Scenestar

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ALMA GALVAN

Wakefield, West Yorkshire-based The Cribs played their very first show together in 1989, and the audience consisted of only family members. The three-piece band itself also is a family affair: Ryan and Gary Jarman are twins, and Ross is their little brother. When the band got a record deal in 2003, they crossed the pond to the U.S. for the very first time. Though they’re constantly touring, I was very excited that I would get to see them for my very first time.

As I was getting ready to see The Cribs, I was listening to their latest album—Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever—which was produced by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand. There was a specific song that I had on repeat, “I’m a Realist”: “I’m a realist, I’m a romantic, I am an indecisive piece of shit.” I knew I was in for a night of rock ‘n’ roll.

There were two opening bands, Sean Na Na and The Hugs. The Hugs was the first band that played, and I wondered what they were doing at a 21-and-over venue. They didn’t look a day over 17! That is also when I first noticed all three Jarman brothers going to the bar, grabbing a drink and checking out the opening bands. They seemed to really enjoy both Sean Na Na and The Hugs, both of whom had to set up their own equipment. But when it was time for The Cribs to set up, they had people doing that for them. I wondered how it must feel for the band now. The days of having small shows in their hometown of Wakefield were definitely long gone.

As soon as The Cribs hit the stage, the music started. They opened with “Our Bovine Public,” which also is the opening track on their new album. The crowd started bopping their heads (arms crossed, tapping their feet and all). So I was not surprised that right after, they played “Hey Scenesters!” This song, which seemed to be the one everyone was hoping to hear, was named as one of NME’s Top 50 greatest indie anthems of all time.

Throughout the show, the band never lost momentum. They played everything from “Girls Like Mystery,” “Men’s Needs,” “Things You Should Be Knowing” and, of course, my personal favorite, “I’m A Realist.” They maintained the high energy for the whole show, which is quite impressive considering their intense touring schedule. But I really wished the band interacted with the crowd more. I’ve read a couple of interviews with The Cribs and found them to be really funny and down to earth. I was waiting (and hoping) they would entertain us with their witty comments. However, I definitely got the feeling that they are happy with letting their lyrics do the talking for them, and in the end, I didn’t mind. Neither did the crowd, who waited until 11pm on a Monday night for the band to take the stage.

In the end, I really enjoyed the show. Every song rolled out and ended so quickly—as they do on their albums. I felt very satisfied and felt like telling everyone I knew about them. I don’t think they are as well known as they should be. In a way, they reminded me of The Libertines; the energy, the passion and the alcohol on stage. Long live The Cribs!