The Hunks of Coal

The Hunks of Coal is a seasonal rock-and-roll outfit led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Harry Barton, a longtime fixture of the local music scene best known as the frontman of the funky, hard-hitting garage rock band The New Orleans Johnnys. The project is a looser, louder side of Barton's songwriting, channeling a raw, unpolished punk-indie energy into unconventional holiday music.
Their debut EP, Stocking Stuffers, Vol. 1, was released in late 2025, trading traditional holiday sentimentality for gritty, authentic Crescent City storytelling. The four-track record drew immediate attention from local listeners for its high-energy, tongue-in-cheek holiday anthems, including "Jesus' 18th Birthday on Bourbon Street" and the late-night favorite "It's Always Christmas Time at Snake and Jake's." Tonight, they bring their loud guitars and dive-bar sensibilities to Good Measure for a fast-paced, distinctly New Orleans Christmas set.