Best Coast @ Old Blue Last, London

“Like smooth icing on a broken biscuit” was how one punter described Best Coast’s highly sought-after gig at the Old Blue Last; an analogy that neatly captures their ‘60s-girl-band-cryogenically-frozen-and-thawed-out-in-a-feedback-drenched-future’ sound.

Although Best Coast share a passion for distorted guitars with shoegaze-revivalists The Big Pink, there is a crucial difference here: whether it’s singer Bethany Cosentino beaming a big yawn-y smile through ‘The Sun Was High (And So Was I)’, or rollicking surf number ‘When I’m With You’ sounding like a loved-up Breeders, this is happy music. The syrupy subject matter of songs like ‘Boyfriend’ (“I wish he was my boyfrie-ey-ey-ey-end”), show that if Best Coast are indeed a biscuit, it’s one that’s been lovingly baked in the California sunshine.

Although they rightly earned a reputation on the strength of a handful of lo-fi tracks floating around, as a live act Best Coast are absolutely captivating. The guitars are beefier and more visceral, whilst Consentino’s vocal shines ever more brightly, making her a hypnotic presence.

She charms the crowd with an easy-going manner and stream-of-consciousness stage patter that sounds like a lost Kim Deal monologue: “So we went shopping today…we bought Shangri-Las, and Black Sabbath records and went to Topshop…it pretty much gave me an anxiety attack being there…anyway thanks for coming you British pricks”.

With ‘The Sun Was High…’ a perfect anthem for sunny-day escapades, this summer is going to see Best Coast’s star reach its zenith.