My only concern with Girl in a Coma, the band that played in front of about 50 people last night at The Waiting Room, has to do with their name. If you heard it for the first time, you'd assume this was a Morrissey tribute band instead of a smart, fun, catchy indie rock trio. No matter that on about half of their songs hot frontwoman guitarist/vocalist Nina Diaz sings exactly like Morrissey right down to the odd octave jumps on songs structured from the same boilerplate used for Vauxhall and I. Forget the fact that -- for a time -- they actually opened for Morrissey. Being anchored to such a name could eventually be a hindrance, especially considering that the other half of their music is guttural punk that's too well played to be mistaken for garage rock. They have a well-tooled sheen about them that comes from serious touring and having a mentor in an old-school performer like Joan Jett, whose label (Blackheart) they're signed to. Despite the familiar vocal phrasing, Nina's voice is actually closer to Karen O's and at times could be flat-out gorgeous (although the vocals along with the drums were poorly mixed last night). I listened to their latest, Trio BC, again this morning, and it comes nowhere near the intensity of their live set, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Bringing everything down a notch and balancing the sound reveals some clever, hook-filled songs by a clever band that could be the next Donnas (but with better skills and songs). See iPhoto from last night.

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The July 4 weekend kicks off quietly. Satchel Grande is doing its thing tonight at The Waiting Room with Old Money. $7, 9 p.m. and... that's about all that's worth mentioning. Tomorrow night's hot show is Little Brazil, It's True, Flight Metaphor and David Matysiak of Coyote Bones at The Waiting Room. $4, 9 p.m. While Reagan Roeder's new band, Hubble, is playing at The 49'r with Jake Bellows, Dylan Davis and John Klemmensen and the Party. $5, 9 p.m. The Slowdown is closed Saturday.

Have a happy Indie Day...

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