12 February 2015 (gig)
14 February 2015
With The Cribs back and a new album on the way, there was cause for celebration at the sold out Electric Ballroom. They attract the sort of fans who follow them to every gig in a tour and remember seeing them play a broom cupboard in Wakefield back in the day. Tonight's set list was a nod to that hardcore fan base with a look to the future. New tracks weaved well into their extensive back-catalogue with everything from "Hey Scenesters" to "Cheat on Me". Singles "Burn for No One" and "An Ivory Hand" feel like a mainstay for years to come with the crowd singing along like they were old favourites.
The one thing you can always say about The Cribs is that they are very good at being The Cribs, which is a great thing. On album number 6 and 10+ years of touring you'd think there'd be a bit more polish and sheen to their live show, but there isn't. That's not a criticism, that's a compliment to a band who have stayed true to their roots. Juggling tempos and squealing feedback feature as well as both Jarman brothers on the mic stretching to hit the highest notes. It doesn't get more real and honest than The Cribs live.
They were the band that survived the skinny jeans and stabby guitar chords of the indie scene in the early 2000s and you can see why. They've got depth, they have fans who love them and they put on one hell of a show. There'll be bands over the next 10 years who will cite them as an inspiration and I'm sure The Cribs will still be writing albums and showing them how it's done on stage.
A vintage performance from a band set to hit another high if the new material played tonight is anything to judge them by.
