The Cribs - Troxy 08/03/12

Following support sets from Martin Creed and Crocodiles earlier in the evening, the Cribs took to the stage at the Troxy, situated on an innocuous street in East London. Two days after the release of their 5th album even lead singer, Ryan Jarman, seems a bit surprised that they’ve managed to get this far. And who can blame him? The Cribs have become a firm fixture on the indie rock scene, their place cemented after Johnny Marr’s spell in the band.

But one album later, and with the Smith’s legend now departed, the 5th album has seen the boys from Wakefield return back to their roots in the form of loud guitar rock. Launching in with ‘Glitters Like Gold’ fans would have hardly been surprised if the Cribs had played through swathes of ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’. But the Jarmans know why people have come out tonight and play a career spanning set, packing in ‘I’m a Realist’ and ‘Hey Scenesters’ before they’ve even said hello.

‘Back To The Bolthole’ and ‘Don’t Believe In Me’ are a chance for the crowd to sample some of the new material, and the band’s energy means that even if ‘ITBOTBB’ wasn’t what you had hoped it to be, it’s still impossible not to enjoy yourself. In fact much of the new album sounds better live than it does on record, with the guitars louder and the raw energy of the songs more tangible. 

 

In fact, it’s The Cribs down to earth attitude which makes them such a likeable band. Ryan Jarman’s ripped jeans and self cut hair make him seen wonderfully genuine as he takes first album requests from the front, playing ‘Baby Don’t Sweat’. ‘Be Safe’ is one of the more powerful moments of the night, Lee Ranaldo projected behind the band to his spoken word verses while the crowd yell out the words to the chorus. The Cribs rip through ‘Men’s Needs’ before saying goodnight and finishing with ‘City of Bugs’. And just like that, the lights in the Troxy come back on. The band disappear without an encore and far from feeling disappointed, the crowd seem satisfied with a perfectly balanced set showing exactly why The Cribs became so popular in the first place. 

Words: Jessy Parker
Photos: Braden Fletcher

The Cribs - In The Belly of the Brazen Bull

Cribs bassist/singer/brother/lover Gary Jarman revealed the reason why we have all been awaiting a new record from The Cribs for so long, ‘We have been waiting for the corporate indie ship to sink’ cries the joint frontman. And with that not looking likely any time soon, The Cribs are coming out swinging.

On their past 3 records, The Cribs have started off with a raucous number (‘We Were Aborted’ ‘Our Bovine Public’ and ‘Hey Scenesters’) Glitters Like Gold however takes you back into the early days of The Cribs with their blasé yet confident approach.

Come on, Be a No-One is the first official single off the album and immediately lets you know that the Jarmans are not messing around, with riffs that sound like they came straight from the grunge scene back in the early 90’s. One of the heaviest songs The Cribs have released to date, Come on, Be a No-One sets the tone wonderfully as the screeching guitars fade out and segue into Jaded Youth impeccably.

Another song we should have all heard by now – Chi Town, and as great as the song is, Chi Town feels out of place on this record as the rest of 'In the Belly of the Brazen Bull' flows together so well. You can’t help but feel this song would be better off as a b-side. The incredibly adorable Noisey kids described Chi Town better than most critics ever could: ‘Elephants like this because they can stomp, it’s quite stompy music.’

Back to the Bolthole is far different to anything The Cribs have done before, the slow build up to the sing-a-long chorus accompanying Ross’s military like drum beat let you know that this is a very special song indeed.

Most Cribs records have an acoustic number; ‘Haunted’ and ‘Shoot the Poets’ to name a couple, I Should Have Helped is ITBOTBBs acoustic number, slowing things down before Stalagmites brings the military-esque drum beats back with full effect.

The last 4 songs on ITBOTBB all merge together to create 11 minutes of brilliance. Self produced by the band at Abbey Road, The Cribs show that although they have roped in legendary producers such as Dave Fridmann and Steve Albini for this record, they can capture the band’s sound and progression just as well as the best of producers.

In The Belly of the Brazen Bull is by far the darkest and heaviest Cribs record to date, but also the most important. The Cribs have come to reclaim indie rock.


8.5


Aaron Lewins