Deli Magazine Live Review:

Concert Review: Inchworm @ Subterranean

Chicago's Inchworm performed at Subterranean Thursday evening. The band, which offers a noble throwback to Americana roots music (think Neil Young, CCR), performed songs from its latest release, Sheep in Wolf's Clothing (Deli's December Album of the Month), as well as debuted new, unreleased material.

Inchworm started its set off with “Greenhouse,” a standout from Sheep. The song features quirky guitar parts that could be heard in a circus ring (yes, really) while its chorus projects the image of a boozy crowd, singing along in a dusty saloon. “Tangled Web,” a newbie from the band's forthcoming record, previewed Inchworm's promising follow-up, as the song was well-crafted, catchy, and received a strong crowd response. But “Silent Observers” seemed to evoke the strongest crowd response of all. “Silent Observers” is to Inchworm as “Effigy” is to CCR: the song is full of build-ups, break-downs, and organic harmonies, displaying respectable nods to the band's implicit influences—perhaps The Band, and shades of Uncle Tupelo are heard in the mix. Singers, Matthew Baugher and Brian Morrissey, took turns at the mic throughout the set. Having seen Inchworm a handful of times, it was evident to me that over time, the band has progressed in its live set; Baugher has become more assured in his own vocal ability, now displaying a wider range and more confident approach to his singing. Drummer Mike Holtz serves as Inchworm's secret weapon of sorts. He adds impeccable drumming and has a rare style I can only most closely compare to Wilco's Glenn Kotche.

Inchworm played a short set, as they supported the evening's headliners, Retribution Gospel Choir, but in the short time they were on stage, they delivered a slew of worthy rock. Inchworm has presented itself as a sort of musical, or at least regional, dichotomy—personally, each member oozes Chicago, but together they're able to create a song and mood that has most often been displayed by Southern-bred musicians. But Inchworm pulls it off, as did Tupelo, which not only makes their music enjoyable, but novel in its own way too. - Neph Basedow