The Cribs blessed Manchester Academy with tracks from their seminal album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever on its tenth anniversary.
Released as part of the post-punk revival of the late 2000s, the critically acclaimed record has proved to be the band’s most successful.
The NME Award-nominated collection of songs propelled the Wakefield-born trio into a greater audience – and this tour allows fans to relive it as a thank you.
And relive it they did.
Support acts God Damn and Sløtface were the night’s warm-ups but the packed crowd were eager for the main event, and thus when Ross Jarman walked out, followed by his older twin brothers Gary and Ryan, the Manc mob erupted.
The set list was played exactly how you’d hear it on your favourite playlist or on your special edition vinyl CDs; opening with the lively Our Bovine Public and ending with the eloquent Shoot the Poets.
The bouncing horde immediately mobbed but it wasn’t long before they went through the gears.
Led by frontman and multi-instrumentalist Gary, the passionate atmosphere forcefully grew before the famous chords of the album’s highest-charted single Men’s Needs were struck.
Gary then admitted that the reaction made him feel ‘at home’, despite performing a near 50miles from the street where he lives.
I’m a Realist and Women’s Needs were well-received but the highlight for many was Be Safe.
The only song not to be solely written and recorded by the trio of siblings, the track features the musings of American musician Lee Ranaldo.
Played over the usual indie sounds of the group, Lee rails against the ills of the modern world. His lyrics still live on today, making the track truly timeless.
If you haven’t heard it before, then you really should do. Then imagine listening to it live alongside hundreds of impassioned enthusiasts who perfectly recalled every word.
After the album was finished, The Cribs entertained fans with a few unheard tracks that the crowd later learned were B-sides to Men’s Needs and Our Bovine Public.
The other five albums were then revisited before night-long crowd chants of Another Number were met with the 2004 hit.
The musicians finally bowed out with Pink Snow – the closing song of their newest album For All My Sisters.
The finale was perfection; as the seven-minute tune built, the crowd ensued. The three-piece couldn’t have chosen a more fitting ending to a sweaty, packed and passionate night.
In true rock ‘n’ roll fashion drummer Ross slammed his symbols onto the stage, the dark venue was then blessed with bright lights and the uncontainable glees of new friends were terribly hidden.
Suedes were forever ruined, band tops ripped and even a pair of glasses are somewhere broken in the remains of what was a manic pit.
Everyone left a little bit of themselves at the gig – and it was all worth it.
‘Til next time, thank you, Cribs.
