Last Tuesday night, a surprisingly large number of die-hard fans battled through wind and snow to see local-music-big-names IY and Zox. Worth it? Totally. The show was one of the most fun live music shows I have seen in a long time, or even ever.

IY, a former Ithaca High School band that I have loved for a long time, opened for Zox, another local area band, now touring with about 200 shows a year. Apparently, there was also an opener for the opener, which braved the elements and drove all the way from Rochester. Unfortunately, my own fight with the snow caused me to miss them (it also prevented me from getting back in my driveway and made me late for class the next morning). I don’t even know the band’s name. So sorry, guys.

IY, as I said, hails from Ithaca High School. Now that they are at four separate colleges, they get together much less frequently. The band is made up of drummer Dana Billings, bassist John Zinder ’09 of our very own Cornell University, singer/keyboardist Nate Terepka, and local, skinny, indie hearththrob in tight jeans and v-neck tees, singer/guitarist Chris Frank.

On to music. IY plays happy music. Good happy music. Both of their full-length albums grace my iPod. Their third full-length release will be out in the next few weeks, and their set on Tuesday was drawn almost entirely from its soon-to-be-released track list. Their new songs, which I am starting to know as well as the old (as in, every word), showed an impressive range of new tricks, and Nate’s voice sounded particularly great. Unfortunately, Nate’s wrist was suffering from tendonitis, or something equally icky, and he was unable to play the piano. Instead, he operated a midi board with his feet. Although it was sad, because the piano is featured heavily in IY’s repetoire, it turned out all right — the midi board actually added some neat effects that hadn’t been there before.

The band alternates between the vocal stylings of Chris and Nate, both of whom have great but very different voices. Occasionally, the two harmonize together. Having two such different vocalists is really a great thing for the band, I think, giving their songs a lot of added variety. IY also features some energetic drumming, a rockin’ bass-line and smooth guitar solos. When all four parts come together I challenge anyone in hearing distance not to dance.

Zox also plays happy music, though in a very different style from the smooth and slinky IY sound. Their music is super high energy, and all four are really great musicians. The bassist in particular played a solo that blew my bass-playing friend, and myself, away.

Band members are Eli Miller (guitar/lead vocals), who looks like a really happy Napoleon Dynamite who discovered he actually has rhythm, Spencer Swain, the most bad-ass violin player I have ever encountered, Dan Edinberg, rockin’ bassist, and last (but not least) John Zox, the drummer, who looks reminiscent of Orlando Bloom when he’s not playing (long, tied-back blonde hair) and reminiscent of a Neanderthal ape-man when he is (he lets down his hair, jumps around and somehow sticks out his lips and tongue simultaneously).

The screeching electronic violin solos and haunting melodies were the most unique aspect of the set and stood out even above the amazing bass and the often arrhythmic drumming. The band made really cool use of repetitive guitar and violin harmonies, sometimes further complemented by echoing vocals.

Beyond simple musical skills, however, Zox really knows how to put on a show. The energy in the room was palpable and when called back for an encore, the singer/guitarist/Napoleon Dynamite look-alike got down and played in the crowd. It was a ton of fun and it sounded great. Ya’ll should definitely check out Zox (a dorm-dwelling friend has informed me that nearly all their stuff is available on DC++, not that I’m encouraging its use, mind you).