The Coathangers - The Joker, Brighton, May 2017

Review by Keith 'Mr Teeth' Sandys

It was to be a busy night upstairs at The Joker in Brighton, as the Coathangers attracted a sold-out crowd. Their back-story reads in the same vein as legendry punks the Ramones, in that they formed without really knowing how to play. It may have started as an excuse to turn up at parties, but they’ve since grown into a formidable live act.

Initially sounding a mellow contrast to the headliners, support came from Bristol based Springbreak. It transpired they were unfortunately missing a drummer for the evening, although a stand in would have helped give more of an impact. 

The sweeping effects from the lead guitarist did well to fill the gaps, but it was a shame one of the pedals couldn’t be turned off between songs. Not that it mattered to singer/guitarist who remained full of enthusiasm, making Springbreak all worthwhile.

Garage punk rockers the Coathangers opened with 'Johnny' following their little dance-off at the side of the stage. It was then one song after another in quick succession, with the girls rarely stopping for a breather.

Speaking on the 'Parasite EP' Julia explains “the EP takes you on a journey through the band’s existence”, well tonight it’s a life on the road that’s fast and furious.  The majority of lead vocals are shared between guitarist Julia Kugel and drummer Stephanie Luke, while Meredith Franco provides the bass-lines and backing vocals.

This was only a couple of days into their UK tour, with further dates booked across Europe and already the Coathangers are out to party.  Following an extended version of 'Aderall' shots were downed before some fun instrument swapping. 
Stephanie (aka Rusty) added a bit of surf guitar to 'Shut up' while for 'Cheap Cheap' she was on her knees centre stage, with the mic in her hand.

The indie-hooks of 'Squeeky Tiki' ended the set before the ladies were back to their original spots, for a brief encore in 'Hurricane'. It may have been like any other Saturday night downstairs at the Joker, but up above 3 young punks from Atlanta USA made a sweaty room very happy… now, where did I hang my coat?
 

The Coathangers new EP 'Parasite' is due out on June 30th via Suicide Squeeze, and you can catch them on the rest of the tour on the following dates:

May 17 UK London Oslo
May 18 UK Hastings The Printworks
May 19 UK Leicester The Cookie
May 20 UK Leeds Gold Sounds @ Brudenell Social
May 21 UK Sheffield The Harley
May 23 UK Ramsgate Music Hall
May 24 BE Gent PSYCH OVER 9000
May 25 NL Eindhoven Stroomhuisje
May 26 NL Rotterdam Girls Go Boom Night @ Roodkapje
May 27 NL Amsterdam Pacific Park
May 28 NL Utrecht dB's
May 30 DE Hamburg Molotow
May 31 DE Berlin Cassiopeia
Jun 1 DE Munich Orangehouse
Jun 2 DE Cologne MTC
Jun 3 FR Paris Le Batofar
Jun 4 IT Ravenna Beaches Brew Festival
Jun 8 FR Clermont Ferrand Le Barraka
Jun 9 FR Nimes This is not a Love Song
Jun 10 FI Helsinki Sideways Festival

NEW NOISES! May 2017

New York's Adult Mom release 'Soft Spots' their second full length album this month, check out the fantastic 'Full Screen' here for some bitter-sweet indie loveliness:

Next up, Frauds who just got back from touring with Jamie Lenman. The new single 'Smooth' is out now, give it a spin here:

Atlanta flower punk pioneers Black Lips have announced that their first album in three years, 'Satan’s graffiti or God’s art?', which is out now check out single 'Can't Hold On' here:
 

New album Satan's graffiti or God's art? out now on Vice Records.

 
Currently embarking on a US tour in support of their forthcoming album 'You're Welcome', Wavves are back with new track 'No Shade', have a listen below to this final taster of the record ahead of its May 19th release:

WAVVES - You're Welcome out 5/19 on Ghost Ramp Preorder Vinyl / CD / CS at store.ghostramp.com

Diet Cig - 'Swear I'm Good At This'

Diet Cig have released their hugely anticipated debut album 'Swear I'm Good At This'. Check out the infectious first single off the album 'Tummy Ache' here:

On the single, the band say "'Tummy Ache' is all about unpacking the feeling of approaching punk with radical softness, and the struggle when it's not always read as powerful or cool or whatever enough. Its the shout into my pillow when what I'm saying isn't being heard, and a big old I FEEL YA to all the femme folks creating space for themselves in a world that wants to keep us quiet."

