REVIEW: Reverend & The Makers at Crookes Social Club
Reverend & The Makers delivered a standout performance at Crookes Social Club on Saturday, 5th December, showcasing exactly why they remain Sheffield Royalty.
For years, they’ve been the city’s soundtrack, making music that connects and gets people from all walks of life moving. On their recent ‘Social Clubs Tour’, that sense of community felt stronger than ever, giving the very people their music speaks to the chance to sing and dance in the same venues the band themselves started in.
The Rocky theme kicks in, and the crowd have no choice but to sing along, clapping in anticipation as they wait for the band to take the stage. One by one, the members walk out, leaning into the suspense, until frontman Jon “The Reverend” McClure waltzes on in a full pinstripe suit. His gold tooth flashes under the lights as he raises both hands and greets the room:
“We’re gonna have a good night, we’re gonna move, we’re gonna dance.”
The band opens with ‘Baseline’, and it instantly becomes evident to any doubter why Reverend & The Makers have achieved such longevity. The floor of Crookes Social Club feels like it’s built on springs, and everyone seems happily under the Reverend’s command, bouncing, singing, shouting every line back.
Throughout the night, the band put their chemistry on full display. McClure jokes about touring smaller venues, explaining that nothing brings you closer to your bandmates than sharing one bathroom on the road. He has the crowd in stitches when he turns to drummer Adam Crofts and cracks:
“If he could drum like he shits, he’d be playing for the Rolling Stones.”
McClure’s trademark wit doesn’t let up, with anecdote after anecdote between songs. Half the room must have wondered whether they’d walked into a surprise comedy night.
A few times throughout the show, The Makers switched up their usual high-energy, rock-focused sound in favour of smoother, more emotive ballads. ‘Heatwave in the Cold North’ and ‘Late Night Phone Call’ had the crowd arm in arm, belting out lyrics of love, loss, and grief.
McClure took a moment to talk about the making of their latest album, reflecting on the passing of his father and how their Brussels recording sessions all “went tits-up,” leading the band to scrap the material and start again entirely.
But that is not to say the show was depressing in any way. During an unreleased track about his father’s passing, McClure briefly struggled to continue, but the crowd carried him, offering unwavering support. After pausing to gather himself, he pushed on, lifted by a roaring wave of encouragement and a room overflowing with love and solidarity.
Moments later, McClure snapped the mood back with his signature honesty:
“I’ve led you all to believe this is a gloomy album… in reality, it’s about smoking weed and shagging.”
The camaraderie on display at Crookes Social Club was second to none. Every band member had a microphone, trading harmonies and backing vocals with faultless timing. What followed was a performance brimming with chemistry, playfulness, and the kind of effortless banter that only comes from a band genuinely enjoying themselves.
McClure even mocked the classic “fake encore,” with the band walking off stage only to return immediately to huge applause and laughter. One thing was sure: every person in that room was having a great time.
‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ was, unsurprisingly, the defining moment of the night. The biggest song Reverend & The Makers have ever produced. Every lyric was screamed back at McClure as the room erupted. At one point, I looked ahead and saw a mother and her teenage son, maybe fifteen, arm in arm, bouncing and belting every line.
And that’s the most important thing to highlight: Reverend & The Makers delivered a genuinely inclusive show. A room full of strangers, all ages, all backgrounds, united in the same celebration of music, love, and community.
And finally, in a classic move, the venue was getting “too stuffy,” so equipped with an acoustic guitar, McClure stepped outside and took the gig onto the streets of Crookes.
He performed covers of ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley and ‘Shoot You Down’ by The Stone Roses, which he introduced as his “favourite Manc song.” The crowd sang along softly, careful not to wake the neighbours until someone shouted, “Let’s wake Crookes up!”
McClure then launched into ‘A Message to You Rudy’ by The Specials, sparking a complete street sing-along. To my right were the backing vocals, to my left the trumpet line, and in front of me the lead melody as the whole crowd became the band.
McClure thanked the crowd for being so great, then reminded us that “There are people on their own at Christmas. Be as generous as you can.” This comes from someone who, for the last twelve years, has performed over the phone for those who find themselves spending Christmas alone.
As the crowd slowly drifted away into the cold Crookes night, one thing was clear. Reverend & The Makers didn’t just play a gig, they built a community for the evening, one held together by northern humour, raw honesty, and songs that still mean everything. For a band that has always championed the people who champion them, this was Reverend & The Makers at their absolute best. A night that Sheffield won’t forget any time soon.
Words & Photos: Holden Carr
