photos by Tim Griffin

Marr, best-known for his work with The Smiths, has been collaborating with the group since the end of The Cribs' tour for their 2007 album, Men's Needs Women's Needs. But this will be the first time the guitarist joins the band on a North American run. As the short version of the story goes, Marr met Gary Jarman at a Portland barbecue, and the two - who were mutual fans -struck up a friendship. The rest of the band met him at the 2007 Glastonbury festival some time later. "We ended up just being friends, and then we ended up laying music together - which is naturally what you do when you're musicians, and it just happened from there," Jarman explains.

"It's like a new best friend having Johnny in the band," says Jarman simply. He says he and his brothers "sometimes pick his brain about things he's done in the past, he's got a lot of history, he's been in some bands," but in terms of Marr's role in the group, they're all equals. "He's just one of the guys," he says. "He doesn't come across as a mentor or anything like that." [Dose.Ca]

As you know, The Cribs are back. Tickets are still on sale for their Saturday night (1/16) show at Irving Plaza with Adam Green, and we have one pair of tickets to give away. Details at the end of this post.

A never-published set of pictures from the second of two shows they played at Bowery Ballroom in November (the set we posted already was from the first night), continues (with the setlist) below...

Continue reading "The Cribs play Irving Plaza Saturday (win tix), played Bowery Ballroom in 2008 (here's a new set of pics) "

photos by Vincent Cornelli, words by Bill Pearis

The Cribs @ Bowery Ballroom

The Cribs played two sold out nights at Bowery Ballroom last Thursday (11/12) and Friday (11/13) -- their first NYC shows with new band-member Johnny Marr. The Von Bondies opened both nights. Thursday the Cribs also played The Late Show with David Letterman, performing "We are the Same Skies" from their new album, Ignore the Ignorant. Video of that, along with the brand new official video for the same song with more pictures from the first night at Bowery Ballroom, below.

I was at the first of the two shows, and the Jarman brothers were in fine form. Maybe not as rowdy but there's been no signs of change with their increased popularity. I think Ryan Jarman was wearing the same clothes as the last time I saw them a year and a half ago. They are a down-to-Earth, no bullshit kind of group.

As for for their new addition, the Jarmans and Marr acted like it was no big deal that one of the greatest guitarists of the last 25 years was now in the group, but there was extra oomph on older tracks like "Hey Scenesters" and "Mirror Kissers," and you could definitely feel Marr's influence on the Smith-y current single "We Share the Same Skies" and Ignore the Ignorant's title track. Likewise, the crowd didn't seem to pay Marr's presence any mind -- maybe some of them didn't know who he was? -- as they were too busy going mental, at least near the stage. I'm a Cribs fan, but I do think this was the best I've seen them since they made the leap from smaller-sized clubs.

Meanwhile, The Cribs just announced dates for a North American tour in early 2010, including a January 16 stop at Irving Plaza. Adam Green & The Dead Trees open that show and most of the dates on the tour. Jemima Pearl then replaces him as opener for the last six dates. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale Wednesdday at noon. All announced tour dates, plus those videos and pictures, below...

Continue reading "The Cribs played Bowery Ballroom (pics) & Letterman (video) - announced tour w/ Adam Green (dates) ++ new video "