With The Kills playing a couple of doors down at the same time, an already sparse crowd is probably thinned yet further in Academy 3. But The Crimea have been used to this sort of thing in the couple of years since they sprung out of the ashes of perennial underdogs The Crocketts, and having achieved a modicum of recognition over in the States recently, they're back to show their homeland that they have indeed got what it takes. | "utterly enchanting – helped perhaps by the presence of a bubble machine" | | Seb Patrick |
They're in immediate danger, though, of being overshadowed by their support band. The Heights, from North Wales, are one of those pleasantly surprising supports, an engaging enough presence while chucking out quite danceable rock. The singer's throaty vocals aren't hugely appealing, but the lead guitarists are excellent, and the overall package gives an impression of being one to keep an eye on. As the Crimea make their way to the stage, lead singer Davey MacManus chooses to place his mic in the open space in front of the audience, and proceeds to thrash about throughout the slightly low-key opening of "Opposite Ends" followed by the disappointing earlier single "Baby Boom". The set needs something to kick it into gear, quickly, and the band oblige with the magnificent "White Russian Galaxy". This song has been in their catalogue since the earliest days, and it has the required effect of immediately lifting the atmosphere.
 | | The Crimea |
In a t-shirt that has clearly seen better days, MacManus appears to be demonstrating evidence of growing insanity, cryptically mumbling excerpts of his lyrics before each song. But as the set goes on, his performance grows in composure. While "Girl Just Died" – also among their best efforts on record – disappoints slightly live, the same can't be said of "The Miserablist Tango", an absolute belter of an epic that wouldn't sound out of place on a much bigger stage. "Lottery Winners On Acid", meanwhile, is utterly enchanting – helped perhaps by the presence of a bubble machine – showcasing their ability to write apparently dreamy songs with a dark undercurrent. By the time we come to startling closer "Someone's Crying", with Davey screaming his way through the vocal echo effects that have characterised the set, you're left wondering how the set could have started out feeling underwhelming at all. The Crimea may not yet have reached the "cult heroes" status that the Crocketts enjoyed, but they're getting there, and with an expansion of their volume of material they really could go places. They're back in Liverpool on the 8th November, playing the Barfly – a venue that should suit them better - and if you fancy trying something a bit different, you could do worse than check them out. |
