The Cribs Live Review by Rob Johnson
The Cribs returned in 2026 with Selling a Vibe, their first album since Night Network in 2020. That record has been hailed as a return to form and it is clear the Jarman brothers have something to prove after six long years in the wilderness.
The Wakefield band kick things off at the Foundry in Sheffield with ‘Dark Luck’, the opening track from their new record, and it sounds… not great. The vocals are too low in the mix and this is exacerbated by the unmistakable whine of feedback. There is a noticeable anxiety amongst the sell out crowd but happily this is all sorted pretty much immediately and by the time the band burst into ‘Hey Scenesters!’ all sound problems are forgotten.
While promoting the new record is the priority (the band play six tracks from the album, all of which are well received), they also have a formidable back catalogue to choose from. Old favourites ‘Another Number’ and ‘You Were Always the One’ still sound as vital as ever, ‘City of Bugs’ builds to an unforgettable crescendo and ‘We Share the Same Skies’ still has enough of that Johnny Marr magic to sound incredible, even in his absence (the former Smiths guitarist joined The Cribs for a few years back in 2009).
Now, I’ve seen Ryan, Gary and Ross Jarman live many, many times, but I’ve never seen them in a venue as small as The Foundry. While the band have played massive stages all over the world, there is a nagging feeling that they do their best work in a sweaty, intimate club in a northern industrial city. This is where The Cribs belong. It just feels right.
An emotional rendition of ‘Brothers Won’t Break’ from the new record takes things down a notch before the unmistakable intro riff to ‘Men’s Needs’ takes the roof off. A breathless ‘Mirror Kisses’ follows, and it’s clear now that these songs have become indie anthems that will endure long after The Cribs call it a day. These songs have soundtracked so many nights across so many towns that they are now woven into the fabric of the UK music scene. It’s a true privilege to hear them performed with such gusto in such a packed venue.
Traditional set closer ‘Be Safe’ closes things out with a recording of Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth playing over the top as the Jarman brothers attack their instruments and the crowd, rowdy all night, respond in kind.
As the final note rings out, the joyous reception that follows is proof positive that this best band still means something to a lot of people. Sheffield is lucky to have them.
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