While Girl in a Coma has been somewhat, uh, comatose for a bit, its members have been hard at work elsewhere: Lead vocalist and guitarist Nina Diaz debuted solo a few years ago, and her first LP is due this year. Already, though, we’ve got new material from drummer Phanie Diaz and bassist Jenn Alva. Their band, dubbed FEA, is fully Chicana riot grrrl punk — and this month they’ve been going full throttle with the project.
As with their previous group, Diaz and Alva are releasing their project via Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records. Along with lead vocalist Letty Martinez and guitarist Aaron Magana, they teamed up with Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland as producer and dropped Zine EP in late April, then promptly kickstarted a month-long tour with Kristeen Young. That 7-inch is available at every date — but come June, when they head out with Against Me!, those limited copies will likely all be snatched up.
It’s not currently for sale online, unfortunately, but FEA isn’t leaving far-off fans totally hanging: We’ve got a video for “Mujer Moderna.” The clip, directed by Alva herself, is thoroughly layered in fiery commentary like a cake of patriarchal destruction. Martinez’s forceful lyrics match the shocking storyline, which tackles consent and rape culture head on. An audience member drugs another attendee, who continually harasses women at the show. The outrageous plot is the band’s attempt to flip the script on a narrative that has troubled other songs, like Rick Ross’ “UOENO” – queer Chicana feminism with a John Waters twist.
Check out FEA’s tour dates below:
Co-headlining tour with Kristeen Young
May 17 Los Angeles, CA @ The Hi Hat
May 18 Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
May 19 Las Vegas, NV @ Bunkhouse Saloon
May 20 Phoenix, AZ @ Chopper Johns
May 21 Tucson, AZ @ Sky Bar
May 22 El Paso, TX @ Mesa Music Hall
Supporting Against Me!
June 17 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
June 18 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
June 19 Chicago, IL @ Metro
June 21 Lansing, MI @ The Loft
June 22 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
June 23 London, ON @ London Music Hall
June 25 Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
June 26 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop