More than a decade on from their career defining album, ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs’, The Cribs remain steadfast in their ability to avoid being pigeonholed into any one scene.
This is a band that could have so easily been lost in the glut of noughties landfill indie bands that came and went – Cooper Temple Clause anyone? So what’s different about this band of brothers? Tonight, everyone at the Queen’s Hall got a very loud and clear reminder why.
But before all that lets talk about the two support acts.
Glasgow based PAWs are no strangers to supporting the Cribs, having toured the US together last year. Their short set was well received by the early arrivals and it was a shame more didn’t get to experience their explosive punky songwriting and emotionally charged lyrics.
Next up were Dublin-based Fang Club. Without a doubt, lead singer Steven King’s jumper was channeling the spirit of Kurt Cobain into their instantly accessible Grunge infused anthems. It’s the sort of direct, powerful, alt-rock, written with no frills and played with a passion and the kind of energy that can only come from a trio – and that jumper.
So back to my earlier question – what sets the Jarvis brothers apart? It’s hard to put a finger on it but it’s possibly that they appear to perform on the edge of descending into chaos. The band attack every song with the same sense of urgency and there’s barely any let up in pace apart for the ‘folk’ interlude of ‘Shoot the Poets’.
Twins, Gary and Ryan Jarman swap singing duties throughout a set which made you stand back and appreciate just how many hits they’ve written over their 15 year career. With such a great mix of classics and tracks from last year’s ’24-7 Rock Star Shit’, it was a real crowd pleaser. Unlike the band, the crowd didn’t hang back and the crowd surfing and mosh pit didn’t let up all night. When the 15 foot high projection of Sonic Youth guitar god, Lee Ranaldo, appeared on the stage backdrop to signal the start of ‘Be Safe’, everything seemed to go up another notch in intensity before they finally powered into classics ‘Hey Scenesters’ and ‘Mens Needs’. Finishing off with ‘Broken Arrow’ from the new album, it was over! No encore. No need. No complaints.