The Coathangers

The Coathangers are a trio from Atlanta that plays indie rock with pronounced punk rock highlights, which, like archeological layers of a modern city, reveal what lies underneath the current version. They started out as a garage/punk band originally, with quite a bit of shouting, pouncing on their instruments ... all that good punk stuff. Over time, they got better in songwriting and execution, and the rougher edges got sanded off to expose the underlying gem. This change began to happen around 2011's Larceny & Old Lace, the simpler riffs and basic beats gave way to more pulsating bass lines and looser drums, as well as more memorable tunes that they play with some subtlety. The band was able to get there without losing the essence of what makes them special. That said, their punk roots tend to come right back up during their live shows, which can get pretty rowdy.