I've Got a Thing for Coin.
On June 6, 2017 Coin played to a PACKED house at Stubb's in Austin, TX.
It's funny how new bands come into your life, it's no longer "I heard this new band on the radio and I LOVE THEM" now it's more "I saw people talking about this group on twitter so I had to check them out before curiosity killed me"- exactly how I found Nashville natives, Coin.
With the release of their new album, How Will You Know If You Never Try (HWYKIYNT), Coin had me completely sold (honestly, keep the receipt, I'm buyin' it). I found myself humming and dancing all day, unable to get the catchy tunes out of my head...not like I wanted to. They announced their tour shortly after the release, including an Austin show, and I immediately jumped at the chance to hear this record live.
I arrived at the venue 2 1/2 hours early where I met a group of kids that had been there all day, even overnight for some, to claim their spot in the front row of a venue that is only slightly larger than a shoebox. My excitement for the show was only elevated after talking to everyone outside. The majority had been at the show in Houston the night before and told me excitedly what to expect, breaking down the setlist and directing me to where to go after the show for the best chance at meeting the band, they had it all down to a science. For the couple of hours before the doors opened we talked everything from new music we liked to what they had done during their day in Austin (most of them had traveled across state lines), each person making it clear that, despite running on no sleep and whatever food was in walking distance, Coin have some of the nicest fans out there.
Finally, we were led into the venue where I took my spot along the balcony and waited for the opening band, Joan, to take the stage.
One of my favorite things about live music is discovering my new favorite bands through opening acts (y'all, everyone's favorite band started as an opening act, get to shows early.) In this case, I knew instantly that I was going to LOVE Joan. They walked on stage in the most aesthetically pleasing coordinated overalls and played bop after bop. Take it from me, these guys are it. Fair warning, they only have one song out, so prepare to be devastated when you can't download their entire setlist immediately, I know I was. They were confident, holding the attention of the room start to finish with a total package of 80's influenced jams.
Almost an hour later, Coin took the stage, starting the set with Feeling, one of my favorite tracks from HWYKIYNT, quickly establishing that this would be a show that would challenge you to keep from having fun (even the parents were bobbing along to every last note).
Lead singer, Chase, can only be described as magnetic. He had the entire crowd wrapped around his finger from the start, including me. I couldn't help but to sing and dance along- it felt safe, like there wouldn't be judgement from the people around you for your crazy dance moves because they were breaking out a set of their own.
Out of the hundreds of shows I've attended, I can't remember a single artist who has had a stage presence as captivating as Chase Lawrence. Even in the sweltering heat (no joke, I think at some point during the show we moved to the surface of the sun... p.s., Stubb's where the hell was the AC, we were counting on you), he never stopped his quirky, larger than life dance moves and, most importantly, he, and the rest of the group, always maintained a special connection with as many members of the audience as they could get to... at one point Chase even leapt into the pit and disappeared into a crowd of screaming teenagers, the only sign that he was ok the still-perfect vocals coming from within the huddle. They took the time to create a space where everyone felt welcome and for just a few hours, a place where you could forget about everything that was going on outside of this perfect little bubble.
I think my absolute favorite parts of the show, the parts that I'll talk about first when anyone asks, were all the times that Chase would find someone and hold their hand, singing to only them for a few seconds. This isn't a new concept by any means, but what separated Coin from the rest is how often it happened. So many people were made special, each getting their own little bit of time where they were the star, often cheered on by their friends who were desperately trying to get a photo of the moments that they would remember forever. Even from the balcony I could feel how special those little interactions were.
After the show I made my way to the merch table and got to talk to Joan a for a few minutes, getting to know the meaning behind their unusual (but so great) band name, and even a mutual love for flor, and, in the biggest plot twist in history, they let me know that this show was only the sixth time they'd ever performed... could've fooled me. Their kindness was so clear in my conversation with them and in their conversations with other fans that had spoken to them before me. They spent quality time with anyone willing to listen, doing miniature photoshoots, joking about anything and everything, they made everyone feel like an old friend, something that is rare and completely refreshing in this type of setting, it eased every bit of nerves that come along with meeting bands and gave us a chance to get to know them beyond the music that we already knew made them special.
Before I left I got the opportunity to speak to Chase after witnessing him (almost) perfectly recite the names of each girl in the group that I'd been running into throughout the night. I've always said that the most important thing for me, as someone who aspires to be in the music industry, is that I find artists that not only make music that I believe in but that are kind, humble, and treat their fans with respect. That being said, Chase fully met every expectation and then some, he continued to go above and beyond in order to sustain the atmosphere of acceptance and give everyone their chance to be heard.
I was already a fan of Coin when I walked in on Tuesday night, but I left a full-blown superfan.
Thanks for a great night, guys.
- Marissa
