THE CRIBS live: Connection, authenticity and a hefty dose of nostalgic grit. REVIEWED

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Category: news
Updated: 08th May 2026
Written by Bryony Mezzatesta
THE CRIBS live: Connection, authenticity and a hefty dose of nostalgic grit. REVIEWED

“Alright, everyone, we’re The Cribs from Wakefield,” as they rolled straight into Dark Luck. Simple as that. No drama, no pomp and ceremony, just a warm and honest ‘welcome to the tour’. What followed was 90 minutes of proof that humility, a bit of DIY hard graft, and a two-way relationship with the audience is all that's needed, that, and the most sentimental jacket & jeans combo I've seen since 2006.

The Cribs have been quiet for some time, five years if we’re splitting hairs. Now, two months on from the release of their latest studio album ‘Selling a Vibe’- one with all the earmarks of a carefully considered masterpiece, no gimmicks or shock value, just process-led exploration- you get the sense with these boys that it's all about the music. Last night at Rock City, after a more than energetic warm-up from British rock band Courting, brothers Gary, Ryan, and Ross Jarman blended their gritty pop-rock aesthetics and honed lyrical skill into a rip-roaring Indie carnival.

The new stuff is a labour of love. They have chosen not to reimagine themselves, no glow up, no new image, with all effort concentrated on songwriting with depth instead. An honourable decision for a band seeking longevity and respect in an industry as fickle as this one. “I think as time has gone by, our albums have become more and more open - and as such, the songs on Selling A Vibe feel very personal. So it can be nerve-wracking releasing them because they matter so much to us. I know that may sound overly romantic or idealistic, but ultimately, it's the only thing that matters when all is said and done. Did we connect with people? We don’t want this to be seen as an “indie rock” record or a “punk” record or whatever - all those things that used to seem to matter to us - our only hope is that people enjoy and connect with the songs and lyrics for what they are. We want them to be for everyone, really. And as such, I suppose you could say that makes it our most ambitious album, as we have fully given ourselves over to that. In short, we sincerely hope you enjoy it." 

- Gary Jarman, Bassist.

A tough crowd, somewhat reluctant to let go, it took a word from Ryan to encourage the frivolities to begin. But once fans realised it was ‘that kind of gig’, a bunch of young’uns in the middle formed the makings of a mosh pit, the atmosphere in the room lightened and everyone kinda went ‘fuck it’. From here, it was a fast build. Bass player Gary, feeding off the audience, noticed a thirty-something fan in the front row holding out a hand... “That's not my driving licence, why are you giving me that? Oh, it’s your birthday today. I thought you were trying to prove your age or summat. I was thinking- bit weird! We’d sing to you, but right now we’ve got momentum to keep up. Good on ya tho.”

Moods lifted, and bolder numbers like Back to the Bolthole insisted the band let loose, too. Finally, with formalities dropped, freedom to lose oneself reigned. An encore ending with Be Safe led us out into the night with the simple parting words, “We were The Cribs from Wakefield, thanks.”

The band kick off the EU leg of their ‘Selling a Vibe’ tour in Paris, April 9, Badaboum, before heading to America at the end of the month.

Photo Credit Callum Crawford.