Live Review: The Cribs Gear Up For Headline Tour With Sweaty Manchester Club Show
photo by Craig McInnes
Tuesday 17th March 2026. Gorilla, Manchester UK
Wakefield royalty The Cribs show time and time again why they are still one of the best and most exciting bands to still be doing even after 25 years, that was shown and then some with their 9th album Selling a Vibe that was released in January this year. To celebrate, the Jarman brothers will embark on a sold out UK tour playing some iconic venues along the way - before we get to that, they announced a special album release show in Manchester playing the iconic Gorilla that unsurprisingly sold out quick time. The band are no strangers to this venue having played here during a 1 week residency in 2017, something that was spoken about joyfully by the band during tonight’s show.
An album release show a few days before the album tour did raise some questions about what sort of set we’d be getting and having some chats with people in the queue the guessing was all very mixed with some expecting some deep cuts mixed in with the new record, some expecting the record in full in running order and some simply just anticipating a truly special Cribs show with a nice mix of old and new.
With the venue rammed wall to wall it was time for the boys to take to the stage getting the ball rolling with sounds from the new record giving Dark Luck it’s live debut before kicking straight into Our Bovine Public, seconds into this track the mosh pit was instantly activated to get the place moving. Early on you can tell the crowd are right up for this show with movement all around the room and people yelling back every single word. The setlist had such a perfect balance of the new record and the songs we all know and love that make these type of shows what they are.
photo by Craig McInnes
photo by Craig McInnes
The top picks off the new album had to be already released singles with fans singing them back like they’d know the songs for years - the likes of Summer Seizures and Never The Same going down a treat with the Manchester faithful. From the new to the old and hearing some tracks that rarely make it into a Cribs set was quite a special feeling - The Lights Went Out taken from 2004’s self titled record played only 3 songs in really set the tone for how the night was going to be. I’m Alright Me another classic that rarely gets the time it deserves on stage.
One of the many things I love so much about Cribs shows is the mixed crowds you share the space with - the band have been around for a long time and the room is always a blend of older and newer fans who have either seeing the band for the first time or the 40th time and it’s something that makes seeing them so incredible and shows that even with new wave fans it shows how relevant and loved the band are even now. That being said, the energy never dipped in the slightest during the set - big hitters like Hey Scenesters, I’m A Realist & Direction all causing a wave of crowd movement. The set would be concluded with the usual outros in Men’s Needs, Mirror Kissers featuring Ross doing his staple standing on the kit mid song before rounding off with the always incredible Be Safe.
One for sure after this show is that The Cribs are in no hurry to be slowing down - the new record shows the chemistry the band still have and just how well written and flawless each song is highlights that togetherness of the brothers. The live shows have never changed in the many years I’ve been watching the boys on stage, the energy and joy both on and off stage will forever be cemented in a Cribs live show.
photo by Craig McInnes