!!!
!!! (pronounced chk chk chk, or any other syllable repeated three times — pow pow pow, uh uh uh, etc.) is an American band that formed in Summer 1995 from the ashes of Black Liquorice and Popesmashers. After a successful tour together, those two bands decided to mix the former's disco-funk style with the latter's noisy aggressiveness, and after the addition of vocalist Nic Offer from Hardcore band Yah Mos, !!! was born. The band's name was inspired by the subtitles of the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy, in which three mouth-clicking sounds of the Bushmen were represented as "!!!". The band's name is the "hardest band name to google" according to Spin Magazine.
Based dually in Sacramento, California and New York, their debut full-length record came out in 2000 as a self-titled album on the label Gold Standard Laboratories. This was followed in 2003 by the acclaimed single Me and Giuliani Down By the School Yard, a lengthy track combining house beats with funky basslines, psychedelic guitars, and simple, silly lyrics which quote the title song of the musical Footloose. They are known for their cathartic live shows, and are commonly associated with the dancepunk movement. A second full-length, Louden Up Now, was released on Touch and Go in America and on Warp Records in Europe in June of 2004.
!!! is composed of Mario Andreoni (guitar), Dan Gorman (horns/percussion/keys), Nic Offer (vocals), Tyler Pope (guitar/various electronic devices), John Pugh (drums/vocals), Justin Vandervolgen (bass/sound) and Allan Wilson (horns/percussion/keys). The band also shares membership with the similar group Out Hud, (including Tyler Pope who is also in LCD Soundsystem) which plays instrumental music that is more dub-influenced and experimental.
Discography
Albums
- !!! - (2000, CD/LP)
- Louden Up Now - (2004, CD/LP)
EPs
- !!! ('97 tour cassette) - (1997)
- GSL26/LAB SERIES VOL. 2 EP - (split with Out Hud, 1999, 12")
- Live Live Live - (2004, CD)
- Take Ecstacy with Me/Get Up - (2005, CD)
Singles
- "The Dis-Ease"/"The Funky Branca" - (1998, 7")
- "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)" - (2003, 12")
- "Pardon My Freedom" - (2004, 12")
- "Hello? Is This Thing On?" - (2004, 12")
- "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a remix)" - (2004, single-sided 12")