This week I decided to procrastinate and put my responsibilities on hold by catching The Coathangers live in New Orleans. I’ve tried to see The Coathangers many times, and I finally caught them on Tuesday at Siberia — one of my favorite venues in the city. To all More Than Noise fans, punks, and adventurers — this is the place for a punk show.
The lineup was stacked with female-fronted and girl-powered punk acts, including one of my favorite local bands, Casual Burn. Lead by vocalist Monet Maloof, Casual Burn has an urgency to their sound and live performance. Without easing you in, they start fast. Each song is a quick punch with wailing vocals that do not stop.
The tone of Maloof’s voice reminded me of any of the gals from the B-52’s, yet more assertive. She has something to say and, while twisting around on stage, yelling into the microphone, and rolling on the floor, she wants you to listen.
Casual Burn played a set filled with tracks from their latest cassette release, “Talk Bad” along with songs I have yet to hear. Yikes played next, but I was waiting for The Coathangers. I think even Yikes was ready for them.
“I’m 35! No red back here… I want blue lights!” Rusty demanded from behind the drums.
The lights went blue as the band took the Siberia stage in matching Coathangers memorabilia. Rusty Coathanger sat behind the drums, Crook Kid Coathanger grabbed the guitar, and Minnie Coathanger played bass. Trust any band that goes by stage names like the Ramones did, like The Bags did. It’s just sick.
The band ripped through some of their latest singles and tracks from “Nosebleed Weekend,” including the title track, “Down Down” and “Make It Right.” The three-piece also included some of the best tracks from their discography like “Adderall,” “Cheap Cheap,” and my favorite of the night, “Johnny,” from their 2011 album “Larceny & Old Lace.” Crook Kid and Rusty got into the vocals, yelling back and forth and slamming on their instruments, “He’s gonna go to hell for what he did!”
Dancing alongside a still energized Maloof, the audience jumped wildly, singing lyrics here and there. Though no mosh ensued, people danced into and with one another.
Toward the end of the set, the band swapped instruments. Crook Kid took drums, and Rusty took guitar. Then they swapped, and Minnie took drums. Oh, and Rusty on guitar? Wild! She also wore a shot glass as a hat at one point — I don’t want to leave out that prized moment.
“Give me that Squeeki!” someone yelled from the crowd at the end of the set. That someone was referring to “Squeeki Tiki,” a highlight track from their latest album in which Crook Kid plays a dog toy — the signature sound of this 3-minute anthem about not caring anymore. “Squeeki Tiki” was the perfect ending to the set. The band clearly had a blast with this one, and the audience sang along to most of it. Minnie lead the song with a driving bass riff while Rusty literally tore up her kit. Drums fell over, leaving only a snare and a single cymbal. Crook Kid kept going even as the music stopped. “You can have it! I don’t want that shit! It’s just a bad memory of what I did!” she yelled.
All in all, it’s super refreshing as a woman in the audience to see other women on stage doing performing like they did. The Coathangers do not hold back, and they haven’t for years. If you are looking for a good energetic show stuffed with great punk garage sound, you need The Coathangers in your life. Maybe you stop by Siberia once in a while.
Listen to The Coathangers’ latest release, “Nosebleed Weekend,” below.
The Coathangers perform Tuesday, February 7 at Siberia in New Orleans.
