The Krypts release their Euro 2012 football anthem, 'Come on England'

Friends of ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP, The Krypts, have just released their excellent anthem in support of the England football team's campaign at the forthcoming 2012 European Championships. You can download it for free from their Reverbnation site. It's classic Krypts: catchy and perfect for a boozy pub sing-along; all we need now is England, for whom we have surely at last developed a realistically low expectation, to surprise us all and do well.

About the Krypts

The Krypts (like many bands) started life as a jamming session with Liam Barnes & Bill Stewart, back in 2002. Liam was getting back into playing guitar after a 10 year break and Bill was - and still is - a bass player with the country band Wagonhead. The sessions gave him the opportunity to play six strings.

The boys recruited Ray Hyde in 2003 as a vocalist so they could both concentrate on playing, and the trio soon started writing songs together. The band's name, which at the time was Kryptic Klu, was inspired their rehearsal space which was in the crypt of a church. They invited Bill’s guitarist friend Shiba to come join in for a jam on bass, and he’s been with them ever since!

After a succession of drummers Ray introduced Craig Stronach to the band, whose punk rock roots took the band to a heavier place. The band renamed as The Krypts in August 2011 played their first gig under that name in September at the Ancient Foresters pub in Bermondsey.

Interesting fact about the Krypts: 

Most of its members play their second instrument in the band: Liam - normally an acoustic folk/rock guitarist and singer - plays lead guitar; Bill - an experienced bass player - plays rhythm guitar; and Shiba - an old school rock’n roll guitarist - plays bass. Maybe this is the recipe for the Krypts' unique sound?

Video: The Krypts' Xmas Single: 'Having a Good Time (Drinking with Santa Claus)'

Haven't you had it with Slade and Wizzard, Band Aid and East 17? If you have, this one's for you - an excellent brand new Christmas song by South London band, the Krypts, entitled 'Having a Good Time (Drinking with Santa Claus)'.

You will love it; Your children will love it; Your parents will love it, their parents will, too - if they are still alive. In fact, I'm pretty sure you don't need to be alive to enjoy it - it's just more difficult to dance to when you're dead. My whole family is already enjoying it. The in-laws love it, too, and they're yanks!

 It is available to download on iTunes now, so please show your support for older musicians and live music made at a local level that deserves wider recognition, by buying it.

Merry Christmas, Toby

"A Good Time" by Kryptic Klu at the ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP Xmas Party

And, as you will see, 'a good time' was certainly had by all those in attendence.

Now that's what I call a good night: Creak & Kryptic Klu at The Libertine

People came. People drank. People danced. Musicians networked. People added their emails to the mailing list, even! The place was b-u-s-y, BUSY! So, it is possible to fill the pub on a ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP night. The bands just have to bring there friends and family in abundance, like Creak and Kryptic Klu did, God bless 'em. There was the added bonus of the stag party that arrived to fill the far end of the pub; but who cares who they were? They were there. At the Libertine. All of 'em. That night.


The first band of the evening, Kryptic Klu, has been evolving for six years or so. It is a five-piece guitar band led by Ray Hyde. The band rehearses regularly (their guitarist Liam Barnes once told me that weekly rehearsals were written into each of their marriage vows!) but has played less than a handful of gigs. Last night was the boys' first gig in a long time, and was therefore a very special occasion indeed, which galvanised friends and relatives, from teenagers and upwards. And they didn't disappoint their travelling massive, with a solid set of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan-flavoured rock songs.


Winners of ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP's Best Band of 2009, Creak had a hard task following the Kryptics, but rose to it, and kept the room buzzing with their mix of classic rock covers. Their guitarist Vladi arrived in the nick of time, straight from the airport that he'd flown in to from France, put his luggage down, got himself a Guinness, plugged in his sunburst Les Paul, and spent the next 45 minutes throwing the rock moves and shapes that have become his trademark. Creak is solid, professional and loud, but never uncontrollably so. I want a rhythm section like theirs, and a lead guitarist like Vladi or Paul. Singer Paul Rodger can join me on stage for our encore, a rendition of We're Not Gonna Take It.

Musicians met musicians. Promoter met musicians; I was introduced to the members the Foaming Beauties, a band I had not come across yet, who seemed very nice - I look forward to finding out more about them.

Youtube video of Creak and Kryptic Klu to follow shortly.