Friday 22/02/08 The Cribs @ Brixton Academy, London

As these three brothers add to their long established live reputation which is frequently accompanied by reported scenes of disorder, there’s no suppressing the expectations that arise for The Cribs’ Brixton Academy show tonight. A quick glance around the varied crowd of eager faces also confirms the general consensus that this Wakefield trio are inching closer to the realms of commercial recognition with every release - an acknowledgement that seems well overdue.

The band’s ethos of recreating a sense of live performance on record means that their live sound is virtually an e-fit of their album tracks, minus the immense applause which erupts instantly during 2004’s old number, ‘What About Me’. Based at opposite ends of the stage, singers, Ryan and Gary throw vocals between each other like looks of encouragement, while their younger brother, Ross, drums from his place behind.

One by one, the singles come out to play, from the celebrated differences in ‘Men’s Needs’, to the wistful echoes of ‘Moving Pictures’, and the slightly older charms of the New Fellas, for ‘Mirror Kisses’, and fitting, referential anthem ‘Hey Scenesters’, which are all delivered in an alluring, rough and ready manner. Soon enough, expectations are exceeded as Johnny Marr joins the humble three on stage for a cover of The Smith’s ‘Panic’, adding further fuel to the recent ‘has he/ hasn’t he?’ rumours regarding his presence in the band.

The pace slows when a vast image of Sonic Youth’s, Lee Ranaldo, streams from a screen which has remained stealthily unnoticed, until now, to the left of the stage, while Lee’s words project for Be Safe. It’s a surreal moment since Johnny Marr is still on stage performing guest guitar duties and backing vocals during the chorus of the song. As Ryan plummets into the crowd for recent single and reluctant lovers’ anthem, ‘I’m A Realist’, he resurfaces on stage bloodless and unscathed, and the night ends on an unquestionable peak, reflecting the band’s present status.