Spanish garage and indie rock pedallers Hinds have jumped straight out of the ‘60s to 2016, picking up a few tips from Julian Casablancas on the way. Their debut album Leave Me Alone was released a few months back and ranks high as a contender for break-out LP of the year. Mixing some of the catchiest, girl band pop-rock tunes with lyrics so surreal and absurd that they might have burst straight from a Salvador Dali painting, the Spanish quintet are currently doing the rounds throughout Europe bringing their music to a surprisingly dedicated grassroots fanbase.
Kicking off with some of their loudest, most raucous songs, Hinds quickly load every nook and cranny of The Academy with music as the crowd jumps and topples and stands on their tippy toes trying to get a taste ‘Trippy Gum’. We settle in with the awkwardly brilliant, mysteriously titled ‘Warts’ and sing along with lead singers Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perotte during the “Ba-da-ba-da-ba-ba-ba” outro.
The band seem surprised that so many people are singing along to their tunes. They even seem surprised, and somewhat overwhelmed, that so many people have packed out the venue. At times –and most especially during the five minute delay half way through the set because of technical difficulties – Hinds lose their hold over the crowd. They’re not quite the tightly-knitted captivating live showwomen that they’re reaching to be, but they’ve certainly got the musical talents to help them when they finally kick it up a notch.
Not giving an inch to mellowness, they churn out their most well-known hits one after another with pent-up energy that runs straight from the guitar strings to the dancing, head-shaking lead singers, then to those of us in crowd who are throwing our own moves and shakes. ‘Bamboo’ – their most well-known song – is perfectly executed, right down to Carlotta and Ana’s sparring verses. But ‘Castigadas en el granero’, the last song of the set, takes the mantle for song of the evening. Those beguiling guitar hooks make the chorus “And all I see is a big cow/And now I’m eating all your corn” seem like the most natural lyrics in the world. Fuck it, if we can sing “Are we human or are we dancer?” without thinking twice about what it means, why shouldn’t we be singing Hinds just as naturally?
After this, there’s a pregnant pause as the band go off stage and we begin chanting them back on. They’re all huddled at the side laughing, obviously with no intention of going anywhere. It’s a funny moment that is absolutely part of the playful appeal this band has assumed.
Hinds finish off the night with a few covers, including the captivating ‘Davey Crockett’, originally by Thee Headcoatees. The chant of “Gabba Gabba Hey” rings out as Hinds close their set with a bang. Carlotta keeps us hanging around by taking selfies with fans at the front, while Ana and the rest head back to sign and sell merchandise to all the Hinds-converts who queue up around the side of the venue, eager and satisfied. If Hinds are really this friendly at the end of every set, they may need to rethink the Leave Me Alone album title. Praise where praise is due - look out for Hinds in the future.