Cool Cribs can rock the cradle
30 May 2007
How do you tell when a band is about to make the leap from cult concern to the upper reaches of the charts? Well you could try the Singalong-ometer test. You can't get all the crowd to sing all the words of all your songs, but if you've got most of them bellowing most of your words faithfully back at you, chances are you've cracked it.
This trio of siblings from Yorkshire passed the test for at least two-thirds of the 20 odd numbers they packed into an hour last night, and although it's taken them three albums to reach this point, addictive new single Men's Needs looks set to further blow their cover.
They'd like you to think they don't care, of course. Three skinny-jeaned blokes in T-shirts walked on stage, fags in gobs, lagers in hands, announcing: "We're The Cribs, from Wakefield," as if playing to 30 people in their local pub. Guitarist Ryan Jarman's wiry indie noise lacked definition for a couple of songs, but then, with the help of a steaming, lager-flinging crowd, the pop hooks and chantalong choruses began to emerge.
The continuing shouty delivery of twins Ryan and Gary can lend them the air of a drunker, punkier Fratellis, but songs like We Can No Longer Cheat You and Moving Pictures also have a Green Day-esque dynamism.
Such skills belie their drunkenstumbling post-Libertines schtick and it suggests they could have whole fields full of fans singing most of their words at most festivals they play this summer.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (1)
The gig was excellent!! The Cribs are amazing!
- Emily, London, UK, 30/05/2007 16:41
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Afternoon:
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