Weaving slow ballads in between electrifying pop jams, COIN’s most recent stop in Orlando, FL showcased the range of talent employed by the band. The opening track “It’s Hard To Care About Everything’ started as lead singer Chase Lawrence softly crooned a reflective ‘we know all the places we’d go.’ The energy in the House of Blues rose, with the crescendo of drums, guitar and 1,700 voices singing along.
Quickly following the opening track were several other hits from COIN’s latest album, ‘I’m Not Afraid Of Music Anymore.’ The live versions of these songs completely surpassed my expectations – the ambiance of the crowd and the band hyped up high-energy songs like ‘Take It Or Leave It’ and ‘Slack’ while keeping a reverence for sweeter and slower songs like ‘I Think I Met You in a Dream’ or ‘I Would.’ The simplistic setup highlighted the exhilarating feeling of the show, and a lack of spotlighting made the separation between audience and stage seem smaller than possible. I was blown away by the creative additions to fan-favorites like ‘Hannah’, which featured a solo by Lawrence and new backing instrumentals.
The only thing holding the show back from perfection was a distinctive lack of older tracks, robbing fans of favorites like ‘Atlas’ or ‘Holy Ghost.’ Despite this, the way that Lawrence talked to the audience throughout the show pointed out the band’s appreciation for their longtime fans, and I was completely surprised when he jumped off stage to hug a fan that he’d recognized. This culture of connection and appreciation has built a unique relationship between COIN and their fans, something I find is becoming increasingly rare among more well-known artists. It was this atmosphere that amplified the rest of the concert, turning an already fabulous and high-energy show into one with a deep meaning and connection for COIN supporters.
The encore songs ‘Crash my car’ and ‘Strawberry Jam’ were the ultimate highlights of the show, with everyone in the crowd singing and dancing along. COIN’s concerts are consistently my favorites – their love for the art shines through every performance they put on, and I’m counting down the days until I can see them again.
