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How I Became Another Girl in A Coma

A lot of people ask me what kind of music describes Girl in a Coma, are they punk, are they Latin Rock? Do they sing in Spanish or English? And the ever so present question, how did I get so into them when they’re fairly unknown around the Washington Metropolitan area?  Well fret no more friends all will be revealed in this blog.

I was introduced to Girl in A Coma or (GIAC), an all girl band from San Antonio, TX, by my friend Alicia who worked with them for a short while as their tour/merch manager.  GIAC had just released their second album, “Trio B.C.” under Joan Jett’s record label Black Heart Records.  They were playing a local all girl festival in Baltimore, an unknown band amongst local artists with a modest following.  At the time I had no idea who GIAC were or what they looked like so I didn’t notice that while I watched the opening bands Nina Diaz (Lead Singer/Guitarist) and Jenn Alva (Bassist) were standing right next to me watching the show.  Nina sipped on her water and shyly seemed to hide under a hoodie, while Jenn smiled at anyone who made eye contact with her (sooo friendly :P).  Then when it was GIAC’s turn I saw both girls walk up to the stage to start setting up their instruments joined by Nina’s sister Phanie Diaz on drums.  Shortly after that I heard the opening lyrics to “Say” and I was hooked as Nina belted out in a crisp clear punky voice, “Everyone will quote me on this line!”   The rest of the crowd fell for them hook, line, and sinker no one moved from their spots for the remainder of the GIAC short set.  Powerful, charismatic, raw girl power is what comes to mind when I recall my first time watching Girl in a Coma live.  Since then I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them a few more times and to say they are great live is an understatement.  Very few bands can recreate what they put down on a record and perform it with even more intensity for a live audience each and every night.
 
 

Girl in a Coma’s music also can’t be pigeonholed into one single genre.  They are feminine rock personified.  The variety of rhythms in their songs is truly outstanding.  They can go from punk rock in, “Say” or “Clumsy Sky” (from their first album “Both Before I’m Gone”) and go straight into rockabilly ballads like “El Monte” or “BB” from Trio B.C.   If you like sexy sultry you will absolutely LOVE their Patsy Cline cover of “Walking After Midnight” from “Adventures in Coverland”.  This cover CD also features a magnificent take on the late Mexican-American singer Selena’s, Si Una Vez.  GIAC transformed this song from tejano pop cumbia to a beautiful punk rock song that would make Selena proud.

Even after four studio albums and celebrating the recent release of “Exits and All The Rest”, GIAC loves visiting their local record store in San Antonio, only difference is now they are performing there and signing autographs for proud fans.  GIAC is a loveable band, they’re like the sisters you never had (or do have but cooler, no offense).  They started like many other bands jamming together during high school where Phanie Diaz  and Jenn Alva met in art class and became best of friends over a mutual love for Morrissey, Nirvana, and all the rest.  When Nina was only 13 she wanted to audition for the band as their singer and blew everyone away during her audition.  Since then Nina has been the singer and songwriter for GIAC, while Phanie and Jenn are the glue that keep them together. 

On GIAC’s website a press release reads, “the stamp San Antonio’s music scene has left on the band is all over the album and it’s stabs of punk, tejano, rockabilly, classic rock and roll, rancheras, indie rock and ballads all contributing to a sound that can only be described as Girl in a Coma.”  I couldn’t agree more.  This diversity and pure talent has resulted in superstars like Morrissey, Sia, Tegan and Sara, The Pogues and Amanda Palmer to have hand selected them for tours. In addition, Robert Rodriguez asked them to compose a song for the closing scene in his film Machete last year.  Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction/Red Hot Chili Peppers) has openly professed that GIAC is his favorite band and we can’t confirm nor deny that he is caliente for Nina (although it’s mostly confirmed) you can check out the backstory here.

All said and done I’m just another Girl in a Coma.  The Trio B.C and Adventures in Coverland is on constant rotate in my car’s CD Player and I’m holding out on buying Exits and All The Rest until tomorrow’s show so I can get it signed by the chicas.  I will be there with my lively friends who witnessed their first GIAC show earlier this year and are now more Girls (and Boys) in a Coma.  If you’re free tomorrow night don’t miss out on this great band performing 11/9 at DC9 1940 9th Street NW, with opening band the Coathangers, show starts 8pm, $10 adv /$12 door

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And the nominees are...

2011 LATIN GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

The Latin Recording Academy has released this years nominees to the Latin Grammy.  Kesta Happening DC must be doing something right, 7 of the nominees have recently visited the District as a Kesta sponsored event.

