The Wake

A good rock band can change the way a listener thinks about music, and simultaneously offer them something that feels familiar. They use the best elements of a song and put an original twist on them. This is exactly what Coach Said Not To does on a consistent basis.

They have pretty typical instrumentation, using guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, but the vocals are what will immediately catch your ear. In the male-dominated realm of rock music, Coach Said Not To, an entirely female group, stands apart. The voices of sisters Eva and Linnea Mohn (the guitar and bass players respectively) blend incredibly.

When I met with the four women of Coach Said Not To, one of my first questions was about the vocals. “We have a lot of practice singing together, mostly in the car when we’re driving,” Eva told me. “That, and, Linnea has super perfect pitch.”

“Vocals come easily to me,” Linnea said. “Other things, like playing bass, were not as easy to pick up.”

The band was also eager to answer about their sound and their approach to making music. Their songs, which have adventurous deviations from typical structures, are a highly collaborative effort. “That’s how it has to be,” said Eva Mohn. When I asked if this democratic process has become speedier over the past few years, keyboardist Lee Violet laughed and said, “No. It can take a long time…to the point where we’re asking ourselves ‘Why are we doing this?” After listening to their EPs and seeing the band perform, it’s clear that the process has produced a solid set of songs.

I saw Coach Said Not To at the Nomad World Pub on Nov. 19, where they had top billing. Their live show accentuated the aspects of their sound that set them apart. In many cases, a song would start softly and draw the audience in as it continued to build. Annika Johnson, the drummer and most recent addition to the band, was crucial in making these dynamics work. Personal favorites like “Shadow Puppets” showed that the band could make good use of its strengths as an ensemble.

Equally as impressive as their ability was the attitude that Coach Said Not To exuded. On stage and in conversation, this group handled itself with a combination of humor and gratitude. It’s good to see a band worthy of so much praise that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This month, Coach Said Not To will be busy playing gigs in support of larger Twin Cities acts like the Honeydogs and Mark Mallman. They’ll be in the studio in January to record their first full length album, but in the mean time you can download the P.E. EP off of their website for free (www.coachsaidnotto.com).