Decidedly done

There comes a point in Chico when comfortable surroundings and college friends are abandoned, and the choice to take flight into the real world is made. It’s been a long time coming, but the members of local punk mainstays Indecisive Youth have finally reached that decision time.

The boys are all grown up, and after five years of hanging around Chico and playing in one of the most notorious local pop punk groups, they’re calling it quits.

Indecisive Youth went out with a bang at its final show Friday night at the Riff Raff. If there’s one thing these guys are known for, it’s putting on one of the most high-energy live shows in these parts.

The night started off slow with only a meager crowd turning out for openers Last Poverty Flats, featuring members of the Kansas City Stars. Even though the simple rock ‘n’ roll harmonies were definitely conducive to at least nodding your head in rhythm, the audience showed little response.

But as soon as Indecisive Youth rolled in, it was a whole new story.

The guys showed up with an entourage that filled the front of the bar near the small space where there used to be a stage. Pretty girls in pin-up dresses and guys in band shirts pumped their fists and sang every word along with Indecisive Youth. In typical IY fashion, guitarist Nick Giusto climbed up on the bar and taunted the crowd below, while front man Chris Conley whined and thrashed through the alcohol-fueled new-school bubblegum punk songs they’ve played a thousand times before.

It was a good ending to a good run in the local music scene. As the guys go their separate ways, they assure their loyal fan base that they will regroup at a later date under the moniker No Hero, starting afresh. Indecisive Youth, however, is long gone.