GIG REVIEW : 3OH!3

- Manchester Academy 1 - 7th November 2009 -

Support : Bamboo Shoots, Sean Smith (DJ Set).

 First to open are Bamboo Shoots, and a playlist of enthusiastic-but-generic retro, dance-funk. With the highlight of their set being a cover of The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘I Got A Feeling’ and the joker-esque purple skinny jeans and green t-shirt ensemble the lead singer sports, they fail to impress with a vibe that is more dull and forgettable than the chilled-out indie-chic they were obviously aiming for.
 If the first band was disappointing then the second; a DJ set from The Blackout’s front man, Sean Smith, surpasses every expectation you could possibly have for a support act. Heavy, energetic , rock remixes of ‘Sweet Dreams’, ‘Living On A Prayer’ and ‘Smooth Criminal’, are sliced with recent tunes from the likes of Lady GaGa, Dizzee Rascal and Katy Perry to create the perfect musical appetiser for this evening’s main course.
 Continuing with the night’s rave theme, 3OH!3 explode on to the stage in a whirlwind of catchy choruses, strobe lighting and deliciously crunky, electro-hip-hop beats. Only 5 years in the making, and with 3 Warped Tours and stints supporting musical giants Basshunter and Katy Perry under their belts, the two MCs have paid their dues and are now famous in their own right; the success from their double-platinum-certified single ‘Don’t Trust Me’ translating to the last stop on their UK tour as they are bumped from Club Academy to Academy 1.
 In the same vain as Gym Class Heroes and The Flobots, these dance messiahs have managed to transcend the rock/hip-hop divide, delivering grade-A hip-hop music to rock and emo-core fans everywhere. All clapping-jumping-dancing, 3OH!3’s repertoire is as varied as the company they keep, putting their university education to good use with intelligent lyrics and humorous themes set to an infectious back beat. They may be bringing hip-hop to a new level but they can still write frat-boy songs about girls.
 A rapid string of their best songs is followed by the debut of a new one, (heavy on the pop-punk influences), and a new twist on the circle pit : the dance pit. Conducting from the stage the dynamic pair quite literally bounce off each other as they bound around, dancing and rapping, working the room into a rave-frenzy befitting any nightclub.

Verdict : Rock, hip-hop, dance, electro and just about anything else you can think of combines with the duo’s undeniable stage-presence and chemistry to create an un-missable, unforgettable and completely irreplaceable experience. Not bad for a band with only two albums.

10/10

By Beth Cook



 3OH!3's latest album, 'Want', released 8th July 2008 on Photo Finish, is available from online stores : http://3oh3.hasawebstore.com/product/INS67223/wantdeluxeedition
 Tour dates and ticket information :  http://www.3oh3music.com/tour-dates/