What started as a project in a dorm room at Belmont University in Nashville has grown to nearly 2.8 million monthly listeners and tracks amassing over 300 million streams for COIN. The alternative indie-pop trio, consisting of Chase Lawrence, Joseph Memmel and Ryan Winnen, fits the bill for an underground hidden gem, as they craft a perfectly grungy, uplifting concert that tears at heartstrings with poetic lyricism about love, loss and personal growth. Much of that is to the credit of their newest and most vulnerable album, I’m Not Afraid of Music Anymore, which made its live debut at the Agora Theatre as COIN commenced its first-ever headline show at the venue.
Luckily for me, and everyone else at the Agora Theatre on Friday night, COIN loves Ohio. Aside from a subtle shoutout in the band’s hit song “Malibu 1992” — that’s not-so-subtly screamed at every local COIN show ("your parents’ house in Ohio, your old bed replaced with a treadmill now") — Clevelanders share a home base with drummer Ryan Winnen, who was born and raised in nearby South Euclid. Winnen told Cleveland Magazine in September that many concerts he attended at the Agora Theatre shaped the life he saw for himself as an artist. This made the show a slightly bigger deal than the rest, and it made sure that COIN would treat their bandmate’s hometown crowd with grace.
“That’s your boy,” Lawrence remarked as the audience erupted in a “Ryan!” chant.
Winnen was sure to give it his all, as he lived out a full-circle dream. The drummer’s backing beats took center stage early with “It’s Hard to Care About Everything,” the ambitious show-starter and one of Winnen’s favorite songs. And the energy sustained through the midway point with boisterous classics like “Hannah,” which has snuck its way onto COIN setlists since 2017.
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The new songs truly stole the show, though, as temperamental tracks like “Problem” and the harmonica-infused “Strawberry Jam” took fans off their feet.
The beauty of it all, despite a gently chaotic energy that reverberated through the ballroom, was its simplicity. A lack of theatrics, a lack of a setup. Strobe lights and a large screen flashing lyrics and minimalist visuals kept things illuminated in a way that proved COIN didn’t need supplemental hardware to put on a performance. The music was the art. All that decorated the stage was an old-timey tape recorder, which tapped into a stripped-down, nostalgic vibe as COIN played through their history in a 22-song setlist. Each telling its own story, the tracks act as a time capsule of the band’s 12 years of sound, production and chemistry.
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“Leaving a Light On” bookmarks that story, as their latest album closer and the final number of the night’s regular lineup. It’s dreamy and satisfying, yet tells a tear-jerking story for those willing to listen
But before closing the curtain on an optimistic evening, the band returned for a two-song encore. Mainstream favorite “Crash My Car” took the spotlight for its expected appearance, arguably one of COIN’s rowdier songs with gusty vocals, lively guitar strings and — of course — impeccable drums. With its final note, Winnen, Memmel and Lawrence left a first mark of many on the Agora Theatre.
COIN Setlist: Oct. 11, 2024, the Agora Theatre
1. It’s Hard to Care About Everything
2. Take It Or Leave It
3. Chapstick
4. I Want It All
5. Asking for a Friend
6. Slack
7. Valentine
8. Cemetery
9. Cutie
10. Boyfriend
11. Run
12. Hannah
13. Along for the Ride
14. I Think I Met You in a Dream
15. You Are the Traffic
16. Youuu
17. 222
18. Let It All Out (10:05)
19. Problem
20. Malibu 1992
21. Talk Too Much
22. Leaving a Light On
Encore:
23. Strawberry Jam
24. Crash My Car
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