4 1/2 Stars:
I’m always a little bit hesitant when someone approaches me with a new band to listen to. The same was true with Girl In A Coma. Knowing absolutely nothing about this band I wasn’t expecting much. So I popped Girl In A Coma’s latest album “Trio B.C.” in and was shocked. Within the first three songs I realized that these girls were for real. Their playing was extremely tight. I don’t really know how to describe the band, which is a good thing. I guess if I had to I’d say it’s like Pearl Jam and Nirvana meet the Cranberries? All I know is that the band’s sound is very versatile.
Girl In A Coma (GIAC) hails from the Lone Star State. Best friends’ bassist Jenn Alva and drummer/percussionist Phanie Diaz hooked up in Jr. High. They shared their love for Nirvana, The Smiths and Morrissey, but there was just one problem, they didn’t have a singer. In comes Nina Diaz, Phanie’s little sister, who was just 12 years old at the time. Her voice was so mesmerizing, it blew them away.
Fast forward to 2006, GIAC is playing for Joan Jett as part of a cable TV show for unknown bands. Jett was so impressed with GIAC that she signed the group to her Blackheart Records label and in the next year released the band’s critically acclaimed debut album “Both Before I’m Gone.” GIAC also managed to book gigs opening for Cyndi Lauper, Social Distortion and Morrissey.
The group’s latest effort is “Trio B.C.” named after the Diaz sister’s grandfather’s band back in the 50’s. “Trio B.C.” kicks off with the haunting track “BB.” The song starts off sounding like Nina is singing in a tunnel, but once the chorus hits the band explodes and never slows down until the album ends. The stand out song on the album is the second track “Static Mind.” “Static Mind” is the only song that I could see breaking out into mainstream radio success. That’s not a bad thing either. It just means there is more to their music than what’s getting played on top 40 Radio right now.
Other stand out songs on the album are “In the day,” “Joannie in the City” (featuring Joan Jett), “El Monte” and a cover of the Mexican pop song “Ven Cerca” (the girls’ first Spanish language song). It’s hard to imagine the sound that comes out of these three ladies. GIAC definitely has its stuff together. Whether these girls have a breakout hit or not they will almost certainly develop an underground cult following. My only complaint is that they’re not going to be playing near my hometown anytime soon. This is one coma I would love to check out, and don’t ever want to see end.
BYLINE:
Bob Zerull is a frequent movie and concert goer who talks about his ventures to arenas and theaters more than any person should be allowed to do. Now, he puts them down on paper. Visit: www.cadaverchristmas.com. Email Bob at bob@zoiksonline.com.
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