Even now, Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte — the Boulder duo behind the chart-topping 3OH!3 — are still somewhat surprised and grateful that they’ve been able to keep it going this long.
“I was supposed to go to med school, so for me it was a hobby that developed into a career,” Motte says. “But that was our original thing — just put music out, link it on MySpace so we could find it on a computer somewhere and put it on at our buddy’s house so we could punish them with our music.”
But after 2008 sophomore album, Want, featuring all-time anthem “DONTTRUSTME,” dropped, 3OH!3 blew up. Katy Perry even teamed up with the pair on the equally infectious “STARSTRUKK.” All of a sudden, Foreman and Motte were thrust out of the dorm room and into the spotlight, as 3OH!3 became one of the biggest acts of the mid-2000s.
“It extrapolated to a basement house party at CU, then it was the Fox, it was at the Ogden in Denver, Red Rocks and all over the world,” Motte continues. “But it’s the same mission statement, to put a smile on everybody’s face, transport them somewhere for however long we can.”
Follow-up Streets of Gold (2010) debuted at number seven on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, with Ke$ha contributing to single “My First Kiss.” The two have been putting out music ever since, including latest single, “SLUSHIE,” shared earlier this month. The song, with that signature 3OH!3 ethos, is the duo’s first new release in five years, since 2021 record, Need.
The Boulder duo dropped a new single this month, the first fresh material in five years.
Courtesy 3OH!3
“SLUSHIE” is already putting 3OH!3 back on the pop-culture map, too, and there may be more to come. “For some people, judging by social media, it’s like, ‘We’re so glad 3OH!3 got back together,’” Foreman quips. “We could have broken up and had the whole reunion tour.”
“We got stuff in the bag, and we’re carving out time to make more,” Motte adds. “We want to stir it back to how we started making music, not really second-guessing stuff, for better or for worse, and just having fun.”
3OH!3 is currently in the midst of its first full-blown tour in seven years, supporting Simple Plan. The homecoming show is Sunday, August 17, at the JunkYard. Bowling For Soup and LØLØ are also on the bill.
While Foreman, 39, and Motte, 41, have settled into parenthood in the years since enrapturing a generation of devil-may-care millennials, they still know how to make fans feel like living in the moment is the only thing that matters live.
“We’re playing some of the biggest shows of our career now, and we’re so thankful and grateful to be able to do that,” Foreman says.
“It’s very much in line with what we always started out to do. It’s less of a pure performance and more like, ‘Come and join this fucking crazy party,’ This eclectic, loud, super-inclusive party,’” Motte adds.
So break out those black dresses with the tights underneath.
“It’s a bit idealistic, but these days, if we can bring people together and make sure they’re having fun collaboratively, taking care of each other, smiling, forgetting about stuff that’s tough in their lives or on a societal level, and just come together, that’s what we do for a living, then I’m pretty laser focused,” he continues. “For us, it all started in Colorado, and it’s still home for us physically, spiritually and emotionally.”
That’s a big reason why 3OH!3 Day has become an annual event every March 3. It’s evident the passion’s still there and some boyfriend with beef isn’t going to stop them.
“So you’re good with not being a doctor?” Foreman facetiously asks his longtime co-creator. “You’ve come to terms with that?”
“I got something to tell you, Sean,” Motte smirks.
3OH!3, with Simple Plan, Bowling For Soup and LØLØ, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, August 17, JunkYard, 2323 West Mulberry Place. Tickets are $85.