Here are some of the Kesta sponsored Grammy Nominees and their respective categories:

Jarabe De Palo:

Best Rock album vocal duo or group:
¿Y Ahora Qué Hacemos?
Jarabe de Palo [Tronco Records/National Records]

No Te Va A Gustar:

Best Rock album vocal duo or group:
Por Lo Menos Hoy
No Te Va Gustar [Elefante Blanco/Popart Discos]

Best Rock Song:
Chau
Emiliano Brancciari, songwriter (No Te Va Gustar) Track from: Por Lo Menos Hoy [Nacional Records]

 

Maná:

Best Rock album vocal duo or group:

Drama Y Luz

Maná [Warner Music México]


Best Sound Engineering:

Drama Y Luz

Benny Faccone & Thom Russo, engineers; Tom Baker, mastering engineer (Maná) [Warner Music México]


Best Music Video:

Lluvia Al Corazón

Maná. Hydra, video director; Eric Berkowitz, video producer [Humble]


Best Music Video (long format):

Drama Y Luz

Maná.
Rubén R. Bañuelos & Iván López Barba, video directors; Antonio
"Toiz" Rodríguez Íñiguez, video producer [Time Bender]

ZOE:

Best Alternative Album:

Música De Fondo: MTV Unplugged

Zoé [EMI Music Mexico]


Best Rock Song:

Labios Rotos

León Larregui & Zoé, songwriters (Zoé) Track from: Música De Fondo: MTV Unplugged [EMI Music México]


Best Music Video (long format):

Música de Fondo: MTV Unplugged

Zoé. Miguel Roldán, video director; José "Fidji" Viggiano, video producer [MTV Networks Latin América & EMI Music México]

Gian Marco:

Best Singer/Songwriter Album:

Días Nuevos

Gian Marco [E35 Music]

Calle 13:

Recording of the Year:
Latinoamérica
Calle
13. Rafa Arcaute & Calle 13, prod.; Felipe Alvarez, R. Arcaute,
Eduardo Cabra, David Cárdenas, Iván Gutiérrez, Ramón Martínez, Edgardo
Matta, Daniel Ovie & Carlos Velazquez, eng./mixers. Track from:
Entren Los Que Quieran [Sony Music Latin]

Song of the Year:
Latinoamérica
Rafa Arcaute & Calle 13, songwriters (Calle 13), Track from: Entren Los Que Quieran [Sony Music Latin]
 
Album of the Year:

Entren Los Que Quieran

Calle
13. E. Abraham, R. Arcaute, C. 13, prod. F. Álvarez, R. Arcaute, J.
Blais, E. Cabra, D. Cárdenas, I. Gutierrez, L. Levin, J. Martínez, R.
Martinez, E. Matta, D. Ovie, C. Velazquez, C. Wakeman, D. Warner,
eng/mix. J. Cruz, mtr eng. [Sony Music Latin]

Best Music Video:

Calma Pueblo

Calle
13. Alejandro Santiago Ciena, video director; Alejandro Santiago Ciena,
video producer [Sony Music / Crema Batida Films]

Best Album-Urban:
Entren Los Que Quieran
Calle 13 [Sony Music Latin]

Best Song-Urban:
Baile De Los Pobres
Rafa Arcaute & Calle 13, songwriters (Calle 13). Track from: Entren Los Que Quieran [Sony Music Latin]

Best Song-Tropical:
Vamó A Portarnos Mal
Calle 13, songwriters (Calle 13) Track from: Entren Los Que Quieran [Sony Music Latin]

Vicente Fernández:

Best Album-Ranchera:
El Hombre Que Más Te Amó
Vicente Fernández [Sony Music Latin]

On a side note, I am very proud to say that one of my favorite artists (and fellow Boricua) Sie7e has been nominated this year!  His nominations include:

Best New Artist


Best Alternative Song:
Tengo Tu Love
Sie7e (a.k.a David Rodríguez), songwriter (Sie7e) Track from: Mucha Cosa Buena [La Vida Buena]

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Zoé deleita a todos sus fans en concierto del State Theater VA

Miercoles 17 de Agosto nos visito la banda Mexicana de rock alternativo, Zoé, dentro de su tour promoviendo el nuevo disco de MTV Unplugged/Musica de Fondo.  El disco es completamente acústico pero el set que los chicos de Zoé presentaron en el State Theater de Falls Church, VA fue mayormente eléctrico con un set acústico.  No es la primera vez que nos visita Zoé al area metropolitana, la primera fue en Abril del 2010 también en la casa del rock (State Theater).  En ese concierto aunque fueron pocos los asistentes, nacieron varias amistades entre rocanlovers que han agrandado la escena de rock en español en esta área.  En ese entonces Zoé promovía su disco Reptilectric y Memorex Commander y el Corazon Atomico de la Via Lactea (me encanta ese titulo!).  Ahora solo un año después el concierto del State Theater, Zoé demostró que se han convertido en la banda mas “cool” que ha salido de Mexico en varios años.  

