Over the bulk of this site’s history, I’ve written quite a bit about the Atlanta, GA punk rock/garage rock band and JOVM mainstays The Coathangers, and as you may recall, the band, which is currently comprised of Julia Kugel (vocals and guitar), Meredith Franco (bass), and Stephanie Luke (drums) have released a handful of singles, three EPs and five full-length albums during 12 years together. And with each album has found the band carefully refining their sound and songwriting approach, while retaining a brash, raw and spontaneous simplicity balanced with a feral urgency and biting urgency — although with their last full-length album 2016’s Nosebleed Weekend and 2017’s Parasite EP found the band writing some of the most rousingly anthemic hooks they’ve ever written.
I’ve had the pleasure of catching the Atlanta, GA-based JOVM mainstays twice over the years, and live their set is frenetic and furious, and there’s a palpable sense of love, loyalty and intimacy between the bandmembers that makes their sets feel like an enormous punk rock love fest — and now, the members of The Coathangers have put their live sound to wax, with the forthcoming release of their first live album, aptly titled Live.
Slated for a June 1, 2018 release through their longtime label home Suicide Squeeze Records, Live was recorded during a two night stay at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, CA, and the album’s opening track and first single “Gettin’ Mad and Pumpin’ Iron” off 2009’s Scramble, and the single is a feral and blistering mosh pit friendly barn-burner that clocks in at 91 seconds. Interestingly, along with the recording, the band has released live footage from that show, which accurately captures the energy of their sets.
The band have developed a reputation for being relentless road warriors, who tear up stages wherever they play, and they’ll be touring to support their live album. The tour will include two NYC area dates — April 26, 2018 at Warsaw and April 27, 2018 at Irving Plaza. Check out the rest of the tour dates below, and if they’re playing at a club near you, I suggest that you should go out and see them. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
TOUR DATES:
04.20.18 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Theatre*
04.21.18 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage*
04.22.18 – Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre*
04.24.18 – Boston, MA @ Royale NightClub*
04.25.18 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony*
04.26.18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw*
04.27.18 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza*
04.28.18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
04.29.18 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat*
05.01.18 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom*
05.02.18 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s*
05.03.18 – Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot*
05.04.18 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues*
05.05.18 – St. Louis, MO @ Ready Room*
05.30.18 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
06.01.18 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
06.02.18 – Gainesville, FL @ High Dive
06.03.18 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
06.05.18 – New Orleans, LA @ Santos
06.06.18 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
06.07.18 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda
06.09.18 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
06.10.18 – Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street
06.12.18 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
06.13.18 – Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel
06.14.18 – DeKalb, IL @ The House Cafe
06.15.18 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi
06.16.18 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement
* with Minus the Bear
