[REMINDER] Don’t Miss !!! (Chk Chk Chk) & Algiers | TONIGHT @ Mercy Lounge

Longrunning New York dance punk stalwarts !!! and exciting, social and politically charged experimental rockers Algiers are bringing their co-headlining run to Mercy Lounge tonight, Sept. 18, showcasing a mind-bending array of influences and smart, substantive, punk spirit, for a bit of an odd pairing that is, nonetheless, one of our most-anticipated shows to help kick off the fall. Whether you’re familiar with one or the other, or a fan of both acts, catching the interesting ways they overlap and complement each other is sure to be a memorable experience, and you can still grab tickets right here. Read on for more about the show!

!!!

Formed over 20 years ago in Sacramento from the ashes of the Yah Mos, Black Liquorice, and Popesmashers, !!! (technically pronounced by repeating any monosyllabic word three times, but, for all intent and purposes, regularly pronounced and spelled out as “Chk Chk Chk”) have been a mainstay in the dance punk scene since their triumphant, self-titled debut in 2001. For over 15 years, the group, now based in New York, have toured the world, packing their early punk and post-hardcore edge into crafting their signature drawn-out, funky, venerable, and raw sound, enduring lineup changes and ebbs and flows in the musical climate (edgy dance punk definitely had a golden era in the early ’00s days of MySpace), always emerging with critical acclaim and a  cult following. Still going strong, !!! released their seventh album, Shake the Shudder, earlier this year, and with the sobering influence of the recent global and political climate, coupled with a distilled return to their edgy early days, it marks a perfect fusion between the band’s unpredictable energy and decades of polish. A group best experienced in concert, !!!’s return to Nashville is shaping up to be a highlight of the fall- don’t miss out!

ALGIERS

Atlanta’s Algiers have formally been a band for a decade, and have been making music together even longer, yet they feel more suited to right now than just about any other act. Southern, multiracial, genre-bending, politically and socially motivated, intelligent, and philosophical, the group combine post-punk, experimental rock, gospel, and art rock, informed by sweeping, atonal, layered textures to craft an urgent and impassioned style with more nuance and originality than most bands could ever hope to achieve. Their eponymous debut full-length arrived in 2015 on Matador, and their followup, The Underside of Power, just earlier this summer, but already the band have been amassing major and well-deserved buzz, touring the world, and honing their intense and immersive live show. Musically, they share some of the same adventurous similarities as !!!, but seem more focused on tackling social unrest than making anyone dance, which, at face value seems like a bit of a weird match. However, both of these groups are incredibly smart and substantive, even if their art is somewhat differently packaged, and all the way through, this is going to be one unique, essential, and awesome show.

!!! and Algiers will perform Monday, Sept. 18 at Mercy Lounge. The show is 18+, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $20.