KB Zine Review: The Goodnight Loving: The Coathangers: Gentleman Jesse and His Men: 2 shows in Atlanta.

Good
The Goodnight Loving.

The Goodnight Loving, Coffin Bound.
@ 529. Atlanta, GA. Thursday July 8, 2010.
The Coathangers, Gentleman Jesse and His Men.
@ The Earl. Atlanta, GA. Thursday July 8, 2010.
Review, videos and pictures by Jeffrey Howard.

On our way to Washington DC for the Teenbeat Records 26th Anniversary we made a stop in Atlanta to catch The Goodnight Loving at the 529 club in East Atlanta Village. We arrived pretty much on time for the show. Little to our knowledge shows start really late. We sat down and listened to the DJ, who was playing some great stuff. It was like he snuck into Kristin and I's record collection. I picked up one of the local newspapers, and thumbed through it and saw a show listing for The Coathangers and Gentleman Jesse and His Men that was happening the same night. Somehow like a big dummy I missed this show in my research. That show was being held at The Earl. I had no idea where the Earl was or how to drive there. Since it would be a while before Goodnight Loving played I wanted to go. I noticed the address and 529 and The Earl are on the same street--in fact they were one block apart. This discovery jolted me up and made a beeline for the door.

We got to the Earl, there were a lot of people outside in the restaurant area. The doorman said one band had played already. We immediately headed down a hallway to a back room where they have shows. It was just five bucks to get in and everyone got a free 7" single by Gentleman Jesse recorded at The Earl in celebration of the clubs 11th anniversary. Pretty cool. The Coathangers were just finishing up sound check. What timing!

The first time I had seen The Coathangers over a year ago they left me wanting to see them more proper setting. Definitely no situation would be better than seeing them in their hometown with an audience as familiar with their music as I am. No one was scattered to the outskirts of the room as the four girls harnessed and released energy through their instruments and screamy vocals. They played quite a few songs including the laid back "Shake Shake" and the ferocious fun of "Getting Mad and Pumping Iron". They closed with the drummer singing lead out front going nuts. So great. The Coathangers have a new remix 7" on Suicide Squeeze.

Headlining was Atlanta's Gentleman Jesse and His Men, who put out a great power pop album in 2008 on Douchmaster Records and now this new 7" of Roky Erickson and Nick Drake covers. They put on a solid show and the newly added organist is a perfect touch to an already perfect band.

After that show was over we rushed back across the street back to 529 where the opening band from Austell, GA were finishing their set. I wasn't into the southern sludge sounds of Coffin Bound too much. It seemed a little too much like bar rock, in need of a little personality and style. More and more people began trickling down from the The Earl in time for the closing band.

The wait wouldn't be too long before Milwaukee's shit-kickers The Goodnight Loving took over and romped all over Atlanta. Their fun, country-tinged good time music is the cure for many ails. I didn't make a top 10 list last year but this bands album on Dusty Medical Records would have been number one on the list. They got picked up on Dirtnap Records who just released their newest full length called 'The Goodnight Loving Supper Club'. Judging from some of the songs it will be another winner. These guys are not to be missed- a true great American band.

Pictures:

The Coathangers.