moxie kicked off the show. This is the first time we’ve played with them and it won’t be the last. Having 2 guitars, both female and male vocals, and a keyboard player, it was a great musical show. I’m sure many people caught themselves singing along as the tunes sank into their heads, I know I did. AsBigAsMouse rocked it hard, remind me of Muddy Rails or Knubby. It heavy, punky, and rockin’, what more could you ask for. Don’t tell Lauren, but before our set some of the i9 crew snuck over to yacht and saw Zeta June, let me tell you it was a good idea. If you like Pink Floyd, you better check these guys out.
After we kept the stage warm for Caterwaulla they tore into it hard and rocked the late into the night. Before I knew it the bar tenders were kicking everyone out and the music was over. Thankfully, there were kegs and a house to after party at. It was a LOOONG night.