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La diversidad de gente que presencio el concierto de este pasado miércoles es asombrante. Habían personas de todos colores, nacionalidades, y gustos.  Desde los superfans que se sabían todas las letras de todas las canciones, a los fans que recientemente se enamoraron de Zoé, hasta los que llegaron sin saber nada de ellos y se enamoraron a primera vista.  Lo único que resonó fue que los casi 500 asistentes salieron felices y satisfechos.  La música de Zoé es algo que te atrae y no te suelta.  Siempre sorprenden al replicar la música de sus discos casi perfectamente como si estuvieran grabando esos temas por primera vez ante tus ojos.  Los efectos que le dan a Zoé ese sonido psicodélico no podían faltar y a manos de su sonidista (que también es el sonidista de Jaguares) todo sonaba perfecto.  Una de las únicas quejas fue qué el concierto fue demasiado corto… todos queríamos mas.

El set que hicieron de una hora y media traía todos sus temas conocidos como “Nada” y “Soñe” que todo el mundo coreaba, ha temas menos conocidos como “Mrs. Nitro” y “Sombras”.  También no podía faltar su tema más reciente “Labios Rotos” y el ya clásico “Poli/Love” y “Via Lactea”.  Y cerrando la noche con broche de oro con uno de mis temas favoritos, “No me destruyas”.

Después del concierto un grupo de fans esperaban afuera con ansias para conocer a la banda quienes al final salieron para firmar autógrafos.  Esperemos quel afecto de los fans y gran presencia en el State Theater hagan regresar a los chicos de Zoe muchas veces más.

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A call to all DC Hispanics: Maná plays the Patriot Center

A call to all DC Hispanics:  Maná plays the Patriot Center

Last Thursday, July 14, the Washington Metro area was visited by one of the most important and successful bands in Spanish rock history, Maná. The sold-out Patriot Center was transformed into an assembly of Latin American countries.  Flags from numerous countries were proudly waved, all the attending –particularly the women- were dressed out to the nines and ready for a night of delight and enjoyment.

The show began to the tunes of the Dominican singer/songwriter, Vicente Garcia and his band.  Como Has Logrado, Agualluvia, and Mi Balcón were his musical offerings to a warm receiving crowd at the venue.

A massive stage and mesh screen covered the setup and functioned as a surface on which stars, hearts, and clouds were projected on, all while the Mexican quartet made their way to the stage to the sounds of Lluvia al Corazón.  Much to everyone’s surprise, the next two songs were golden classics for any Maná fan.  Oye Mi Amor and De Pies a Cabeza brought everyone to their feet cheering and belting wholeheartedly to the tune of these two songs.

The show progressed and somehow the energy within the band, particularly lead singer Fher Olvera, seemed to dwindle.  Maybe it was the high expectations I had for this show, maybe it was my level of fanaticism noticing things not obvious to the normal attendee, or maybe it was just me seeing things, but it seemed as though the boys were running low on steam and the first half of the show was more of a dressed rehearsal than the actual live performance.  Plagued with technical difficulties at times, it was obvious that their frustration was also taking a toll on the performance. 

Regardless, they marched on and offered a rather varied selection of songs and screen projections including a rising platform that elevated drummer Alex “El Animal” Gonzalez, up almost ten feet in the air.  For me, the call to arms came to the tune of Latinoamérica.  All of us who took our flags to the show stood and proudly sang for our people, for our struggles and for our nations.

The second half of the show got a second wind during the acoustic performance relocated to the second stage at the back of the venue.  This portion revamped everyone’s energy and it truly became a giant intimate sing along. 

Upon their return to the mane stage they sang Como Te Deseo, Dejame Entrar and Clavado En Un Bar with which they left the stage to a roaring crowd.  Labios Compartidos and En El Muelle de San Blas were their departing songs to the 10,000 present on Thursday night.

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