LIVE: Hinds – Koko, Camden 18.02.16

Hinds‘ guitarist & vocalist Carlotta Cosials stepped in to KOKO’s spotlight on Thursday night, and with a simple “Hola…” she captured the attention of a crowd who were ready to go “Freakin’ mad”. For Carlotta, Ana, Ade & Amber, playing at KOKO was a big deal; it was the Spanish band’s ninth London show, and the first time they’d played to a sold out crowd in the city.

The group were charismatic and cool to the point of pain; something they casually proved by strutting on stage to the sound of Hot Chocolate’s ‘You Sexy Thing’, before launching in to effortless renditions of ‘Warning With The Curling’, ‘Trippy Gum’ and ‘Fat Calmed Kiddos’. Mid-way through the set, Carlotta stopped to tell a story of the first time she came to KOKO, aged 15/16. She was living in London, when a guy she liked asked her to come to the club with his friends. She took a risk, lied about her age and agreed to go with him; only to be turned away at the door for lack of ID. A few years later, thanks to the success of Hinds, her feet were not just through the door; they were on the stage dancing away with her band mates (whose smiles were so warm they rivalled the heat of the sun).

The four piece serenaded the crowd with singles ‘Chili Town’, ‘Bamboo’ and ‘San Diego’, but the party truly started when the opening chords to ‘Garden’ and ‘Castigadas en el Granero’ were played. Ponytails and denim jackets bounced and blurred in the mosh, attracting and repelling like mad little magnets. The encore consisted of ‘Solar Gap’ and single ‘Davey Crockett’, during which the band invited their friends from Madrid and their support acts – Public Access TV and Only Real – to join them on stage. Before the show, drummer Amber Grimbergen could be seen in the wings, dancing for the entirety of both support act’s sets, and this final scene of comradery between musicians and fans would’ve made the hardest of hearts pop like a piece of corn.

After a well deserved and deafening wave of post-encore applause, guitarist & vocalist Ana Perroteran ran back on stage, beer in hand, to remind fans of the most important part of the night: “THE AFTER PARTY!” Unfortunately, the name of the venue for the shin-dig was lost on many; the screams of excitement and approval were super freakin’ loud, proving the London leg of Hinds’ Leave Me Alone tour had hit the desired spot.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington

Kate Crudgington

Assistant Editor for Gigslutz (2015-2017) Now Co-Founder, Co-Host & Features Editor for @getinherears