Crookes Steal Hearts
Sarah Stead • Published 22 Apr 2010 09:00
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The Crookes
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TONIGHT four very backwards-gazing leaders of the current indie pack play in Reading. The Crookes hail from Sheffield but don't expect them to sound like The Arctic Monkeys. Their lovely, undulating rhythms with smooth, almost Morrissey-sounding poetic vocals conjure up thick knitted jumpers, cloud watching and moviescript romance in black and white.
The band members are all English Literature graduates of Sheffield University, and the band is named after the student district there - Crookes.
Their degree choices have been instrumental (no pun intended) in defining their sound, which is most commonly tagged as 'old fashioned'.
Singer George Waite said: "Literature plays a big part. I know stuff like DH Lawrence and kitchen sink dramas influence Dan's lyric writing. There's definitely a sense of looking to the past for musical reference, from Buddy Holly to The Smiths. We like new bands as well but most of our references come from before we were born.
"We never really planned it like that or set out to be this 'old fashioned' band, and I think it can be a hindrance and people often get the wrong end of the stick.
"But we have a lot of influences and it's our own faults they're all old fashioned, but we try to keep it relevant. We don't want to be outdated already!"
But it would seem there's no danger of that. Acclaim has come from all directions: they've been The Guardian's band of the day; BBC 6 Music's favourite new band; and Steve Lamacq's "favourite British band of the year."
They're currently in the middle of a UK-wide tour, with the exception of one gig in The Hague, Holland, and earlier this year they played at the much-trumpeted South By South West in Austin, Texas.
"It was like someone had put Reading and Leeds Festivals into an old American street," said George. "We played in dusty bars and on rooftops surrounded by palm trees. Apart from the sun stroke which I think we all suffered, it was amazing.
"Every time we go back to somewhere on a tour we hope for a few more faces," said George.
"Last time we played in Reading there was a few people but I think half of them were some stag party...they were trying to make more music than us! On one track it's just me and a ukulele and that was almost entirely drowned out. But I'm really looking forward to coming back!"
The Crookes play tonight (Thursday) at The Oakford Social Club, Reading, with support from Papa Jules. 8pm, free. See www.myspace.com/thecrookesmusic
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 22 Apr 10
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