On November 17 dance-funk masters !!! (Chk Chk Chk) returned to New York for performance at Music Hall of Williamsburg, the first of a two night run that included a show at Bowery Ballroom the next day. The show came in support of their solid new record As If, out via Warp Records.
This was my first time catching a headlining show from the guys, although I did catch their energetic set opening for Spoon at Summerstage NYC last summer. This show featured them opening for themselves as Stereolad, delivering sweet Stereolab covers, with frontman Nic Offer not breaking character during the opening set, doing his best French accent as Lætitia Sadier. It was a fun way to start the show, and certainly warmed us up for the real thing.
!!! (Chk Chk Chk) have been doing their thing for nearly two decades now, and it shows. It didn’t take long for them to take over Music Hall of Williamsburg, turning the club into a sweaty dancefloor. It was a set full of dance grooves that every single person in the room got swept up in.
Offer never stopped for a second, moving anywhere he could find open space, coming as close to the crowd as he could, breaking into his sweet dance moves mere inches from hungry fans. Not once, but twice, Offer joined fans within the crowd, bringing the dance party directly to us. It was moments like this that made it feel like we were actually a part of the show, not just watching it. There wasn’t a single person in the room (the band included) who weren’t displaying a gleeful smile throughout the night. That’s the type of joy that they are able to deliver.
You’re really quite hard pressed to find a more fun and freeing live performance than from !!! (Chk Chk Chk).
Find some more photos from their Music Hall of Williamsburg performance posted below.
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