While I waiting for Sleigh Bells to take to the River Stage at Bluesfest, I ventured over to the seemingly quarantined Electro stage and was pleasantly surpised.
Daring California dance punkers !!! (or if you must verbalize or search them on Google, chk chk chk) were playing to a small yet dedicated Ottawa crowd.
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!!! formed in 1996 when members of Sacramento bands Black Liquorice, Popesmashers and the Yah Mos joined together in a new venture. Their self-titled debut dropped in 2000 and their latest, and fourth full lenght, Strange Weather, Isn't It?, was released in 2010.
I had heard few of !!!'s songs on an indie compliation a few years back and enjoyed their upbeat sound. However the surprise that hit me as I exited the cool comfort of the Canadian War Museum was the band's dynamic onstage prescence, which is impossible to convey through the medium of headphones.
Lead singer Nic Offer isn't gay but his dancing is reminiscent of Mick Jagger with its flamboyancy and femininity. After simulating fellatio on the microphone, Offer got up close and personal with the crowd, first from the photo pit, then venturing right into the center of the crowd twice. Like the band's aggro-animated sound, this showmanship by Offer is a !!! staple. As their sprightly set went on, the tiny troupe of onlookers grew larger. Head nods and tapping feet seemed to be contagious.
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In an interview with the Vital Voice, Offer spoke of how he loves that his band's disco-tinged music is relateable to gay audiences.
"What was exciting is when we got into disco was how powerful it had been in the '70s to the gay community and how people found themselves when they went to those clubs in New York. They discovered they weren't weird so this music always had this moment of revelation and freedom that felt inspiring. We recognize that the music we play is related to gay culture and we love it."
For more on !!!, including additional tour dates, check out their official site.
Jaime, My Intentions Are Bass
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