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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