I have always believed that great ideas are like invisible strikes of light, floating up and around, filling up the wild unknown atmospheres of this grand universe.  Millions upon millions of the little buggers, all of them hoping that one day some visionary hand will pluck them down and make good their potential. Many ideas, having been plucked by some foolhardy dreamer, find themselves dried out, derelict and sadly unrealised. Perhaps lain on some bedsit floor, other times in ashtrays in public houses; more often than not, lost or forgotten, let loose on the wind until maybe some other being dares to take advantage of it. God knows I have lost many to mindless idleness and other such misfortunes over the years

The streets of Britain are full of the ridiculous and revolutionary, ideas that have fallen just short of pure brilliance. Nevertheless, those who have the courage and determination required to attempt to realise even one idea, those individuals who dare not only to enjoy the prospect of an idea over a few beers in the pub with mates, but to urge it into something actual, are to be wholly respected. Whether their endeavour is deemed a success or not – whether it flounders and falls flat on its face in a fit of hysterical calamity, or whether it is simply misunderstood – it matters not, because at least that great idea has been given the opportunity to exist and others the chance to witness its potential.

The Sharabang Tour, on which we played two shows over the last week, has, for us, fallen into the category of those great ideas that weren’t quite sea-worthy when they left shore. Perhaps the idea itself was too youthful, or perhaps the visionary hand that plucked it from the ether was itself lacking in the experience necessary to take on such a mammoth task, or maybe it is us that have simply misunderstood. Either way… that the Sharabang idea has been given a shot, and hopefully, will continue its quest over the following few weeks, is a damn good thing.

However, regrettably we will not be joining them for the remainder of their journey, so our performances in Liverpool, Coventry, Manchester, Nottingham and London have been cancelled. Sorry for any disappointment, and we wish the Sharabang Tour all the best.

CroOK

xxx

… has already begun.  Check out the gig listing if you haven’t done so recently… the Sharabang Music launch tour takes the Crooked possee further from home than they’ve been in a long time.  Also, amongst the very healthy roster of festivals, Wireless in London’s Hyde Park (fuck yeah, LCD Soundsystem) is a notable addition.

Tonight, all focus is on a headline event hosted by Nine Crows in Folkestone.  We’ve been intrigued for months by tales of these black-feathered fiends, so we’re very curious to see what kind of vibe is playing out in the furthest reaches of Kent.  Get there early to see supports by Storm Water, James Pyott and Young Folk.

Tomorrow, the band plays at the Stag and Dagger festival in Shoreditch.  Stage time is 8pm at the Spread Eagle, so get there in plenty of time.  On Saturday, the Sharabang tour kicks off with an all-dayer at Brixton’s inimitable Windmill.  Stage time is 10pm, but we recommend a mid-afternoon start to your drinking for added enjoyment.

Hey punk rockers.  The Crooked Family are massively excited to announce that the first Lupen Crook release of the year will be a limited edition double ‘A’ side 7″ single and download comprising World’s End and a re-recorded version of Devil’s Son, available on Monday 12th July.

This single is the first proper taster of the new material from the forthcoming third album, The Pros and Cons of Eating Out, which will be released later in the year and which forms the basis for most of our live sets this summer.

The album was recorded at Ranscombe Studios with Jim Riley and remixed by Howie B. It’s been a long and wonky road but the album is now finished. All your support so far has been massively appreciated.  We hope this first offering begins to make it all worth while. Long may it continue.

World’s End and Devils Son is being released by Label Fandango and the 7″ Vinyl comes with a Crooked lyric insert for each track. It’ll be available by mail order from the label and direct from this website. You’ll also be able to buy the tracks via download and purchase the 7″ at gigs after the release date.

I mentioned the trip we all took down to Dungeness to shoot a video for World’s End, which is proudly presented above (also available on YouTube).  Dave Wise has done a fantastic job.  He’s also put a great pinhole shot of us at the beach on his blog. If you manage to get your hands on the vinyl you’ll also see I’ve bastardised one of Hg’s Dungeness shots for one of the lyric inserts, which all form part of this lovely little offering.

