The Cribs keep it real - and cool

The Cribs

Birmingham O2 Academy

There are some bands who never make it past the hugely hyped first song (Black Kids).

Then there are bands who exceed the hype, but go on to become so outrageously, stratospherically successful that it becomes perversely uncool to have them amongst your favourite bands (think Arctic Monkeys).

And then there are bands like The Cribs.

Quintessentially indie, arguably the only band to somehow successfully straddle the thin line between massively popular and fashionably unknown returned to Birmingham to perform in the new-and-improved Academy.

The evening started with support from Sky Larkin, another of Wichita Recordings' signings.

Sadly, despite a perfectly nice set of songs and singer Katie Harkin's valiant efforts, the band's same-old indie sound did little to warm the crowd up. Everyone smiled politely and clapped at the end of songs, but nobody was really in the true party spirit of a Cribs gig yet.

However, when darlings of the indie world Los Campesinos! stepped up it was a different story - suddenly the floor got crowded as their happy, bouncy sound got people moving.

Old releases 'Death to Los Campesinos' and 'You! Me! Dancing!' mixed well with their newer material. You can't help but love these kids – they have the magical ability to make everyone smile and sing along regardless of whether they're singing about parties and cake or about death, suicide and graffitied genitalia.

Then The Cribs take to the stage, and the crowd goes wild.

There is barely room to breathe as over 2,000 bodies try to get close to the Jarman brothers, alongside new recruit Johnny Marr, as they kick off with early favourite Wrong Way To Be.

What truly makes a Cribs gig stand out from others is their blatant passion for what they do - they electrify the crowd with a stampede through their discography, performing breakthrough single Hey Scenesters! with the same gusto other bands reserve only for their newest singles, and showcasing new material with the same love others reserve purely for their most successful hits.

With endless energy and lead Ryan's throaty shouts, the crowd get everything they want and more, with at least 200 getting trampled in excitement when the mass chanting of the first few bars of 'Men's Needs' is rewarded.

There is a definite difference now ex-Smiths man Marr has joined the fold. Not only is there no more-than-slightly-gross mouth bleeding, the sound is fuller somehow .

What once sounded like demo show now sounds polished and complete, while retaining the gravelly vocals which ground the sound in the band's signature rawness.

They finish on the undisputable high note of City of Bugs, and I think it's safe to say everyone left with the same sweaty, exhausted, excited feeling that only a truly excellent gig can induce.

By Charlotte Cross.