Raw & Joyous: Hinds, Live in London

It remains an incredibly memorable gig for me; only a few songs in and the audience had stormed the stage, having been welcomed on by the band with open arms. Two years on and the four-piece from Madrid have continued to build a fiercely loyal fanbase with their infectiously energetic garage pop. Arriving at the sold-out Sebright Arms show, the excitement in the room was palpable. With this being their exclusive UK performance, part a rare string of intimate shows celebrating the announcement of their greatly anticipated second album, it was easy to tell both the band and audience were ready to party.

Hinds are no strangers to the Sebright Arms, having performed their fourth ever show here (and London debut) back in the summer of 2014. As they walked onto the stage to Hot Chocolate’s "Sexy Thing", welcomed by an already incredibly energised room of fans, it felt like we were bearing witness to something of a homecoming. Opening with "Garden", Ana Perrote’s idiosyncratic, almost dissonant guitar riffs set the tone for the bands distinctive, rough and ready sound. Throughout the set the sonically scrappy style of the music was met perfectly with well crafted vocal blends and perfectly-timed tempo changes, allowing the four piece to push and pull the audience with them around their highly original timbral palette. Carlotta Consial’s vocal throughout was particular versatile and impressive, most notably in their latest single "New For You", in which she is equally captivating in moments of fiery energy and restraint.

Most importantly, throughout the set it was clear that the bond between the four (and indeed their fans) remains unbreakable as they gear towards their second album. It’s a rare thing to witness a show in which every element brims with such a raw and joyous authenticity. It would have been hard to leave the East London pub that evening without a smile on your face and a slightly warm fuzzy feeling inside.