!!!

With a latest album that's certainly of better quality than its predecessor, but that doesn't quite reach the level of the band's finest work, and a lineup renewed following voluntary departures and tragic deaths, there was a certain curiosity in attending a live show by this new incarnation of !!!. Not that there was any fear of a subpar performance: even if he no longer enjoys the hype of a few years back, Nic Offer still carries a certain authority, which gives him the ability to pick excellent musicians to continue his venture. Still, it was interesting to see whether the leader had reorganized his troops to recreate the same kind of live show as the previous lineup, or whether he'd decided to give the live rendition of his project's songs a different flavour.

At the end of the 75 minutes played here in Milan, the impression is that the way they're approaching their live shows is heading in the opposite direction to that of their records. Just as "Strange Weather, Isn't It", the band's latest effort, strips away some of the adrenaline of its predecessor "Myth Takes" and returns to the space-rock territory close to "Louden Up Now", the live show, by contrast, is more energetic and impactful than ever, both in terms of sound and Offer's stage presence. The most important thing, though, is that even in this form !!! still know how to win over the crowd, not so much through the sheer intensity of their sound, but above all thanks to its quality.

Compared to the last time !!! passed through Italy, in 2007, there are still five people handling the instrumental side of the live show. Of these, the bassist and drummer never leave their positions, while the other three rotate between guitars, keyboards, additional percussion and occasional use of sax and trumpet. Compared to the past, though, the aim isn't to reproduce all the different technical and emotional nuances present in the band's catalogue, but rather, in the name of a more accessible show, to focus on the immediacy of the sound and the way the songs unfold.

That, however, doesn't mean the performance lacks imagination or refinement — quite the opposite: the rhythm section is, as ever, extremely vital and pulsing, aided by electronics and the aforementioned additional percussion, and if it comes across as more powerful than in the past, it's certainly not to mask any shortcomings in technical skill or quality, which remain as high as ever; the interplay between the other instruments mentioned also continues to be highly imaginative, never predictable and always functional to the songs, without ever feeling like style for its own sake; Offer's voice is in better shape than ever, accompanied by that of a feisty black vocalist, a clear departure from the softer vocals of departed member John Pugh, but a choice perfectly in line with the new direction described above for !!!'s live shows. One also can't help but praise Nic's skills as a frontman, even more refined than in the past: his signature moves, arms outstretched, pour cascades of leadership, personality and adrenaline onto the crowd, and the effect is further amplified by the fact that Offer really does go everywhere during the performance, moving from the stage to the balcony at Magazzini Generali, to the barrier, to heighten the sense of contact with the fans.

All people can do is dance as hard as they can and give the band huge ovations, both when the new songs are played, which make up most of the setlist, and during the moments revisiting the past. A triumphant evening for !!!, who in turn are thrilled by the Milanese crowd's reception and show their gratitude by playing one more song than planned. The golden days in terms of album quality may be behind Nic Offer and co., but their concerts deserve more than ever to be seen, danced to, and sweated through to the fullest.

Photo by Marina Ravizza

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