First the pandemic struck and, like all other bands, all momentum for HINDS came to a screeching halt. Then in 2022 their rhythm section, half the band, quit. From there, management and label both evaporated. But HINDS’ Ana Garcia Perrote and Carlotta Cosials persisted and in September released their fourth album Viva HINDS. Packed full of the garage rock bangers and indie rock earworms the band has long been known for, and guest appearances from Beck and Fontaines DC’s Grian Chatten, Viva HINDS was a big part of the set when HINDS hit the stage at 100-year-old Boyle Heights venue The Paramount.
Following an energetic indie rock opening set from San Diego’s The Happy Return, HINDS hit the stage to start with the first song on Viva HINDS, the Daniel Johnston inspired “Hi, How Are You”. But not before highlighting the latest trouble to befall the band, as Ana lit up an x-ray image of her broken foot, the result of an accidental pre-show tumble while walking in Mexico City a few nights before. Despite doctor’s recommendations to rest and relax the tour has gone on with the x-ray and a big cast-boot.
Perrote and Cosials traded hilarious banter and guitar riffs and sang their way through a mixture of songs from 2018’s “I Don’t Run” and 2020’s “The Prettiest Curse” highlighted by 2 songs from the latter, brash groover “Just Like Kids (Miau)” and the anthemic “Riding Solo”. During the more instrumental parts of the set the two singers thrashed around the stage (As much as one can with a broken foot) with the two other powerhouses in the band, bassist Paula Ruiz, and drummer María Lazaro who drove the show all night with energetic playing and a fun and interesting style all their own that seems to fit in perfectly in the HINDS sound.
Perrote got to sit down and give the recovering foot a rest for several songs throughout the night as the show went on including bi-lingual “Good Bad Times” with its singalong chorus that had the audience swaying and singing with the band. Dynamic “Superstar”, from the latest released followed, with their cover of The Clash classic “Spanish Bombs” after that. Spanish lyric’d “En Forma” cranked up the already high fun level of the show with its rollicking beat and huge chorus. The evening wrapped up with HINDS’ legendary cover of Thee Headcoats “Davey Crockett” with Cosials stage diving and crowd surfing.
For a band that had so much stacked against it, it’s great to see HINDS touring, and still putting on shows that feel more like the funnest party then a concert. And putting out an album like Viva HINDS is 100% heading in the right direction for the future. The band are off to more tour dates in the Midwest and east coast before a Spain and UK dates early next year.
Words and photos by Tim Aarons
FULL HINDS AT THE PARAMOUNT PHOTO GALLERY BELOW:
