Event Date: December 4, 2009
Event Venue: Inside Out - Darlington

In a smoke filled Cave of a room a four piece band are thrashing their way through the intro to their set, I'm here to see Crafty Simian partly because of their NME feature a week, but mainly because they have managed to create a 'Buzz' in my home town without me seeing them or even seeing that they are advertised to play.

The singer 'Greg Robinson' wearing a home-made 'Crafty Simian bringing on the ram-man t-shirt' as mentioned in the NME enters half way through the opening. He brings with his t-shirt a confidence that instantly flows over the barrier into the already head bobbing crowd. 'Come on!!!' are his solitary words as the intro continues, he stands and waits and they are off, working effortlessly through the gears, this is a band so full of energy that it fills the entire room.
2 songs in and they are really hitting their stride before their third offering 'Robinson' simply says 'lets have a party!' which spurs the crowd into further madness.  

The music is relentless grabbing hold of you and not letting you go, it constantly keeps the room moving, the occasional break in songs a welcome relief to the tired legs and necks. The underlying dirty riffs of 'Bartlett' complete with amazing lead 'Holiday' complement each other nicely. 'Holiday' plays with an effortlessness only seen in a few guitarists comparisons with john spire are hard to get a away from. All this is complemented with bouncing bass lines 'Murphy' and drum beats 'Plater' and 'Robinson's' mental dancing and ferocious vocal.

The band do go through a small lull with a song introduced as 'oral', its not that it's a bad song, it just has a bit of a stop start feel to it.
This is where 'Robinson's' works best with the banter, 'Lets have a dance!!' and dance we did. This was the moment when the band clicked into another gear, and just as you think 'Robinson's' dancing couldn't get any more mental he launches himself into the crowd to get amongst it all, leaving the band to it, they pick up the baton with an amazingly infectious dance along outro which must of lasted around 4 minutes. 'Holiday' and 'Bartlett' are the perfect ying and yang with the trashy rhythm and stone rosesesc lead, 'Bartlett' almost bent in two while 'Holiday' coolly leans back into it.

This is the spark for the rest of the rest with dancing a must for all. A couple of tracks from the end brings a punky pogo mental song that really shows off the bass and drum skills with a real bouncy flare. 'Murphy's' bass line one of the most dance to bass lines I have heard.  This is just before 'Robinson' lets us know simply 'this is the last one, lets get smashed.' And they fly into their last song of the night complete with 'I am the resurrection' outro.

Crafty Simian are a band all should see, they know what they are  doing and know what people want to see/hear. This was the end of 2009 for them, however I would say 2010 is going to be a big beginning.

Event Date: December 5, 2008
Event Venue: Speakeasy, York

GREAT SHOW: I had never even heard of this band until a week ago. In a night that had 4 bands playing these guys really stole the show. Playing a blend of indie music with a punky feel that really got the crowd going. The front man (greg robinson) is as engaging a front man that i have seen and moves around the stage engaging with the crowd with a unique style of dancing, his vocal performance complements Crafty Simian's music well.
Out of all the songs played the fans favourite (and mine) was 'lockdown' which got a cheer when announced, it had the whole venue dancing and pogoing around  even the bar staff. Even in the mellower (alough mellow may not be the correct word) moments of their set the crowd were still moving and tapping their feet.
Both guitarists really complemented each other and the punchy drums came through really well giving the music plenty to move along to.
One critisim would be that they were not on stage long enough 30mins of their music was far too short they could have kept the room for far longer. When greg announced 'this is the last one thanks for coming' the whole room groaned
Crafty Simian are one of the best new bands i have seen in the speakeasy this year  and are def one to see if they are in your town. Check out their myspace i have the two tracks up their are cool especially the bump along 'burning' shame lockdown aint up there.

Good Band, Good Look, Good Music dont be suprised if they become a household name. You heard it here first.

Event Date: April 29, 2009
Event Venue: The Dublin Castle Camden London

Seen these at the Dublin Castle and they brought the place to life! They had a shakey start think the drummer was have some problems with his kit but by the third song they where in full swing and proving the place with some much needed energy and noise.. Crafty Simian remind me of when i first seen oasis back in 1994 with a lead singer(loved his tshirt "crafty simian are the b*llocks" iwant one!)  full of attitude and swagger he`s like ian brown on speed. The other member who cought my ears was the lead guitarist who could really really play and he would easily hold his own with the best of them he seemed to mix the jaggle style of Johnny Marr/John Squire with that sort of classic rock jimmy page/cream very well and his influences clearly shone through but in a good way. Both guitarists worked well together and both very good players.. The drummer and bass player where both very tight together as you would expect from a good band! All round good image,Great sound and seemed like a good bunch of guys aswell.. hope to see more of them in the future and im sure they will be massive (was right about oasis)

Event Date: April 29, 2009
Event Venue: The Dublin Castle Camden London

Seen these at the Dublin Castle and they brought the place to life! They had a shakey start think the drummer was have some problems with his kit but by the third song they where in full swing and proving the place with some much needed energy and noise.. Crafty Simian remind me of when i first seen oasis back in 1994 with a lead singer(loved his tshirt "crafty simian are the b*llocks" iwant one!)  full of attitude and swagger he`s like ian brown on speed. The other member who cought my ears was the lead guitarist who could really really play and he would easily hold his own with the best of them he seemed to mix the jaggle style of Johnny Marr/John Squire with that sort of classic rock jimmy page/cream very well and his influences clearly shone through but in a good way. Both guitarists worked well together and both very good players.. The drummer and bass player where both very tight together as you would expect from a good band! All round good image,Great sound and seemed like a good bunch of guys aswell.. hope to see more of them in the future and im sure they will be massive (was right about oasis)