Show: 4/5

My interview with lead vocalist & guitarist Ryan Jarman & pics with the band will be posted this week.

In the meantime here’s a review.

I’ve been following The Cribs since ‘05 New Fellas CD (great classic Cribs guitar rock except last 2 songs or so). Saw them in UK in ‘07 (this is what I talk to Ryan about at the beginning of the interview -coming soon) and they were cray-z. Lying on the ground, while spinning around on their hips; extended crowd surfing — both of these were really missing at the TO show save a couple of short lean in to the crowd by Ryan) and just no mercy for their guits. If I remember correctly, one of them even broke a string.

This time at Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, while still full-on energy, improved vocals, and of course the addition of the talented o so cool-lean-back-old-style-mancunian Johnny Marr (a bit more guitar never hurt anyone ), I didn’t *quite get my ‘craziness’ fill.

But for $20 and the opportunity to see a legend (the Smiths’ guitarist Marr) and, to hear played live a whole new CD’s worth of music (their best one yet), it was well worth the admission price. They played tracks from all albums with emphasis on the most recent.

Phoenix was full (sold out?) but there was breathing room at the back which still offered a great view. The lack of Encore was quiky (and missed) and people hanging around afterwards had differing opinions on which parts of the show held up best.

FYI Here’s another good review

http://www.chromewaves.net/2010/01/the-cribs-at-the-phoenix-in-toronto/