My mind was already set even before I heard any of the bands playing at Old Ironsides on Friday. I am not a big fan of alternative music, punk music or anything like it. So when I couldn’t find Old Ironsides (I’m new to the area, and I don’t know the town that well), I was even more determined to have a bad time. But I will try listening to anything once before passing judgment.

But I was pleasantly surprised by the three bands that performed — Arousal, Umbravox and Call Me Ishmael. Their sounds are very different, but they each maintain heavy guitar rhythms, which makes them sound like true rock bands.

Arousal, a band from Los Angeles, took the stage first for about 20 minutes and even played double duty as their lead singer not only sang but also told stories and jokes about when he was a bartender. There was one about a vampire, but it’s too explicit to describe. The band even started a three person mosh pit, which I thought had died a few years ago, but apparently they still appear every now and then at local bars. Arousal also had some help from band members of Call Me Ishmael, who played on keyboard and drums.

The trio Umbravox kick-started their set with a song called “Dry Spell.” They have a much funkier sound, with its heavy bass and up-tempo guitar beats. After their song “The One Eye Shoe Salesman,” their tone changed into a more somber and melancholy mood in songs like “Rupert’s Revolt” and “Greatest Silence.” Their songs tended to last longer than they should and at some points tended to bleed together, but their funky rhythms had even my feet tapping for a while.

Finally, at midnight, the crowd pleaser Call Me Ishmael took the stage.

“They rock,” said Michael Goldman, a fan of the group, as he bobbed his head to the beat of the music. “They have like this edgy rock sound that you usually don’t hear from local bands.”

Members of the local Sacramento band include lead singer and guitarist Bryan, guitarist Nathan, keyboardist Andy and drummer Robby.

They performed songs from their latest EP release as well as songs from previous releases. They mixed their set with pulsating guitar beats, which had the crowd on their feet and on the dance floor. They had a good mixture that resembled mainstream punk bands like Sum 41 and Good Charlotte. The upbeatmood settled down when they shifted to some of their more moody and somewhat depressing songs.

And like a true rock band, they even had a few groupies. One even shouted that she wanted to sleep with one of the members.

Their latest CD “Effervescing,” which was written and recorded on an 8-track in their livingroom this past September, is available at their Web site, www.callmeishamel.net.

Listening to the three bands didn’t exactly change my taste in music. But I did appreciate their effort in providing an entertaining night.