I have been a fan of 3OH!3 since the tender age of twelve years old, when I heard their infamous tongue-in-cheek classic “DONTTRUSTME” on the radio. In a disgusted huff, my mother promptly turned off the radio, thus sealing my fate as a lifelong clandestine 3OH!3 enjoyer. I was lucky enough to finally go public with my 20-year-long love affair with the musical stylings of 3OH!3 this last weekend at Warped Tour.
Bounding across the stage in acidic yellow hi-vis, Nathaniel Motte and Sean Foreman, unabashed in their glee, are nearly as giddy as the crowd. Supported by Jesse Bowen on drums and Jacob Brown on guitar, they launch into an onslaught of nonstop bangers. All the while, an irreverent barrage of Colorado themed UFO animations, Mac photo booth videos of the pair, and 3OH!3 skewed corporate branding are projected above them. This emphatic nod to the absurdity of their career is refreshing break from the many pseudo alternative nostalgia pilled mainstage acts.
3OH!3’s performance in conjunction with their recent EP release makes it clear to me that 3OH!3 is back for the love of the game. In a rare turn of events, I desperately wanted to hear their new songs live. Heavy hitters “SLUSHIE” and “Hit Me Harder” the spiritual predecessor of “DONTTRUSTME” wouldn’t have gone a miss in the fiercely irreverent milieu of their set.
In spite of the decades past since the height of 3OH!3’s popularity, Motte and Foreman deliver their raunchy, nonsensical lyrics with total conviction without sacrificing their cool. I would, however, be remiss not to mention the real star of the show, Jesse Brown, who took the energy of an already fast-paced electronic set to new heights with her incredible skill and effortless intensity.
