The Hiss, The Coathangers at Star Bar

It was beach night at the Star Bar last night - at least that what somebody wearing a lei told me. We rounded up a crew and went to check out The Hiss (shown at left) and The Coathangers, the former being venerable purveyors of full-grown getdown, and the latter being the current art-rock curiosity on the local scene.

The ladies that comprise The Coathangers bring a certain amateurish charm and carefully managed art-school abandon to what they do, which is all garage and bangy and screechy and fun for a few songs. I have to say I prefer them on record. They are a concept, a package of retro-skank rebellion and resurgent grrrl-power, and to that I say big ups, but it was getting on past 1:00 AM and I had played the night previous and nothing was compelling enough to make to stay for the whole set. The balloons were fun.

The Hiss delivered a beautiful set of old-skool RAWK that had the full house bouncing. To them I say, "Rejoice." And thank you.