Let’s start the week with Texas-homegrown Girl In A Coma, the rockin’ trio from San Antonio. Led by the fiery voice and guitar playing (not to mention good looks) of frontwoman Nina Diaz, and anchored by the rock solid rhythm of bass player Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz (Nina’s sister), the band has been paying its dues since about 2005.
Signing with Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records was a big step for Girl In A Coma, and they’re fixtures on the concert circuit nationwide now. “One Eyed Fool” is off their latest studio album Exits And All The Rest.
We caught Girl In A Coma a few years ago, playing a free show at the great Cactus Musicin Houston. The San Antonio-based trio has since become indie/alt darlings of a sort, going on tour with the likes of the Go Gos and the Bangles and opening shows for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
There’s no denying the charisma of singer/guitarist Nina Diaz, who combines beauty and punk like nobody else – while drummer Phanie Diaz (Nina’s sister) and bassist Jenn Alva lay down a wicked rhythm. Girl In A Coma’s latest album Exits & All The Rest recently picked up an Independent Music Award for Best Indie/Alt Rock Album, so there you go.
This is “Smart,” from that album.
Girl In A Coma is on the bill this weekend at the Free Press Summer Fest in Houston. Among the other acts appearing will be Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, the Avett Brothers, Primus, Best Coast, Morris Day and the Time, and many more. There are still tickets left although they have to be close to selling out by now; 75 bucks will get you in both days. Check out the full lineup and ticket info here.
Girl In A Coma: from left - Jenn, Nina and Phanie.
We wrapped up 2010 with a cool little in-store performance Dec. 31 at Houston’s Cactus Music & Video – featuring the San Antonio punk trio Girl In A Coma. I’ve been hearing good things about these girls since last year’s SXSW conference, and brother blogger Citizen K suggested we check ’em out.
Girl In A Coma is anchored by the rhythm section of drummer Stephanie “Phanie” Diaz and bassist Jenn Alva, and fronted by singer/guitarist Nina Diaz, Phanie’s little sister. Nina is a ferocious singer and certainly no slouch on the guitar. The girls have released three albums on Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records label.
From the album Trio B.C., Girl In A Coma started their in-store with “Bb” about a “little man,” and its jaunty stomp hit the right groove. They also did “El Monte,” where Nina moons over some guy only to realize she’s “just another score.” They also did an awesome version of Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight,” from the band’s most recent effort, an album of covers titled Adventures in Coverland. They also did a new song from a forthcoming album, but I didn’t catch the title, sorry. (Also apologies are in order for not taking photos – my camera’s busted. Got a new one comin’ in from NYC, and we’ll be back in business next week! In the meantime, check out the Cactus Music Facebook page for some good photos by Jay Dryden.)
I must say I was totally impressed by Nina Diaz’s style. Don’t let her looks fool you – Nina really rocks out. She holds nothing back, not even for a little in-store performance, and her voice is one of a kind. Their short performance at Cactus certainly sent me to their recordings – I highly recommend Trio B.C., released in 2009, and Adventures in Coverland is pretty good too, with standout covers of Joy Division’s “Transmission,” George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and Selena’s “Si Una Vez.”
What a great way to wind up the year; it’s nice to see somebody is ready to rock into a new decade. We thoroughly enjoyed Girl In A Coma … and if you catch ’em live, you surely will too.
30 Days Out 