Day 2 at the Camden Crawl 2012 | Music review

When visiting the Camden Crawl it is difficult to know where to start. With over 20 venues pumping out some of the best acts in the music scene one is really rather spoilt for choice; head off to see one band and you could be foregoing the possibility of an incredible gig two streets away.

Yet one of the stars of the show is Camden itself.  Although Camden can sometimes come across as a little too trendy for its own good , when the place is buzzing like it was during the Crawl, there really is nowhere else like it. Hard rock fans sidle next to those with a more hip hop style, but they are all here to pay homage to the acts whose work leaves their musical taste buds tingling.

From Mornington Crescent to Chalk Farm a whole part of the city is transformed into a music festival, though happily given the UK’s recent weather, without the mud and broken portaloos. 

One of the more out of the way venues was Heroes, home on Sunday afternoon to “For Folk’s Sake”, presenting folk bands offering an upbeat lesson in indie-folk and a chance to experience something a little different away from the bustle of the lock. Remember When sung by Irish twin sisters Heathers was a particular pleasure. 

 Despite having a new album due out, Ryan Jarman of The Cribs enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere, saying: “It’s really nice because we’re always on tour playing places, the last time we did it was 2005 and it’s great to be back here.”

The Cribs themselves headlined a bill at Koko that included Glasvegas, and it was a perfect match; the more pensive and haunting sound of the Scottish band providing a perfect accompaniment to the early evening. As the evening turned to night, The Cribs rocked Koko with their own brand of driving Yorkshire indie-pop. 

For those inside Koko it had been a special evening; the tender beauty of Glasvegas songs like Flowers and Football tops, Geraldine, and Daddy’s Gone was followed by The Cribs frenziedly making their way through much loved hits like Mirror Kissers, Men’s Needs and new track, Back to the Bolthole.

The performance again cemented The Cribs’ reputation as the rare type of band capable of producing thumping tunes that provide escapism, but interesting enough to leave one satisfied that it wasn’t just a hedonistic treat.

 By the time they closed with City of Bugs, all those in Camden had experienced the remarkable joys not just of an energetic set from one of Britain’s best bands, but of a day surrounded by music of all types, as well as the crackling atmosphere that draws in when so many acts are crammed into that small corner of London.

There truly is little else like The Camden Crawl: thousands of music fans cram into and around the famous and lesser known venues of Camden Lock as if it were a festival in a London setting to hail the return of a favourite performer or to discover something totally new. The Camden music scene really thrives on this kind of excitement.

Mark Worgan