SPANISH garage rockers The Parrots play Belfast next week, which will be music to the ears to anyone who has been enjoying the tuneful yet pleasingly scuzzy surf and psychedelia-tinged sound of the Madrid trio's debut album Los Ninos Sin Miedos ('the fearless kids') on the Heavenly label.
I was attracted to the band both by their song Jame Gumb, a stand-out moment moment from Los Ninos named for the 'sexually progressive' serial killer in The Silence of The Lambs, and their own uber-garage moniker – which somehow tells you exactly what kind of thrillingly trashy racket this beer and bong-addled combo will be peddling before you've even hit 'play'.
"When we came up with the name The Parrots, we were very impressed as well," admits singer/guitarist Diego Garcia, who formed the group with his friends Alex de Lucas (bass/vocals) and Larry Balboa (drums/vocals) while they were at university.
"We were like 'wow, this is not taken?!'"
In fact, it seems there was actually at least one other band called The Parrots, who were active in the Brighton post-punk scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Luckily, that lot have long since 'ceased to be'.
When we spoke, the Madrid band – who forged their own new 'scene' in their home city alongside friends/peers/collaborators Hinds and Los Nastys – were very excited about hitting the road for a long Euro-trek.
The current tour includes dates in many cities new to the trio, despite the fact they have toured extensively over the past couple of years.
"Most of the places on this tour we've never played before, like Prague, Budapest and Belfast," enthuses Diego, whose mix of Spanish and broken English hollering adds an excitingly chaotic and exotic edge to their music.
"We're really excited to come to Ireland because we know it will be really, really fun.
"We expect something a little similar to England, where every time we go back our shows are more and more crazy – but I think you guys will be even more fun to party with!"
Hopefully, the crowd at Voodoo on Thursday night will not disappoint Diego, who also has a personal connection to the city.
"I have a really good friend from Belfast who I haven't seen in ages," The Parrots man tells me.
"I lived with him in Edinburgh so it's cool that I'm now going to be seeing him at home – it's really wild!"
Having recently returned from their latest US tour which included seven shows at SXSW in Texas (where they signed with Heavenly last year – "we have to play there every year now because of that!" laughs Diego), The Parrots have come a long way since forming back in 2012, when nobody else in Madrid was playing noisy Black Lips-esque garage rock.
"We wanted to do something for the 21st century," explains the Parrots man. "The only garage rock was like these really old school 60s and 70s revival bands. We wanted to party, so we had to start the party ourselves."
However, Diego is the first to admit that it was a while before the The Parrots managed to soar above the sonic chaos of their initial intoxicants-fuelled incarnation.
"It took us a long time," he chuckles ruefully. "I can't even remember, it was like a complete hurricane. But now we're good – now, we can handle it."
Impressively, the band even managed to complete their studies as their music began to find traction.
"I finished uni," marvels Diego, who also records other bands when not touring or recording with The Parrots. "I don't even know how I did it, but one day, all of a sudden, I had a diploma.
"The good thing is, I don't think I'm ever gonna use it. I'm pretty much worthless with anything that isn't music. So I try to keep doing everything I can with music all the time."
Help a brother out, Belfast.
The Parrots, Thursday May 4, Voodoo, Belfast. Tickets £10 via Wegottickets.com
