Lone Star State Latinas: Girl in a Coma

(From left) Jenn Alva, Nina Diaz and Phannie Diaz are Girl in a Coma. Photo by Adam Stockstill.

–By Julia Dodge

No, you aren’t hearing things: this San Antonio trio is named after the Smith’s song. But it’s just one of the many ways Girl in a Coma pays homage to their idols, ranging from 50s rockabilly, Spanish music and the gritty groans of 90s alternative rock.

“We don’t stick to a certain styling. We don’t wear high heels. We’re not the typical all-girl group that may be punky, three-chords, all yelling… we just let our influences show on our sleeve,” says Bassist Jenn Alva, 30, who started jamming with longtime friend Drummer Phannie Diaz, also 30, in middle school, to be joined by Phannie’s sister, guitarist/singer Nina Diaz, 22, shortly thereafter. “There are not a lot of all-girl bands, of course, but we just do what we do and we tend not to care what others think.”

And seriously, why should they? GIAC, who will play Bottom of the Hill for the fifth time on August 23, performed the Runaways’ hit “Cherry Bomb” on stage with Cherry Currie herself at South by Southwest this past spring. And if that wasn’t a rocker chick dream-come-true, Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna produced two special tracks, “Vino,” and “Joannie in the City,” on their sophomore album with Blackheart Records, Trio B.C., last year—a post-punk racket featuring Jett on guitar along with her distinct vocals on background.

Before that, GIAC debuted with Both Before I’m Gone on Blackheart Records in 2007. “Clumsy Sky,” the band’s first single, won a 2007 Independent Music Award in the Best Song-Punk category, and soon they were opening for the Pogues, Social Distortion, and Tegan and Sara in a cross-country national tour, and with Morrissey in both Europe and the U.S.

With a cover album, Adventures in Coverland, out October 19, GIAC are currently road warriors, travelling the country in The Silver Bullet (the affectionate name for their Ford conversion van) always stocked on itunes, books and peanut butter (they tend to spend most of their allowance on souvenirs, so they skimp a bit of the food.) From Selena to Joy Division, Coverland is all over the spectrum in covers with a GIAC twist, as well as packs in an acoustic version of their 2009 song “BB” and one new track.

“That’s our contribution to women in rock—being three Latinas, and two-thirds gay—we have a lot going on in our band that we’re really proud of,” says Alva.” We’d like to make our little mark in music history, and that’s it. The New York Dolls said it best: ‘We’re working for the history books, not for the paychecks.’”

And just like the diversity of the group’s characteristics and musical influences, their audience doesn’t disappoint. “We got great fans, especially on the West Coast,” says Alva. “Our audience is a big mix of people—we get our Latin community, we get our gay community, we get people who just love all-girl groups, or people who are young and just dig our music. We get all kinds of people. That’s what I love about coming back to California. If you come to our concert, you’ll see.”

Girl in a Coma play Bottom of the Hill on Monday, August 23.