COIN - BOSTON, MA 10.27.24

Coverage by JULIA FINOCCHIARO

COIN Is Not Afraid of Boston Anymore

COIN came to Boston last weekend for a show packed with great music, immersive visuals, and a radiant atmosphere amongst their fans in the crowd. They were one of the first acts to perform at MGM Music Hall when it opened in 2022, and two years later they returned with another spectacular show. Back in September, COIN released their sixth studio album, I’m Not Afraid Of Music Anymore, which lead singer Chase Lawrence described as the band not being afraid to be themselves and grow their sound as they move along in their career. 

The night started off with a set by singer songwriter Aidan Bissett. His music nicely complimented what was to come with the main act later on, and he even threw in a little more of a rock feel for many of his songs that brought the energy up in the crowd as they waited for COIN. This was my second time seeing a set by Bissett - I’d seen him a year prior when he opened for alternative band Valley. His confidence as a performer has clearly grown, and fans in the crowd seemed to know a respectable portion of the songs he played.

COIN took the stage shortly after, opening with the first two songs off their latest album: “It’s Hard To Care About Everything” and “Take It Or Leave It.” The set began with Lawrence’s silhouette sitting next to an old-timey radio, before a large screen at the back of the stage displayed “I’m Not Afraid Of Music Anymore” in black and white. They wasted no time getting into some of their hits, with “Chapstick” up next from Uncanny Valley. 

While at times difficult to photograph, COIN’s production was some of the most unique I’ve seen in a while. Heavy fog, contrast, and pastel colors mixed in with a majority of black and white visuals gave a cozy feeling to the stage and the rest of the room. The screen at the back would display blue skies, colored shapes, or lyrics depending on the song, and light bars moved up and down and rotated above the band members in time with the music.

Highlights from later on in the show included “Cemetery” (a personal favorite), “Hannah,” “Let It All Out (10:05),” and “Malibu 1992.” They closed the main set with “Leaving a Light On” - one of those songs that makes you feel like you’re staring out the window of a car on a rainy day. They came back for an encore consisting of “Strawberry Jam” and, of course, “Crash My Car” to end their phenomenal set for the night.

This leg of “I’m Not Afraid of Tour Anymore” wraps up soon, but a second leg focused on the west coast and the south will start back up again in February of next year. Get tickets on their site! https://www.thisiscoin.com/tour