The Cribs
Warrington Head Music Store Live Session & Signing
24.03.2015
It's not often there's too much for Warringtonians to get excited about so early on in the year, sure they get the odd 90's or 80's revival band, but the youth of this town crave for something more current that they believe in,nostalgia doesn't appeal.
So when I heard 'Head Music Store' were getting "The Cribs" in, I was more than a little excited, their new album 'For All My Sisters' which was out on Monday of this week,we are reliably informed by none other than 'Ryan Jarman' himself that the album is currently no4 in the chart as he prepares for the exclusive set, exciting news indeed.
'The Cribs' are a 3 piece from originally 'Wakefield' in 'Yorkshire' but are a 'London' based band,the first time I seen the band play live was '2007' 'Winter Wonderland' XFM show,my photo session of the band marred by dry ice overload, and boy was their fans crazy,they were at the height of their fame ,and rose through the ranks with 'Ting Tings', 'Wombats' 'The Courteeners' and London's own 'Fear Of Flying' (now known as 'White Lies') The new breed of UK indie/Rock bands.
Today the band are here in 'Warrington's Head Music Store' to play few new songs to promote the new album and to play some favs.
As they take to the lowered stage in front of record racks,'Ryan Jarman' is dressed in cool Red White and Black and Blue jeans with his trademark 'Converse' trainers.
They begin with 'An Ivory Hand' and play 2 more tracks from the album,before asking the unusually quiet crowd "Has anyone got any requests?" a girl near the front yells out 'Mans Needs' and he says no that's on the setlist already, so I shout 'Hey Scenesters' before yelling in a eureka moment 'Cheat On Me' when 'Gary' and 'Ryan' deliberate over whether to play it "Yeah lets do that then 'Cheat On Me' ,Ok",I punch the air in celebration.
Not many of the crowd are too loud today more studious and quietly excited, I made up for the silence by cheering its got to be done hasn't it?, I'm literally on stage with the band under the mic stand with only a retail belt barrier separating us from them, its one of the most intimate shows I've seen in a long time it's a Buzz!! .
At the end of the song 'Gary Jarman' says "Well that song is really hard to play live!" I think he meant vocally demanding but I thought they did an ace job of it ,and the crowd woke up a bit more ,then it was onto the fans fav song who requested 'Mens Needs' a fav of mine also,the crowd really got into it Success!!
After The performance we all lined up and waited to get our CDs and LPs Signed, one guy had come down from 'London' to be here today 'Dedication' he told me ''The Cribs were the only band he goes to see playing Live ,no one else comes close".
When I got to meet the band the drummer instantly said "You were the one who asked for 'Cheat On Me' weren't you?" I said "Yeah I love that song" I told them "I went to see you in Winter Wonderland 2007 and you were really great but the crowd there were Mental !! They said "We remember that show it was yeah " and they signed my CD and I had a pic taken with them, then that was it, I left the store feeling pretty cool.
Well Done to 'Head Music' for putting on this event for the people of 'Warrington' a great turn out a great evening out , long may they continue to shine !!
LMi x
Muse Psycho Tour Manchester Academy 22.03.2015
Exclusive Gig
They're Back the U.K.'s Biggest most exciting rock band 'Muse', you were really lucky if you snapped up tickets to this mini tour, the band only announced them 10 days before !! the Presale came from Nowhere and Sold Out in minutes six dates around the U.K. & Scotland.
Shortly after unveiling 1 new song 'Psycho' from their upcoming album 'Drones' it was indeed a total shock for all 'Musers!!'
So Today is the day then, fans are lined up hundreds down the street by doors opening #MuseArmy ,one fan who came from overseas just to see the show was dressed as 'Matt Bellamy' from 'The 2nd Law Tour' with custom made Black & White stripe detail jacket and those Bright Red trousers,fans wanted their pics taken with him ,which was quite amusing. many fans had queued overnight from 7pm previous day to get a good place as the venue is 2000 capacity, I was lucky to get a plus 1 invite with a fellow Muser! Thanks 'Stacey' :O) so I could bring you this blog now!!
Support tonight is from 'The Marmozets' a band with a female singer with such diverse vocal range now becoming popular with teens and rock fans around the country they recently sold out 'The Roundhouse' earlier this year, 'Becca Mckintyre' is fast becoming a frontwoman to emulate, they play 2 songs I know of 'Why Do You Hate Me?' and ended their energetic setlist with 'Born Young & Free' she dresses casual so its about the energy and vibe and the vitriolic performance they gave tonight made them a good choice for an opening act for the MIGHTY 'Muse' !!
