The Hangmen

The Cat Club

By Lucky
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)

Shots by Mila Reynaud

SugarBuzz Magazine

What turned out to be the last gig I’d witness in 2010 was looming large on the horizon like a black eye trophy. Barely able to catch breath after Barrio Tiger, the hurry up accelerated pace of the Cat Club stage rotation didn’t leave much time except for a poke and piss. Line cords plugged in and a semi sound ensured. Then it was on.

The Hangmen have been rocking in one manifestation or another since, oh, when some of you were no bigger than a corn nubbin. Under the watchful eye of head wrangler Bryan Small, the band has endured corporate label bullshit, musician merry-go-round, and the usual rockstar pitfalls. But the entity that is endures, revives, and keeps delivering solid. Tonight was going to be no exception.

Smashing it down, The Hangmen opened the proceedings with “Last Drive”, a foreboding foray into the fantastic. Dino’s pound penetrated my very core, churning and chugging, dragging me deeper in the divide.

Break out the silver cylinder and slide, newest Hangmen addition Rontrose Heathman shread as “The Devil” roared into town. Bryan sneered and swaggered, looking a bit like a tranked trucker motherfucker. The “in the know” spectators breathed in and celebrated living.

“Desperation Town” made an appearance, as well as the mouth organ madman Frenchie, a mainstay in certain circles and a pretty damn good guy.

A visitation to the early Hangmen catalogue commenced with “Rotten Sunday”. Chain smoking smooth with “extra” additive flavor. Bassist Angelique Congleton mesmerized, dark and dangerous delivery, with that witchy happenstance.

Creepy ass “Blue Light” resounded hypnotic as the brush poppers swooned. The ladies up front enticed my desires as Bryan sang of true love that will never die, literally. Grave robbing never sounded so good.

Visions of riding the rails with Willie and Jack forayed in my head with the soundtrack of “Train”. Bludgeon beat and chug-a-chug endeavor hurled us forward to a derailment of the mind. I think I can, I think I can.

What The Hangmen played next is any man’s guess. Sounded good, but I must admit I spent the next few moments tending to other issues. Still a dog Shugsters, still a dog. I did address matters at hand when drug duggery “Downtown” flared finesse. Degenerates like me know that when Bryan sings about going downtown, he ain’t talking about hanging with Petula Clark. Like Pavlov’s dog I salivate at the thought.

The greatest down and don’t count me out slice of Americana was next. “Bent” brought joy to the downtrodden, fed up, and fucked up fabulous. An anthem of sorts, or so it seems, supplied a method to the madness. Dino laid down a solid canvas for Rontrose to accentuate. Angelique glanced gracious and Bryan excelled.

Bryan said that this would be the last gig for a while, as The Hangmen were going to studio up for a new release. What followed may or may not have been a new track as I lacked recognition and the set list just identified as “Railroad”. Did I miss something? The memory is iffy at best.

What I did recognize was a scathing rendition of Tom Petty’s “I Need to Know”. Making it their own, The Hangmen put their stylized signature on the dotted line. Bryan beseeched with terror in mind’s eye.

Putting another notch on their gun was “Coal Mine” with blistering guitar-technics and rat-tat-tat rapid fire assault. A short and sweet punch in the gut that left us reeling.

“Walking in the Woods” resonated rock cliché and back wood badness. Magnanimous misgivings, the female roams where she wants to. High and low dynamic accentuation was the heart and soul of the sound.

Sealing our fate was “Blood Red” a sordid send off and an invitation for torment. Hollywood’s the backdrop and the sky’s the limit. Never say you are sorry. Just what I needed, more fuel for the fire.

I staggered out into the night air. Revitalized, ripped and ready. The night still young, and with danger in the air, down the strip I did go, to find out what was there.

The Hangmen on Facebook

Mila Reynaud Photography

The Hangmen "Bent" Video

Acetate Records

SugarBuzz Magazine