The Cribs at Coventry Kasbah

Innovation is currently drying up in the UK indie scene with lad-rock dominating the airwaves in the form of the unholy trinity of the Fratellis, Enemy and Pigeon Detectives.

This is clearly something The Cribs are troubled by as they kick off their rampant set at the Coventry Kasbah with the war cry against mediocrity that is 'Our Bovine Public', Ryan Jarman belting out his vitriolic address to this ruling elite, 'you'd never exist if you wasn't generic, you have to impress our bovine public'.

What marks The Cribs out from the current crop of UK talent though is their refusal to pander to the lowest common dominator by simply playing 'the hits'.

Though giving a taste of their probable summer set list by dispatching 'Moving Pictures' and 'Girls Like Mystery' recent b-sides 'Kind Words From The Broken Hearted' and 'Bastards Of Young' are also dusted off and given the chance to shine in a live setting.

All are greeted by a swell of crowd surfing, sing-alongs and general lunacy by an ecstatic audience.

You'd never exist if you wasn't generic, you have to impress our bovine public

Ryan Jarman

Whilst The Cribs may share pinpoint guitar riffs, rumbling basslines and a mix of crashing snares and pounding drumskins with the aforementioned groups, songs like 'The Wrong Way To Be' prove this is a band with musical depth and a belief in the passion of their lyrics.

Dismissing those dreaming of 'scene hopping' and 'chart topping' Ryan chooses to live in the moment instead diving headfirst into the assorted throng of admirers whilst Gary and Ross maintain a billowing wall of feedback.

In truth though, The Cribs are currently at a crossroads in their career.

Three albums in, a headlining slot on the NME Awards Tour completed and with the summer festivals theirs for the taking there is a distinct possibility that the magic formula the band were founded on has been pushed to its zenith.

Ryan's deadpan remark that 'this is our last set together' portrays a band keen to get back to the songwriting process.

The recent appointment of Johnny Marr as a fourth band member, not present tonight, and their choice to finish on the predominantly spoken word 'Be Safe' point though towards a shift in the foundations of their music onto less tested grounds on which they may well produce their magnum opus.

On the evidence of this evening such a feat seems by no means impossible for The Cribs.