The Place is full up and already coloured balloons bounce around the crowd,nothing to do with the band oh No!! this was 'Musers' entertaining themselves by blowing up coloured balloons and getting in the mood for what promises to be an Epic show.
9pm the band come on stage, 'Dom' with his newly dyed Black hair took to the drumkit and 'Chris arrived with bass guitar,Then 'Matt' arrived dressed in Black Trousers and Black jacket with Red Stripes down the sleeve with just 1 one of his famous guitars , 'Chris' mirrored the look in a La 'Franz Ferdinand' fashion in matching jacket looking more preened than he's used to lol.
Kicking off the show with 'Psycho' that riff is familiar to most Muse fans as 'Matt' used to use it in a live jamming session when he felt the need to smash up his kit onstage it was kind of the prelude to destruction,now finally moulded into this riff-worthy track from the album 'Drones',it is also a rock track with the most tongue in cheek offensive lyrics in a long time "Your Ass belongs to me now, I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you I gonna make you a Fxxking Psycho" !! No danger of this being played on daytime radio the fans know all the words already, it was only released just over a week ago as a sneak peek.
I'm totally into the moment of it immersed in the whole gig already,for me tonight is like stepping back in a tardis to 'Origin Of Symmetry Tour 2001' Black & Red was the theme then too those were the days the crazy days the next surprise of the night 'Matt' introduces the next song "This is one of my favourites" and he rips into 'The Groove' a B side from 'TIRO' I'm in awe now it's not often they ever play this song in fact I cant remember when they did I think it was Earls Court London in December 2004 I was there too!! and theres plenty more surprises to come as they veer off into 'Fury' another 'Absolution Single' B side and fan fav as again don't play it Live often.
Onto more nostalgia now with the chords of .. 'Bliss' oh boy now we are at a 'Muse' gig as the crowd go berserk and the HUGE Black and White Balloons are out already as they descend over peoples heads and 'Matt' aims at one onstage with the neck of his guitar wrestling it off into the crowd, and then 'Time Is Running Out', 'Hysteria' a superb 'Stockholm Syndrome' Blimey that Wall Of Sound taking shape in 'The Academy' tonight ,another fav not heard live for ages was the return of 'Hypermusic' god I love that song #MuseGold !!,and next in the treat bag a superb version of 'Supermassive Black Hole' with an intro of 'Status Quo's 'Burning Bridges' and the Man UTD Theme 'Come On You Reds" owing to the fact the team won a match in Liverpool today 'Bellamy' did an awesome job of it and stoked the crowd even further!!
So That meant take it up a bit with 'Uprising' ,'Matt' made a comment about how good the moshpit was tonight which was cool,the crowd where completely overjoyed what a setlist already , on the encore it was new song 'The Reapers' a bombastic sounding tribute to AC/DC with 'Matt's awesome shrieks not heard like this since 'Microcuts' ,I truly think this new album was the follow up to 'Origin of Symmertry' that never was, the fans love what they hear already !!!
I don't want this show to ever end and 'Matt' speaks again to say "We played here on a tour we called 'The Plug In Baby Tour in 2001" at which point I'm yelling like a banshee 'I was There !!!I was There!!' the crowd side glancing at me like I'm nuts and at same time looking happy for me, the trouble is Muse basicall own me , and once that button is pressed its hard not turn into a 'Super Drone' basically I've been a 'Super Drone' for years time hasn't changed me at all .
So 'Plug In Baby' and then 'Knights Of Cydonia', are the last songs of the night, reflecting on the 'Stage Production' lighting is kept simple tonight but that does not stop the Epic performance in any way in fact this is the real 'Muse' Raw and with just a hint of strobing laser lights on back drop its just as awesome as their stadium shows in fact as I've been telling people its even better without the stage props and robots its Stratospheric!!
As they close the show 'Dom' decides a crowd selfie is in order and 'Matt' also has one done ,the band enjoyed the show as much as us ,and that was it they waved and clapped and took their exit again and the reality bit when lights came on , and we all left.
What A Band!! What A Show!! No Big Tour til next year and already I'm so there !!
Til Next Time though not as awesome as this one Goodnight!!
LMi x
