A chill wind may have put spring on hold, but when The Cribs breezed into town on a Wednesday night they manage to raise the roof at the Tramshed. First up, though, are Liverpudlian five-piece Courting, the headliners’ PIAS Records labelmates. The Cribs reckon they’re “the best band in Britain at the moment” – a moot point, perhaps, but there can be no debate about their energy, and people turned up early to hear Courting’s brand of Buzzcocks-punky indie rock.
Having last played Cardiff in 2018, their Steve Albini-produced era, the three Jarman brothers who form The Cribs are making a long overdue return, touring their latest album, the more melodic Selling A Vibe. They open proceedings with a new track, Dark Luck, before pleasing more seasoned attendees with 00s faves: I’m A Realist, Hey Scenesters! and I’m Alright Me.
Last year’s lead single Summer Seizures and another fresh cut Never The Same follow, both getting a great reception. The pattern of the night is thus set, with Wakefield’s finest mixing fresh songs – Rose Mist, Brothers Won’t Break – with old favourites such as We Share The Same Skies and City Of Bugs from 2009 album Ignore The Ignorant.
It’s clear from the crowd’s demographic that the band have picked up a new generation of youthful fans – most of whom couldn’t have been born in 2004, when debut Cribs single Another Number was released. When bassist Gary Jarman suggests its catchy guitar riff could have been a big hit on the ringtone chart, had it come out a few years later, that’s a quip tailored more towards those of a certain age in the audience.
Generation gaps notwithstanding, The Cribs’ appeal is clear. It’s a potent cocktail – catchy hooks, powerful playing, sibling harmonies, and just putting it all out there. When the tempo drops, such as in Ryan Jarman’s Billy Bragg-like Looking For The Wrong Guy, their lack of vocal virtuosity is audible, yet this adds a vulnerability to their sound which allows their passion to shine through.
Almost inevitably, the night builds up to the hurricane that is Men’s Needs, which tears the roof off – although it was beer rather than rain that showers the lively moshpit – and rather than going through the motions of leaving the stage and returning for an encore, the band acknowledge the rapturous reception and close with Mirror Kissers and Be Safe. We leave with hearts warmed and ears ringing.
The Cribs + Courting, Tramshed, Cardiff, Wed 25 Mar
words KARL ELLIS & ALI ELLIS photos KARL ELLIS
