Is it really a show in The Exchange Basement if you don’t leave covered in sweat and out of breath? That’s how most people left the Crooked Little Sons gig on Friday 19th April. The sold-out basement quickly became a hub of movement and life as Crooked took to the stage, albeit a very small one. Frontman Josh Bessant took the cramped stage in his stride and joined the crowd, microphone, guitar, and all, in an explosion of energy and pure rock and roll.
The band performed their long-awaited debut album in full (along with a guest appearance of an older track, Snake, as an encore) which continues their tour. Having just returned from their EU leg, the band was a well-oiled machine when it came to playing these tracks and demonstrated it fantastically throughout the set, despite the ever-rising temperature and sweat levels. Jackets were soon discarded and breaths became heavier all round but that didn’t stop this band from giving it their all.
Their album “Regenerate” is a riotous joy to listen to from start to finish and hearing it live is no different. Making a truly dramatic entrance, dressed in their signature stage blacks, they started the night with “The Young Eat the Old”, a song that is an audible slap in the face from the very beginning. The song begins with a crescendo of sound then plunging into a catchy guitar riff, followed by punchy drums, and complete with a powerful yell from Bessant, bringing us well into the song itself. Complete with catchy vocals and a driving bassline, this was the perfect opening to both an album and a gig, to get everyone on the same page with how this whole night was going to go.
The title track of the album, “Regenerate”, was a welcome breather in the high-energy set, with more of an anthemic tone to it. It has a very Remones-esque feel to it, compared to the previous heavier songs on the record, and is a standout for me personally. Crooked can afford to vary their tone throughout this record and showcase the variety of talent at their disposal; with a strong 14-track record it works perfectly as both a title track and a bit of respite from the intensity of the first few songs.
The night played out complete with a circle pit, plenty of crowd participation, and the most passionate display of punk ‘n roll I’ve seen in a long time. The evening with the slowest song on the record, “Let’s Drink Again”, the room felt fully united after an energy-filled evening. You could feel the packed venue swaying to the 50s doo-wop style song: A diversion from Crooked’s usual genre but still recognisably theirs, with a punchier chorus and plenty of room for heavier guitar riffs.
Crooked Little Sons know how to put on a show and they have no plans to stop. I have it under good authority that things are cooking behind the scenes and there’s plenty more to come. You can now stream their album in full if you missed this show but make sure to keep an eye out for future events because it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
@anna.h_photos
Role: Photographer/ Journalist
Available for: Gig and press phototography, album shoots, music videos, tour coverage
Qualification: 1st class BA photojournalism degree
First attended gig: First ticketed gig I remember is Newton Faulkner but there was plenty of live music that I saw growing up in the folk scene in Cornwall
First gig shot: Rattler Fest for all three days
Dream gig: It's too hard to pick just one, and i'm lucky enough to have been able to shoot some of my bucket list bands already, so top 3 would have to be Frank Turner, The Hives, and Twenty One Pilots
