“This is the most new song of the world,” explains Deers’ endearingly goofy singer and guitarist Carlotta Cosials, introducing another winsomely scrappy lo-fi garage-rock jam in suitably scrappy English. “It’s not even finished,” she adds nonchalantly, of the still as-yet-untitled piece, “so we don’t do it all.” Half-written tunes, like language, boldly represent no barrier to this young four-piece from Madrid, and nor should they.
Amusingly dispensing with most standard gig formalities, this last date of Deers’ first proper UK tour had begun with the band arriving on stage considerably late, clutching armfuls of cables and effects pedals and cymbals all still requiring to be set up. It will end, after a trim half-hour, with a riotous cover of the Headcoatees’ Davey Crockett (Gabba Hey), and Cosials dancing daftly to Britney’s Baby One More Time as it’s piped over the PA, following a frank admission from the band that they have literally nothing left to play.
Formed two summers ago on a Spanish beach by Cosials and her singer/guitarist “very friend”, as she’s introduced, Ana Garcia Perrote, Deers began before either founder member had even properly learned their instrument (they might argue that they still haven’t). Their instinct for toe-tapping grooves and earworm hooks is a reminder that good songwriting is as much about nature as it is nurture, and that punk values still count for plenty. Even the wrong notes – and there are plenty, Cosials’ guitar anti-solo in the less-than-metronomic Trippy Gum for one example – somehow sound right, played with this much verve and attitude and full-beam smiles.
They’ve only released two singles to date but both are full of promise: Bamboo could be the Velvet Underground covering the Crystals, while Castigadas en el Granero (translation: “Punished in the barn”) is like the Black Lips’ tumbledown flower punk smeared in Max Factor. Another new number – also still untitled, albeit actually finished at least – is the best moment of the set, and encouragingly suggests the Spaniards are on a steep upwards curve. Lots more where that came from and Deers could be your very friends for life.
• 21 January. Box office: 020-7 272 8153. Venue: Boston Music Room.