The band, who are well-known for their energetic and bombastic live shows, will be touring the world in support of the album including the following UK dates:

     Oct 13    Rough Trade    Nottingham, United Kingdom        
     Oct 14    Lancaster Library    Lancaster, United Kingdom    
     Oct 16    Soup Kitchen    Manchester, United Kingdom       
     Oct 17    Sneaky Pete's    Edinburgh, United Kingdom        
     Oct 18    Broadcast    Glasgow, United Kingdom         
     Oct 19    HEADROW HOUSE    Leeds, United Kingdom
     Oct 23    The Portland Arms    Cambridge, United Kingdom         
     Oct 25    Moth Club    London, United Kingdom        
     Oct 26    THE HOPE & RUIN    Brighton, United Kingdom

Diet Cig is Alex Luciano (guitar and vocals) and Noah Bowman (drums).  The two have been playing music together ever since Luciano interrupted the set of Bowman's other band for a lighter. The New York duo since released the 2015 Over Easy EP that introduced consistent sing-a-long lyrics with thrashing drums and strums that never held back. 

'Swear I'm Good At This' accumulates Diet Cig's tenacity for crafting life-affirming, relatable tales with a gutsy heart at their core. Luciano has the ability to write lyrics that are both vulnerable and badass, perfecting a storm of emotive reflection that creates a vision of a sweaty, pumped-up room screaming these lines in unison. Diet Cig make it okay to be the hot mess that you are.

But there's also a deeper, more powerful fuck-you among the bangers that see Diet Cig grow into an unstoppable and inspiring force. "I'm not being dramatic, I've just fucking had it with the things that you say you think that I should be" spits Luciano on the album's 'Link in Bio;' "I am bigger than the outside shell of my body and if you touch it without asking then you'll be sorry" she yells on 'Maid Of The Mist'. It's the sound of a band doing things on their own terms.

Honeyblood, Estrons, Tear - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms 4th May 2017

London four-piece TEAR were first support for Honeyblood at The Wedgewood Rooms, having recently released their mini-album VINYL01 on Tim Burgess' O Genesis Recordings label.

'Careless Again' starts out slow and with a jangly guitar kicking in and sparse drums while the vocals ramp up a good few notches as the song progresses. When the bass-line teases in with full drumming and guitar overlaid, we were taken on a journey, winding along grungy paths through ambient lo-fi.

'The Sprawl' again starts out slowly and soon crescendos into a great rolling energy of a song while 'Never Fade Away''s warbling bass-line has a sultry essence as front-woman Camille Benett proclaims, "I dont want to wait ... you've been waiting your whole life ... never fade away".

Best track of the set for us was 'Nothing You Can't Have'. In this song Camille's vocals turn more Jefferson Airplane psyche-laden and really come ringing through for a touch of the trans-Atlantic.

'Begging' is way more garagey and grungey, with Camille's voice deeper and more akin to a PJ Harvey fronted Hole, interspersed with floaty vocal breakdowns the song flows nicely with elements of riotous choral screams. Check out the official video for 'Begging' here:

Renowned for their fiery live shows, Estrons were next up and they certainly did not disappoint.

'I'm Not Your Girl' has a great marching attitude to it which was complimented to great effect with dark and atmospheric lighting, while singer Talisyn Sällström was sultry and fierce, "take it, take it ... I'm not drunk it's how you make me ... make me lose my mind". Check out our live video here:

'Drop' was another high energy song, and 'Make A Man' which starts off slowly really ramped up the pace with its lively beating intensity and teamed well with great melody, delivered with a passion. 'Belfast' flows brilliantly, check out the official video here: 

The new single 'Strobe Lights' which was released last week was the best moment of the set for us.

The driving dynamic guitar and drum interplay was totally energizing and the crowd were really starting to get involved.

With tireless animated energy, Talisyn is a great frontwoman and the rest of the band really clicked together well to produce an awesome and frantically bouncy melodic punky set.

Estrons play The Great Escape this month and we highly recommend checking them out live if you can - we highly recommend it!

Glasgow's Honeyblood released their much anticipated follow-up to 2014's debut album late last year and they are currently touring the new album ‘Babes Never Die’.

Their first single from 'Babes Never Die' - ‘Ready For The Magic’ is a great song that resonates with deep melodic hooks and is even better live; "you got me frantic ... it's electric". Check out the official video here:

Lo-fi gem 'Choker' from their debut album has a no nonsense triumphant sentiment to it "What doesn’t kill you, Just makes you stronger, What doesn’t fill you, Just feeds your hunger. ... ruby red pearlets".

'Sea Hearts' was another great performance and one of their more punk-rock moments, check out a little snippet of the crowd loving it here; "hey, hey! It's just a little heartbreak":

The ballad paced ‘Walking At Midnight’ has a pop melodrama to it and the sheer beauty of Stina's vocals really shines through. Also on 'Gangs' and 'Hey, Stellar' Stina's voice is haunting and  perfectly supported by Cat's backing.

Of course they played the new album's title track 'Babes Never Die' with it's lo-fi garagey charm and 'Killer Bangs' from their debut with its ear-wormly catchy tune. We were left thinking that it always amazes us just how much impact a 2-piece can have with such a full sound. This was an atmospheric set, expertly delivered with dark and sultry undertones, both Cat and Stina have a great live energy and obvious passion for the music making the whole set a pleasure to watch.