Hinds - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 22.02.2025
Hinds haven’t played in Yorkshire for 9 years so there was no way I missing them play the Brudenell last night.
This is a band who have had a tough time of it in recent years, both the bassist and drummer left, I’m sure at times they thought about calling it a day. Given earlier in their careers they also had a dispute about their name they’ve not had the easiest of times.
Before I talk about Hinds a little on the support act, Clutter, who were a totally new band to me, hailing from Sweden the three piece showed their versatility with the bassist and guitarist constantly swapping instruments and lead vocal duties, They did have some difficulty at the start of their set with sounds issues on their vocals for one of them.
It is hard to know who was the lead singer, who was the bassist and who was the guitarist (only the drummer was a constant!) but the person on lead vocals and guitars for the first song had no sound on their mic.
Being a clearly professional outfit they carried on and hoped the sound engineer would sort it, which given I could see him beside me he clearly had no idea how to do (watching him throw his hands up in the air in exasperation clearly didn’t fill me, or anyone else nearby, with confidence). The same mic would cause a brief issue for Hinds later. Personally I thought the stronger vocalist was the other singer but it was a shame it didn’t all go to plan to begin with.
I thought they were very good, indie rock with a some great guitar work and, as I said above, I thought the darker haired one of them was a very strong vocalist. The songs were good and, if they work on their stage presence, which was a little bit static, I think they have real potential. I plan to listen to them and see how good they are.
They played a relatively short but intense set, winning the crowd, which was mostly full by this stage, over with the quality of their songs and singing. I think they are worth keeping an eye out for.
There was a slightly longer than expected delay before Hinds came on, I got the impression there were some set up issues.
Hinds finally wandered onto stage about 9.15, they looked almost unsure, as they came on and I did wonder if everything that happened to them might have impacted their confidence?
I could not have been less accurate, there was one word to describe this gig, joy!
I have not smiled and laughed at a gig so much in a long time (they are naturally very funny) while also seeing a band at the peak of their current power although I think there are more heights to be reached.
Opening with a song from their 2024 album, 'Viva Hinds', 'Hi How Are You', this was a set based strongly on material from the new album while giving a nod to what had gone before.
The thing I couldn’t get past was the infectious nature of their positivity, this wasn’t false positivity, it was genuine belief that life is going to get better, and based on this performance, I think it’s just a matter of time until it does.
The new album is excellent and this was a virtuoso performance by a very tight band. I’m not sure how often one band member has gotten onto the shoulders of another and then the bassist has got in front of them and then all three have played their instruments like human centipede with guitars and base. It summed the night up.
The banter with the crowd, the story telling, the just sheer happiness exuding from the stage, means this was a gig that will live long in the memory. I won’t tell you why but the tour t-shirt quotes one of the bands grandfathers and it’s very apt quote. For Hinds it’s very much a case of onwards and very definitely upwards, more people need to see this band, to listen to them, to hear these amazing songs and to realise this is what music is all about. It’s a weird and tough world just now but if this band can pull through all they’ve dealt with and be this brilliant then I think there is hope for us all.
I loved the storytelling, even to the point, when one of the band, I won’t say who in case she does again at future gigs (which I suspect she won’t, this couldn’t have felt a less scripted show if they had tried) that she was going to be quite and stop talking, the whole crowd and her bandmates voiced their disapproval.
There was outbreaks of dancing, of jumping, of proper sing along moments, I honestly can’t tell you how good this was, so much so that I found myself buying a t-shirt at the end, which I hadn’t planned to do.
When you feel confident enough to have your support act, you tour manager and what seemed like a cast of thousands join you on stage for 'Davey Crockett' you know this is a band that know they are good but I don’t think even they appreciate how good they are, I walked out with a smile on my face and played the new album on repeat for the hours drive home.
Gig of the year? No contest, Hinds just raised the bar, I hope everyone else can come join them, if you can get this much joy from gig then we’re all going to be okay somehow.
I know I should tell you about all of the songs they played, the interaction with the bassist who took on some vocal duties, the sheer quality of the musicianship, the malfunction with the mic again, the drummer seeing to not be able to hear what he was doing at one point but none of that matters, if you get a chance go to see Hinds, this was their sixth show in a row and they were heding off after to DJ, is there anything this band can’t do? I was a fan before, now I think I’m a little bit infatuated.
Hinds are on a roll, get on board now!
Clutter
Review - Iain McClay
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