The Crookes
Where: The Sugarmill, Stoke
When: Monday 25th April 2010
There’s no denying that Sheffield four-piece The Crookes has got the look down to a tee. In a nutshell they look like they’re on Heartbeat playing a gig in a barn or something and the story would go something along the lines of audience member falls over/barn collapses/someone gives birth. And now you’re interested.
After two fairly mediocre support bands, one was probably the cheesiest band you’ll ever come across singing songs about kinder eggs and even throwing in a cover of Poker Face. Wedding band is written all over their middle-aged faces.
Maybe that made The Crookes sound better, but their look is more than matched by their sound. Imagine Vampire Weekend playing on Heartbeat I guess, and you around about there. With an acoustic guitar. It’s authentic, plucked straight from the fifties and sixties and the sort of crooning voices everyone and The Drums are looking for.
With a sound as distinct as theirs, things can though mingle into one, songs begin to sound a little too similar the one before. Even a ukulele struggles to bring in a bit of variety but for some reason it’s almost acceptable, you don’t mind it. Set-closer Bloodshot Days is the highlight of the bunch, guitarist dancing included.
After the band before whose I conveniently neglected to bother to catch, DJ Otzi would have even been a welcome change. That said The Crookes didn’t really need a hand in winning over the handful of people that made up the crowd.
Words: Jack Philips
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