After winning UNIQUE’S 2011 Battle of the Bands last spring, indie-pop band French Cassettes is returning to perform a Nooner today at the University Union Serna Plaza.

“The winner of the Battle of the Bands usually returns to perform at a fall Nooner of their choice,” said UNIQUE’S Interim Programs Adviser Karen Chu. “They also have a new music video up on YouTube.”

Sounding like a mix between The Shins and 1950s doo-wop, the Ripon, Calif.-based band performed with Sacramento State student Emily Messick who played trumpet, piano, and sang backing vocals on their latest EP, “Summer Darling.”

“You had to have a Sac State student in the band to play Battle of the Bands,” said bass player Thomas Huerta. “Emily was perfect because she had already contributed to our music and she was a student.”

The band’s formation in 2006 while attending Ripon High School provided the band with a fan base made up of mostly friends, who also helped the band discover contests and book shows.

Ripon is a smaller town of about 15,000 people, which created a challenge, said rhythm guitar and front man Scott Huerta. He tried playing with different musicians until finding lead guitar and keyboard player Mackenzie, drummer Ben I. and Thomas Huerta, Scott’s older brother.

 “We also feel lucky that we found members that like the same style of music and work well together within such a small town.” Scott said.

While doing all of their own booking, the group is currently playing shows to support the “Summer Darling” EP and nearing the completion of writing a new, yet-to-be-named, record.

Although the younger Huerta and Bunch are the primary song writers, the band as a whole plays a major role in finishing songs and writing individual instrument parts.

“The lyrics are more personal, but we want the music to be danceable and stand on its own so you can enjoy the music either way,” Scott said.

The group generally plays shows around northern California including San Francisco, Oakland and Ripon.

Last semester’s Battle of the Bands was the only other time the band has played Sac State, but the audience and three judges decided on French Cassettes as the winner – a highlight of the past year for the band, Scott said.

“Going into the Battle of the Bands we didn’t know what to expect,” Thomas said. “We are very confident in our music and went in with the mentality of wanting to win. After we heard the reaction from the crowd, we were sure we had sold them on our sound.”

The band is booked for dates through October with shows from San Francisco and Oakland to Sacramento and Merced. In Sacramento they are scheduled for a performance at Old Ironsides on Oct. 28.

French Cassettes have a goal of reaching as many people as possible with their music, the members are willing to dedicate themselves to the band for as long as people keep coming to shows and giving support, Thomas said. Their latest release “Summer Darling” is available for purchase on iTunes and T-shirts will be available at their noon performance.

“We haven’t had a lot of chances to break in Sacramento,” Thomas said. “So this (Nooner) would be a good opportunity for students to decide for themselves if they are into us and want to see us play again.”

Find more information about the French Cassettes on their MySpace at myspace.com/frenchcasettes.

Benjamin Dewey can be reached at [email protected].