Presenting...The Coathangers and Heavy Cream!

The Coathangers: (in no particular order) Crook Kid-guitar, Minnie- bass, Rusty- drums, BeBe- keyboard. Photo by Jason Travis

For the second year in a row, C.L.A.P. was proud to sponsor Alanta band The Coathangers at the Triple Rock. This year, they were joined by Nashville's Heavy Cream and favorite local band Cadette. Even though it was a hot, sweaty Monday, these ladies knew how to bring it. For more on The Coathangers and Heavy Cream, check out their band pages and their thoughts on touring, why we shouldn't talk about female vs. male musicians, and why next time they are in town, you should check them out.

Part of Heavy Cream's line up (the whole band= Jessica McFarland: vocals, Mimi Galbierz: guitar, Olivia Scibelli: bass and Tiffany Minton: drums)

Coathangers: You describe yourselves as not being able to play your instruments when you first started as a band. We just ran a piece by a female musician who talks about how she just "faked it until she made it," in the same capacity. Why do you think it is important for women to just go for it if they want to make music? 

Julia (AKACrook Kid Coathanger) of the Coathangers: No one knows what they are doing when they first start making music. It's important to just go for it....male or female.

What is your creative process like? 

CKC: We hang out with each other and see what come out...brainstorming; jamming; drinking pbr, fireball whiskey, and cherry juice.

Olivia Scibelli of Heavy Cream: We just get together and jam out. Sometimes someone will bring a riff to practice or an idea for a song, but usually we just play what we like and make it a song.

How your hometowns in terms of artistic, especially music, scenes? 

CKC: [Atlanta is] Awesome. Check it out.

OS: Nashville is a wonderfully creative city. Musically, there are great venues (including house spaces) tons of bands from every genre, and a nice supportive crowd for everyone. It's not just a town for country music, it's a town for any musician; it's Music City!

How do you feel about touring? Some musicians seem to love it, others hate it, and now some view it as no longer relevant (or cost effective) in today's world—what are your thoughts on it?

CKC: Tour is the most relevant thing you can do. We are road warriors. Live shows are an extension of an artist's expression. it's the truest representation of the music....a real interactive experience.

OS: We absolutely love touring. We try and tour as much as possible. Like a lot of bands in Nashville, we have built our lives around it. From our jobs to living situations, we have made it so we can tour as often as we like. It is very important and necessary for us to tour. We want people to hear our music and watch us perform. It's also a source of income for us.

What things get you totally amped?

CKC: SF Red Bull, wal-phed, huffing kittens and puppies, the grand canyon, and playing shows.

OS: Treasure trolls

Any advice for women who want to be in a band?

CKC: Don't be scurred. Do it.

OS: Just go for it. There's no wrong way to play music. Unless what you're playing isn't fun. That's definitely wrong.

Even though there seems to be a growing number of all female bands, rock continues to be male dominated. How (if at all) has being an all female band shaped your experience? 

CKC: Being in a band is a subjective experience. Every individual experiences and processes it differently. we are women in a band...that's the only way we can experience this. Continuing to focus on male/female differences perpetuates the division.

OS: Being an all female band is pretty much the same as when we had dudes in our band. We get some attitude every once in awhile, but we always have. Gender and genitals don't dictate talent or ability, and the places we play and the people that we surround ourselves with understand that, so mostly it's great! Sometimes people still say they've never seen an all-female band before, which is shocking because in 2012 it isn't uncommon to see women as musicians. It's time to start treating that as matter-of-fact by not having to constantly remind people that we are female and begin retiring the gendered modifiers like "girl band" etc.

Why should people come see your live shows?

CKC: See answer #4. It's fun!

OS: The energy of our music is more easily felt in the live show.

Describe your "sound:"

CKC: We can't separate ourselves from it. You tell us. [Editor's note: Awesome].

What are you currently promoting? 

OS: Our new LP called "Super Treatment" is out on Infinity Cat Records. We also have a split 7" record coming out on Suicide Squeeze w/ The Coathangers. Look for that announcement soon.