The Crookes, Manchester Deaf Institute

The Crookes

May 31, 2010

The Manchester leg of the Dot To Dot Festival 2010 plays host to an impressive array of established and upcoming artists, with notable mentions for the ferocious and fantastic The Chapman Family and the ever-dependable Mystery Jets. However, there was one band that stole the show (and hearts) of all with the good fortune to stumble across them.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Crookes. They are a four-piece pop band formed during their time at Sheffield University studying English Literature. Their grounding in the literary world is borne out in their imaginative and touching lyrics, which are delivered with sincerity and aplomb by lead singer George Waite. Telling tall tales of romance in the most affable manner possible, The Crookes are an example of an emerging band that is brimming with potential.

In front of a sizeable crowd tucked away inside the music hall of the Deaf Institute, The Crookes clamber on stage and afford themselves a quick glance up at the gathered audience before starting a simply stunning version of ‘Yes, Yes, We’re Magicians.’ Beginning gently with the haunting voice of Waite over the finger-clicks of his brothers-in-arms –  Daniel Hopwell, Alex Saunders and Russell Bates – the audience is drawn into his words and tone before the song explodes into life. The jangle-pop that The Crookes espouse is a multidimensional beast. Often it is jovial and bouncy, yet other times it is equally as introverted and sorrowful.

As their set progresses, the smiles spreading across each member of the audience’s faces gives testament to the charming quality of this band. The energy travels throughout the venue as Hopewell kicks his ankles out with every fibre of passion in his being, channeling every beat of the drums. Saunders throws himself into the songs with bravado, as does Bates who provides a solid foundation for the bubblegum guitars to build upon. It is a strikingly successful combination on this showing.

Even a mid-set calamity that would normally throw many a good band poses no problem for these young men. Saunders suffers a strapped string forcing him into an on-stage repair. The quick-thinking Crookes take this as an opportunity leaping into the assembled audience, armed only with an acoustic guitar, a mandolin and 3 charming voices for a breathtaking rendition of ‘Tell England’. If the crowd needed any more convincing, they had it here in abundance.

The Crookes (now complete with a re-stringed Saunders) launch into their final two tracks of the evening, sealing the deal on what has been an imaginative and engaging performance. Their recent single ‘Bloodshot Days’  goes down incredibly well, provoking a full-scale sea of bopping bodies throughout this Mancunian crowd. “They try to come between us / just hold tight / voices bleed into the night”. As their lyrics attest, there remains something instantly likeable about these boys and their set winds down to rapturous applause.

No related posts.