The Cribs

Sweat, beer-stained floors and moshing are the three main ingredients for a traditional rock gig; and this is exactly what was delivered at The Liquid Room on 1 March.

During the seemingly infinite wait before The Cribs appear, the sold-out crowd are clearly excited. Finally to a great roar of cheers the band emerges, with singer Ryan Jarman dressed in a garish yellow PVC military jacket, ensuring his place at the centre of attention.

New single 'Chi-town' ensures that immediately the whole floor is jumping and screaming along to the song, which is no more than three weeks old (a testament to the band’s popularity). With no introduction the band then jump right into 'Cheat on Me' from their highly commended album Ignore the Ignorant. The crowd surge forward as brothers Ryan and Gary Jarman scream their lyrics with every ounce of passion and energy they have, and yet the hyped-up crowd are still close to overpowering the band. Every song gets the same incredible reception as they storm through a set riddled with pieces from their upcoming album In The Belly of the Brazen Bull. When the crowd hears these songs, it’s like the Wakefield boys never left.

The set is perfectly balanced with old and new as Ryan asks the crowd if they prefer “old school Cribs” or “new school Cribs”. After recognising that “everybody loves old school Cribs”, they bash out fan-favourites 'Be Safe', 'Men’s Needs' and 'Our Bovine Public'. The night ends on a climactic high with the integrity of rock music still intact as The Cribs do what comes naturally to them. This passion reflects in the crowd and gives me the feeling I have just been to a proper rock gig.

If people say that rock music is dying, they should go see The Cribs — and remember that it’s very much alive.