Garage rock has never been more fun, messy or experimental.
Spanish indie rock band Hinds is continuing their “Leave Me Alone” tour, promoting its 12 track debut album which released January 8.
The all-female group played at Hi Ho Lounge in New Orleans on March 14.
As soon as the girls appeared on stage in T-shirts and gym shorts with beers in hand, they were immediately likeable. Their fun, carefree vibe translated to the audience, and the night was one big groovy mess.
From beginning to end, Hinds had no reservations. They let loose with direct screams into the microphone and dances on stage. They weren’t self-conscious, but instead easygoing and having a good time. The girls were a fun band to watch, you could tell that the band members were extremely close-knit.
The show was progressive and experimental. The music wasn’t as polished as it is on the record, but that’s not what a live show is about. Hinds’ performance had such a fundamentally raw foundation, which made it more real and gritty. Although Hinds is playing a world tour, it still has that underground garage rock band presence.
The girls remember where they came from; vocalist and guitarist Ana García Perrote told the audience that the band had been touring for two years. The night of the show happened to be drummer Amber Grimbergen’s 20th birthday, and Perrote was explaining how Grimbergen had first joined the band at 17 years old.
Hinds presents themselves as accessible and relatable to the audience, easily connecting with their listeners. They mentioned how excited they were to play in New Orleans for the first time after everyone had told them how much they would love the city. Perrote and Carlotta Cosials, who also does vocals and guitar, told funny stories of the group throughout the show that only made them more endearing.
The listener can feel Hinds’ youth through their music. The infectious guitar riffs are catchy and the heavy bass is never too much.
While their songs are in English, their the heavy Spanish accents when speaking are hard not to adore. They could have sang in Spanish all night.
My only complaints were that the hour-long set was too short, which is understandable for being a young new band. Also, the band had several sound problems throughout its performance, and it became somewhat excessive. They didn’t do a proper sound check when transitioning from their opener, so they causimg technical difficulties.
Hinds ended the night with an encore performance, during which Cosials hopped on an audience member’s shoulders and continued playing as she walked through the throng of people.
The local venue was crowded but not packed, and the lounge provided for the perfect intimate venue. The stage set up was similar to Baton Rouge’s The Spanish Moon.