More like a band than a duo

CRASH always wanted to be different from other duos...and they most certainly are.

They decided from the outset in the early 1990s that they wouldn’t churn out the predictable midde of the road pop material favoured by everyone else.

Instead, they wanted a harder edge to their repertoire...classic material from the 50s to the pesent day.

In fact lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Bannister and keyboard player Phil Ashcroft are effectively a two-man rock band.

I caught up with them at Brinsworth WMC on Sunday when they opened with Tumbling Dice by the Rolling Stones and Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac, followed by Amazed by Lonestar.

And you don’t get many duos playing those band favourites!

Chris has got a strong rocky voice and plays some fancy guitar licks and Phil’s keyboard work is rich and powerful.

The duo are based in Preston, Lancashire, but — like many acts — they have to travel where the work is and are regular visitors to South Yorkshire.

Phil told me: “We love the audiences around here.

“They are very receptive.

“We love what we do but always wanted to be different.

“Lots of duos play the same sort of stuff, but we didn’t want to be like everyone else.

“And we think we have achieved that.”

Certainly, the decent crowd at Brinsworth gave them a good reception.