A dynamic new sound for 2006 - words Rob Massey The East Midlands Beat Revolution continues apace. There's a buzz in Derbyshire at the start of 2006, surrounding fresh-faced indie popsters The Crooks. Fronted by singer and guitarist, George Moran, they deliver a quality live set comprising original material plus a selection of impressive covers.
As well as self-penned anthems such as “All I Need” and “Golden”, classics such as “You Really Got Me”, “Born To Be Wild” and “Last Nite” are given the boys' treatment. Check out their profile at www.myspace.com/thecrooksrock for an indication of their potential - and some downloads. The stand out track for me has to be the sublime “All I Need”. Spiky, jangly guitars, upfront vocals, driving rhythm. There's an urgency about this tune that you don't hear often.
And a melody that gets into your head and won't let go. “All I need is time - and you will be mine”. It's a sentiment that has been the staple diet of British pop since John Lennon was a hip young guitar slinger. But here it sounds fresh, vibrant and utterly of NOW. But that's not all they have to offer.
Tunes such as “Come At Night“ and “Slight Hurricane“ are equally as infectious. Moran has a distinctive, strong vocal delivery, coupled with an instinctive appreciation of what constitutes a perfect piece of pop sensibility. Check out “Golden”, a personal song that mirrors the frantic optimism of “All I Need”. There's a lyrical maturity here. Its haunting stuff. In the midst of their recent live shows, Rob caught up with the band and put a few questions to them.
Who's who in The Crooks?
George Moran - Vocals, Guitar
Michael Willis - Guitar, Vocals
Ollie Browne - Bass Guitar
Joel Stevens - Drums
How long have you been together?
Joel: We got together in easter 2004, so we've been together for roughly a year and a half.
Were you mates before you got the band together?
Mike: Me and Ollie originally met when I was practicing in a band with some other school friends. He had another band and we had double booked the practice room at school. Both bands fell apart and me and Ollie had a jam. We decided to form a new band and go for something more. I knew George as he lived near me.
George: I knew Mike because he lived just down the road and we got on the same bus. We used to talk about guitars and music and then Mike asked me if I would sing in his band.
Mike: I'd approached Joel at school. I'd heard he was a stonker of a drummer and wanted to start a band with him. He liked the same bands as me and I told him about George.
George: I'd actually known Ollie since I was a little nipper so its all good.
The band are based in Matlock. Is that where you all hail from?
Ollie: None of us come from Matlock, but George, Mike and I all live in Darley Dale, a village next to it.
George: Joel is the outcast living in Fritchley.
Tell me a bit about the local music scene.
George: As good as dog doo on a hot day. Its very limited. There's a few pubs and the Fishpond, a specialist music pub.
Sum up the Crooks sound.
Joel: Personally, I don't think that our first demo really reflects what our true sound is. I think our next demo will be more true to our sound. Its kind of melodic indie rock.
What are your musical influences?
Mike: We all listen to stuff like The Strokes, Bloc Party, Radiohead, Muse and anything half decent.
Joel: Don't forget Biffy Clyro and Faithless! But we don't particularly think we sound much like any of these bands.
Are there any songs in particular that mean a lot to the band - are any autobiographical?
George: Come At Night... It's the first song I wrote and it still remains on our setlist to this day.
Mike: For me All I Need is the moment when I realised what we could achieve.
Joel: Elbow In My Face... It brings back memories of Leeds Festival.
Where did you record the demos?
Ollie: Donut Studios, a cheap shit hole.
What is your experience of playing the songs live?
George: We practice our own songs like religion so they're tight when we play them in front of a crowd.
Which of the batch of new bands out there do you particularly like?
George: Nine Black Alps do it for me and Mike.
Joel: I think the lead singer from The Duke Spirit has an original sound.
Ollie: I love the Pussycat Dolls. I've got they're album... there isn't a bad song on it.
What about other art forms? Have any books or films had a big influence on you?
George: No
Joel: Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy is an awesome read... the film was crap.
Ollie: I love any Bruce Lee movie. I like his nimble footwork.
Tell me about your plans for 2006.
Mike: Try and get some bigger gigs. In January we'll be recording our second demo. Should be a laugh.
Any gigs coming up?
George: The Fishpond and other little ones. Nothing special arranged yet.
Mike: We're gonna try and get in a couple of battle of the bands.
Joel: Keep an eye on Myspace.com/thecrooksrock.
And to conclude the dreaded Desert Island Disc question. If you had to take one record, one book and one
film with you what would they be?
Ollie: Nirvana-Nevermind, Bruce Lee's autobiography and.... Lord Of The Rings
Joel: Faithless-Reverence, Rhythm magazine and School Of Rock... YESS!
George: Radiohead-Ok Computer, Karma Sutra and anything with John Wayne in it.
Mike: Weezer-Self titled, Lord Of The Rings and probably Full Metal Jacket.
The advice is click back to their site. Download “All I Need”. Blast it out at top volume and enjoy the exuberance of rock and roll at its most instinctive. As someone sang many years ago “a teenage dream's so hard to beat”. This tune makes you remember why. Watch out for The Crooks. On this evidence, they'll be playing soon at a venue near you.