So, with the single set for release, album ready to rock and a healthy string of festival appearances lined up, our Crooked Summer Of Hate is all set to start. It would be wonderful if you can join us!

xxx

Yours SINcerely

Lupen CroOK

PS – in case you haven’t spotted, you can listen to both tracks right now on the player.

Update (9th July): the Devil’s Son video is now available here.

Want Lupen Crook splashed all over your chest?  You know you do… Get shopping!  Canvas bags also available, which we’ve decided not to call “tote” bags because a) they aren’t and b) “tote” is a fucking ridiculous word.

At the last couple of gigs a few of you have been asking about jewellary. Each time I scratched around, failing to respond with any level of promise. However, I was paying attention! Today I took myself back up to Lucy Langridge’s workshop where we got melting and making, finalising Master Copies of both the Missing Piece puzzle charm and the Curious Kitten Design. We will be getting these cast over the next few weeks so keep your eye on the Shop because these, and some other bits and pieces will be made available shortly. Here’s the best of a bad bunch of photos that we took during their conception.

Here’s a full-band performance of World’s End from Hoxton on Wednesday:

Great to see a lively and appreciative crowd in attendance.  This was the set list:

• How To Murder Birds
• Dorothy Deserves
• Scissor Kick
• Sleeping Lions
• World’s End
• Junk ‘n’ Jubilee
• Lest We Connect (The Crooked Family)
• Fantasist In March
• Devil’s Son
• Dick Strange And the Nasty Boys

We’re just heard that BBC 6 Music will be playing Dorothy Deserves, one of the forthcoming tracks from the new album, on the Tom Robinson show between 7pm to 9pm tonight.  This is the first ever radio airplay of any of the new material.  Tune in and show your support!  You can access 6 Music via digital radio/TV and online.

(You all know what’s going on with 6 Music, right?)

UPDATE: if you missed it, or if you want to hear it again, it’s on the BBC iPlayer here.  The track itself is played 18 minutes in and thereafter there are three or four further mentions over the following 40 minutes or so, as listeners contacted the station to express their approval.  Thanks everyone, this is why it counts:

“A Lupen Crook session is looking more and more likely as the show wears on…”

A great way to end a great week.  Bring it on!

POST UPDATED… SCROLL DOWN

A brief word on merchandise for tomorrow night.  We’ll be selling the new t-shirts above, hot off the… er… press (or whatever t-shirts are made on).  They’re designed by Mr Crook and feature a very appropriate quote from an as yet unreleased song called Hour Glass, which some of you might remember featuring in a demo version on the website player last year.

We’ll also have very limited stocks of some of the items currently for sale on the website Shop.  Many of these have now almost completely run out and it’ll be strictly first come, first served.  There should also be some of the back catalogue Tap ‘n’ Tin releases available… can’t say exactly what until I see the boxes myself, which won’t be until I get there.

Possibly some other stuff, possibly not.  Pretend I never said that, just in case.  Bear all this in mind when you’re going to the cash machine beforehand.  If you don’t have the money to hand tomorrow night – or if you just can’t make the gig – we’ll be putting the new t-shirts up for sale on the website shop as soon as possible thereafter.  Hope to see you there.  x

UPDATE

An eleventh hour addition to the merch stall, as hinted above… four original paintings from Lupen Crook’s Can’t Bear series.  These will be on sale at £20 each.

Mr Crook played a couple of solo sets at Rochester’s Sweeps Festival on Friday and Saturday night.  Here are two songs that you’re going to hear more of over the next few months.

World’s End:

Devil’s Son:

Various photographers were in attendance.  This is what’s been posted to Flickr so far (will automatically update with anything new):

(You can view the full-screen version of the slideshow here.)