ARTIST: The Cribs

VENUE: Sheffield University Foundry

DATE: October 6 2007

REVIEW BY: Tom Bailey

YOU can almost guarantee that a Saturday night at the start of a new university year is always going to equal a decent night out. Add to the equation Wakefield’s favourite sons The Cribs and you’re left with nothing short of amazing.

Kicking things off were Wakefield’s not so famous sons Pavilion. Although the quartet produced a perfectly fine half-hour set, their blend of mild mannered melodies failed to make much of a lasting impact on a rather passive crowd.

They were soon followed by the much more extravagant Bobby Conn. Although entertaining, with frontman Bobby coming across like chart topper Mika’s older brother, the band’s mix of all things funk, jazz and experimental did little to wet the appetite of the sold out Foundry.

You’d think that after being knocked unconscious as a result of diving into the crowd at their previous gig in Birmingham, frontman/guitarist Ryan Jarman and the rest of The Cribs would want to take it easy tonight.

However, true to form, that was the last thing on their minds. Playing a raw and energetic set, the three brothers tore through material from latest effort Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever, as well as dishing out a generous helping of old favourites.

Even mid-set technical difficulties involving bassist Gary’s microphone failed to deter the trio, who continued to churn out the classics in between the numerous Yorkshire chants from a now rabid crowd with oldies such as You’re Gonna Lose Us, Martell and Mirror Kisses receiving the biggest cheers.

By no means the tightest band I’ve ever seen but when both the crowd and the band are having so much fun it’s something that I’m more than happy to let slide.

Ending the set with Ancient History, the night once again proved to be one to remember for Ryan, after stage-diving and then not being recognised by bouncers and consequently not being let back on stage until the intervention of the band’s crew.

Simple but yet unforgettable, they may not yet be up scaling the same heights of mega stardom as fellow Yorkshire acts Arctic Monkeys and the Kaiser Chiefs, but they sure know how to create a riot of their own.