Live Review: The Coathangers at Death by Audio [11/1/07]

The thing about the Coathangers is they genuinely seem to be having fun. They aren't trying to seem cooler than the audience. I know it seems like you should do that right away or you'll get heckled. It's a common response to getting on stage in front of people. There isn't that pretentiousness. They know how to play. It's not that we're watching a band work itself out in front of everyone, otherwise we'd have to fall back on the 'all-girl band' thing to mention at the start of every review.

Nope. They can play. They must be what it was like to see X-Ray Spex or the Slits live. They might not take it as seriously even, but then I don't want someone who writes songs like 'Don't touch my shit' and "Shut the fuck up' to take anything too seriously. That's when things could start to go wrong.

Some bands can get by on sheer charisma, drawing the audience into whatever crazy world they want to share. That's the draw for Dan Deacon, or Matt & Kim for example, if you stumble onto the live experience opening for another band you're a convert. The album will be bought and played just because you want to get that rare experience back. A band that appreciates the audience and isn't jaded. Maybe that's the defense for seeking out newer and newer bands that have only been around for a few months with just a hand full of songs on myspace. I can relate to that, they aren't jaded assholes, they haven't had time yet. I have time to make up my own mind before I hear them in every commercial. The self awareness kills me, it kills the music and no, I can't separate the two.

The Coathangers are great, they love to play even for a crowd of 20, they change the lyrics, they play through dealing with shitty equipment. They swap instruments, Rusty Coathanger plays bass, but mostly wails on the drums, and sings like Joan Jett. Minnie on bass took over vocals for 'Nestle in my boobies', the obvious crowd favorite. The Crook Kid belts it out in 'Leave my shit alone' opposite Rusty, and it's as great as any Yeah Yeah Yeahs track. Things are a little off, but that's what's endearing, they just play for the fuck of it.

That's the great and sad part...for a band like this to survive they almost have to give it up at some point or it's going to become another job and they will be resting on the success of their first album: it's raw, it's uncompromising, and they had a good time doing it and I love listening to it.

Tripod Machine! courtesy: Rodger Dodger Photography