One of the worst things to wake up to as a music lover is the news of one of your favorite bands calling it quits. If you’re a Coasts fan, you’re probably still trying to process the fact that the band – comprised of Chris Caines, Liam Willford, James Gamage, David Goulbourn, and Ben Street – made an announcement early this morning of their plans to part ways after a farewell UK tour this October.
Oddly enough, I somehow sensed this coming. As I was listening to their sophomore record, This Life, Vol. 1, on vinyl one night last week, something felt off. There hadn’t been any single news since the release of “First Love” in June, and the question fans are all asking now is if there ever was a finished This Life, Vol 2. Only time will tell if it will ever see the light of day. Fingers crossed.
Every band discovery is different for most fans. Mine, however, happened a year into my journey of this whole music writing thing in 2013. Once I heard the opening lines of “Ocean” and personal favorite, “Stone,” I was hooked immediately, anticipating the release of their debut. We didn’t get that self-titled debut until three years later in early 2016 after a long hard battle with the band’s label (notice that pattern, though?) and they made it quite clear they were eager to release something new with This Life, Vol. 1 in 2017.
Equal parts light and dark, This Life, Vol. 1 was a therapy session for the hurting. While their debut found itself bathed in appreciated beachy vibes set to the tales of love and heartbreak, the band took their sophomore effort to new heights, allowing listeners to feel through their own pain and find healing.
Coasts have always been one of my favorite bands to cover. Their live show was electrifying and fans who got the chance to see them perform in the US lucked out as dates were always limited. Every line, every note, always intentional and sung with such poignancy from frontman Chris Caines that it was impossible to look away. Their music has accompanied me whenever I needed a pick me up and they were often the soundtrack to exploring beautiful places. It’s actually quite impossible to visit the beach without thinking of their music, as cliché as that may sound. They’ve given us so much beauty in such a short amount of time and we will treasure everything we’ve been gifted as they start another chapter.
We’re not sure what triggered this decision, but all we can do is support them and hope for the best. With every ending comes a new beginning and we’re excited to see where music takes them next individually. Until then, let’s celebrate the magic they’ve given us.
“This life is golden when you’ve got something to prove.”
