It was certainly long overdue. After almost ten years in the game, in which time they've built up a solid discography boasting no less than five first-rate albums, finally someone invited The Cribs over to Athens for their first ever Greek show. Unfortunately, a combination of lack of airplay and inadequate media coverage led to a sparsely attended gig, a missed opportunity for local music fans to enjoy in action one of the most consistent bands of Brit rock in recent years.
Thankfully for those of us in attendance, the band didn't hold back at all. The Cribs took to the stage after a brief set by local, grunge-influenced, indie rockers Keyser Soze and did their best to raise the temperature of the rather cold room. Ryan Jarman chatted with the fans, took requests and granted the wish for them to play "Bastards of Young", the band’s cover of The Replacements’ classic which wasn't on the planned set list, and towards the end of the show he ended up playing his guitar among the small but appreciative crowd.
The well-balanced 70-minute set included several tracks from the band’s latest album "In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull", without ignoring their strong back catalog. All five albums were represented in the set with the best moments coming from "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever" and "The New Fellas", my two favorite Cribs albums.
The absolute highlight of the show came when the band played in succession "Be Safe", their Lee Ranaldo collaboration with Lee delivering his spoken word part through video, and their two best singles, "Hey Scenesters!" and "Men's Needs". Other highlights included "Mirror Kissers", "I’m a Realist", recent single "Glitters Like Gold" and set-closer "City Of Bugs" where the band ceremoniously trashed the staged and waved goodbye. A fine performance by a truly great live band that deserved a bigger audience.
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| Keyzer Soze |
The Cribs - I'm a Realist, live @ Kyttaro (Athens, Nov. 15, 2012)
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