U.K. Rockers Crookes Visit Coney Island

Last month, Diffuser.fm premiered the Crookes' 'Dance In Colour,' a bonus track from the long-overdue American release of the U.K. band's 2012 sophomore album, 'Hold Fast.' The disc finally drops on Oct. 1, and to celebrate, the sharp-dressed Sheffield lads flew stateside last week for their first New York City gigs.

During a few hours not spent wowing the locals with their smart and propulsive rock 'n' roll -- a sound that's won them comparisons to Arctic Monkeys and the Smiths -- the Crookes ventured out to Coney Island for some sun and sand. Afterward, singer and guitarist Daniel Hopewell was nice enough to write up this blog post. Scroll down to read the English lit grad's eloquent recap, and to see exclusive pics of their boardwalk adventure.

Daniel Hopewell:

Up until we visited Coney Island, we had slid through a half-mad groove of life that entwined sleep deprivation with frenetic street spirit. I was always one for the underground, you see? Cheap clothes suit me 'cos I'm from the gutter, and the people there are the ones that interest and inspire me the most. But it is impossible to relax when constantly stimulated by a kaleidoscope of breathless imagery.

In truth I had expected to follow the blinking neon lights of Manhattan like footsteps straight to the shore, but when we got there, the entire theme park had been closed and bordered off in what seemed like a wonderful metaphor for the wide-eyed pursuance of a youthful dream.

"Smile, though your art is breaking."

"I'll meet you there at the boardwalk and we'll cheer all the lights out."

Seeing should-be neon signs for the Wonder Wheel and Astroland Cyclone was like staring at an old jukebox full of your favourite songs without the notes to start it up. Instead, we grabbed a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog and a Coney Island Beer as sand filled our loafers and we danced to the music only in our heads.

"You need to teach American boys how to dress," said a girl with a surprising Southern drawl … she was dripping with ink and apathy in equal measure as she nodded at my rolled-up sleeves; I was too tired to tell her we'd ironically stolen the look from Beat Culture. And really nothing pleases me more than pretending to be a Jazz Poet in the modern age, all roll-ups and 40's and the vague echo of a HOWL under a plastic palm tree.

There was a reason for the pun on Crookes, and more than anything we've stolen a spirit.* We were the ones defined not by who or what we were, but by what or who we knew we never could be.

*Tongue firmly in cheek.

Check Out More Exclusive Photos of Crookes' Trip to Coney Island

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