The Cribs never disappoint.
It doesn’t matter where they play, what setlist they do, or even what the occasion is, the Jarmans never seem to have an off-day on stage. On this occasion, they arrived in Manchester for the latest leg of their tour commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the release of their third studio album ‘Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever’.
Greeted by a sold out Academy crowd of around 2,600 all buzzing with anticipation, the Yorkshire rockers didn’t mess about, breaking straight into ‘Our Bovine Public’, the Side 1/Track 1 of the album people had come out to celebrate. ‘Girls Like Mystery’ and the famous ‘Men’s Needs’ followed as they proceeded to go through the album track by track in full. ‘Manchester this has always felt like a hometown gig for us, which is strange because we’re actually from up in Wakefield’ was Ryan’s proclamation, something which is difficult to disagree with, such was the atmosphere being generated from the crowd. Every lyric, even every riff, to every song, was sung back at the band by their adoring following. Widely acknowledged as one of the biggest ‘cult’ bands in the UK, their position as such can only be seen to have been strengthened by this show.
Highlight of the ‘Men’s Needs’ part of the show was ‘Be Safe’, with many ascending on to shoulders and the singing of the chorus ‘I know a place we can go where you’ll fall in love so hard that you’ll wish you were dead’ was sung with equal gusto from band and crowd alike.
The set did not conclude following the acoustic ‘Shoot The Poets’; rather a mix of b-sides and classics from across the years got an airing – some for the first time since 2008 (‘Kind Words From The Broken Hearted’), some classic fan favourites (‘Mirror Kissers’), and one the personal favourite of yours’ truly (‘Don’t You Wanna Be Relevant?’). All in all it was an outstanding gig, a fantastic way to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the release of ‘Men’s Needs..’ and, though the gig eventually reached its conclusion with the band finishing on ‘Pink Snow’, it certainly doesn’t seem like the end. ‘We’ll be doing this till one of us dies’, Ryan announced at the gig’s end. Somehow you can’t disbelieve him, and live music will absolutely be better for The Cribs sticking around for as long as possible – don’t miss them the next time they’re around!
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