!!! The Hammer

Headlining Noise Pop's Thursday night roster at the Great American Music Hall, fans of all ages were itching to get the party started with Sacramento natives, !!! (Chk Chk Chk). These dance-punk pioneers have made a name for themselves across the world, playing sold-out shows and festivals while harboring a vortex of sounds that combine West Coast underground with fresh funk and electronic dance.

When !!! came to the stage, everyone was geared up and ready to put on their dancing shoes. Pulling tracks from their entire discography, the once-tired looking crowd rose to their feet and got to groovin'. Amongst the variety of tracks played, one that stood out for all the right reasons was "Slyd," an originally unreleased track from their forthcoming Thr!!!er album, in which they decided to play for an unknowing-yet-receptive audience. It was clear throughout their performance that these guys have an understanding of their audience, and also have a knack for combining nouveau-disco/funk jams with psychedelic rhythms and saxophone effects into one cohesive setlist that is polished and full of vim and vigor.

Aside from the music, one thing to mention is vocalist Nic Offer has the stage presence of some otherworldly musician magician. Dressed in his tight, navy blue short-shorts and a white tee, his Mick Jagger/Iggy Pop dancing style not only upped the energy of the hazed-over room, but it brought a raw connection to the stage that many artists today tend to shy away from. He was jumping on speakers, stage-diving straight into the sweat-filled crowd and causing the audience to collectively loose their shit and get down.

If I had any advice to give to people interested in attending a !!! show, it would be to get involved in the crowd's energy. Fans know how to get into the vibe and have a good time, and if you are in the audience, you will have no choice but to feel the surrounding enthusiasm and embrace your primal nature to dance! Triple-chk approved.