The Hangmen - We've Got Blood On The Toes Of Our Boots

Welcome to the cruel and capricious nature of rock 'n' roll. There are many successful bands out there, chock full of talent, but it goes unsaid that there are at least as many with equal or greater talent that go relatively unnoticed. The Hangmen are just such a band. Their music is filled with sweat and grime and is as far from, and as close to, rock star success as a missed opportunity ... not one but many. The Hangmen have been signed by not one but two major labels throughout their many years in the Hollywood, but their flirtations with success have been matched only by their flirtations with excess.

Their self-titled 1989 debut was seen by many as Capitol Record's attempt to find the next Guns 'n' Roses. Many artists (consciously or subconsciously) spurn such lucky twists of fortune, in an attempt to validate their own talent. They chafe under any attempt to label their work, and spurn Lady Luck with the secret hope that she will come crawling back at some later date. Many can attest that she, like most women, doesn't like to be scorned.

Bryan Small and his band became notorious for their uncanny ability to squander their talent and stay broke, drunk, and stoned. Ordinary people are amazed when someone they know becomes famous, unless that person is a gifted artist. They then become amazed, how someone with such talent is able to avoid fame.

The long road back from the brink started in 1995, with the addition of Coma-Tones lead guitarist Jimmy James. The two of them fought their addictions and clung to the untapped potential of the band, but it wasn't until they recorded Metallic I.O.U. for the small Santa Monica based record label, Acetate Records, that they seemed to emerge out the other side of their destructive habits.

Just as Bryan and Jimmy dedicated themselves to making the band work, both long-time bassist Laura Bennett and drummer Dino Guerrero left. The group quickly added Todd Haney to drums and found Texas bassist Angelique Congelton. The new line-up jelled, went on tour, and recorded the powerful live album We've Got Blood on the Toes of Our Boots.

We've Got Blood... is one of those rare live album that has near studio quality vocals mixed perfectly with the raw energy of a live performance. It includes songs that date back to that '89 debut. It's a collection that is beyond the expectations that the industry had for Bryan and his band in '89. Old and new, the songs blend together seamlessly. It's pure rock 'n' roll that defies time, place, or market niche. The opening call-to-arms anthem of Last Drive flows straight into the collaboration with Eddie Spaghetti from the Supersuckers on the down-and-out Coal Mine. Songs like Bent document the years of being stretched lean and thin by the twists of fate without any reprehension. It also contains the same undercurrent of destructive fascination found in My Way and I Luv You. The whole album is a testament to their talent and dare I say maturity. Lady Luck might not come crawling back on her hands and knees, but perhaps, after years of reminiscing about what might have been, she will call.

Buy a copy or listen to some sample tracks at Acetate Records.

Gobi