A Bands and Brews Session With Overcoats

If you still don't know, Overcoats is a New York-based duo that consists of Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell. Their harmonies blend together to make indie electro-pop music that not only sounds pretty on the surface, but permeates a true sense of self-empowerment. Earlier this summer, the duo made a stop at Industry City for a Bands + Brews session, presented by Baeble Music.

The two performed songs off of their debut album YOUNG. Before going into the first song, "Smaller Than My Mother," the two shared a hug, as if this was the last performance of their entire career -- or they were just really happy to be there. Probably the latter. Elion was in a white dress while Mitchell wore black, and, with no other members but themselves, the performance as a whole was minimalistic, which put their nearly perfect vocals on display. As they dove into "Hold Me Close," the two broke out into an endearing little dance - something they peppered throughout their performance - not choreographed, but in unison.

"The Fog" was a bit of a darker cut. Right before Mitchell called out "the future is female!", the two sang, "freedom is when I'm without you / when the fog lifts, I'm the only one I see." Siren-like synths screech, and as they sing those lines, something about it just feels so damn good. It's one thing to preach about being independent, but it's an entirely different thing to show it. Here were two legitimate best friends right before us -- two women who were friends before they were musical partners, and as they sang about not needing a man to feel complete, they truly proved that as they cheered each other on. Through the relationship of two best friends, we were exploring the journey through womanhood.

Sure, Overcoats' voices are sweet and their beats are sultry, but on the night of Bands + Brews, they brought something much bigger to Baeble. They proved that it is possible to lift each other up. Experience the positive vibes in full, with our newest Bands + Brews.

The band just started a North American tour. Dates below:
9/8/17 - Camp Lenox, MA @ Welcome Campers
9/9/17 - Elizabethtown, NY @ Otis Mountain Get Down
9/10/17 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place*
9/12/17 - Toronto, ON @ The Garrison*
9/13/17 - Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig*
9/14/17 - Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Live*
9/15/17 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell's Brewery +
9/16/17 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway*
9/17/17 - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews*
9/19/17 - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar*
9/20/17 - Conway, AR @ Hendrix College
9/21/17 - Dallas, TX @ Three Links*
9/22/17 - Austin, TX @ Antone's*
9/23/17 - Houston, TX @ Secret Group*
9/25/17 - Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder*
9/27/17 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl*
9/28/17 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement*
9/29/17 - Asheville, NC @ New Belgium Liquid Center*
10/19/17 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/20/17 - Arden, DE @ Arden Gild Hall
10/21/17 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern Cafe and Music Hall
10/22/17 - Charleston, WV @ Mountain Stage at the Culture Center Theater
11/3/17 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11/10/17 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
11/11/17 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
11/12/17 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
11/14/17 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
11/16/17 - Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College
11/17/17 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
11/18/17 - Oberlin, OH @ Oberlin College
12/7/17 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
12/8/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
12/9/17 - San Francisco CA @ The Independent

* w/ Yoke Lore supporting
+ w/ San Fermin

Hana and JJ started Overcoats while they were college roommates and they co-wrote all twelve songs on 'YOUNG. The two were drawn to each other when they first met as teenagers in 2011, finding connection in a love of diverse musical styles, and forging a closeness that verges on sisterhood. Both members of Overcoats describe the first time hearing each other sing as an epiphany: the harmony of their voices leading to personal, individual discovery.