CROOKED has established themselves as one of San Francisco, California's ho… Read Full Bio ↴CROOKED has established themselves as one of San Francisco, California's hottest acts. Their outstanding live shows and catchy songs comprised of a unique blend of hard hitting guitar riffs, stunning melodic choruses, orchestral keyboards, massive hooks, compelling lyrics and
unforgettable vocal melodies have earned the band a devoted national following. Fan loyalty and the superb songwriting talents of band visionary/singer/songwriter James Gabriel has earned the band a top 10 single on the mainstream rock radio station 92.3 KSJO in the band's hometown of San Francisco, CA with their breakthrough hook filled track "Mistake".

The ongoing and escalating buzz about Crooked has caught the attention of many in the music industry including that of former Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares (Roadrunner Records), who upon first hearing Crooked , was immediately hooked on the bands unique cutting edge dark melodic sound and stepped in to take the band under his wing and produce CROOKED 's latest disc entitled 'HALO' along side the seasoned production skills of producer Tom Tatman (Stone Sour) and Eddy Schreyer (Slipknot, A.F.I, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down) .

CROOKED is led by the talents of band singer/songwriter James Gabriel. The heart, soul, mind and key talent of Crooked. Writing all the music for the band, from passionate soaring melodic vocals to crunching modern guitars hooks, orchestral string arrangements, elaborate electronic keyboard textures and classical influenced piano - he is truly a one man show. Creating a musical force that is both unique and unstoppable. Bringing in additional live members over the years to round out the lineup for performance and touring purposes to fulfill the Crooked vision. Crooked is currently being hailed as a "Must see live band!", "Pure RAW TALENT" and "Hypnotic!" by several critics across the nation.

CROOKED is a band to watch for. Having gained rave reviews for their exciting live performances, matured musicianship, eye catching look and a niche for writing catchy well structured songs with unrelenting passion, sincerity and quality. CROOKED is being described as "The next big thing" by fans and critics alike (see PRESS). James Gabriels voice and strong song-writing ability has been drawing the ears and eyes of many of the most hard to win over individuals in the music industry. Including: receiving kudos from acclaimed American Idol judge Randy Jackson and an impressive list of many famed A list producers in rock. Meanwhile, earning the respect and admiration of some of the most diverse top musicians in modern rock - all extending their token of appreciation of the bands substantial talent and skill.

However, don't take just the industry and critics word for it, have the fans prove it to you - The songs on "HALO" hold their own. Tracks such as "Mistake", "Falling", "Inside" and the melodic powerhouse "Without You" landing at the CMJ charts at an impressive number 2 position for Loud Rock and subsequently number 2 position for Commercial specialty adds and breaking the Top 100 , debuting at a stellar 57 on the Loud Rock charts . An outstanding showing, bringing in more fan requests than established household named acts such as Creed, Korn, Drowning Pool, Trapt and Slipknot on several formats. This accomplishment caught the ears and attention of famed industry radio entity FMQB who promptly typed up an article on the bands remarkable indie success titled "CROOKED conquers the DIY scene". This is just the beginning...

Crooked has recently earned the prestigious nominations for "Best Rock/Metal Band" for two years in a row by acclaimed Los Angeles based magazine Rock City News . While charismatic frontman James Gabriel has earned the nomination for "Best Male Vocals" for his powerful and captivating melodic vocal skills mixed with the tasteful duality of stunning heartfelt aggression that rivals some of the best in the business.

Having toured extensively on the national circuit from arenas to event centers and clubs alike, sharing the stage with such notable hard rock heavyweights as Linkin Park, Staind, Disturbed, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Sevendust, Shinedown, Blue October, Chris Cornell, Atreyu, 10 Years, Smile Empty Soul, Powerman 5000, Lacuna Coil, Dropkick Murphys, Nonpoint, Mushroomhead, Ill Nino, Otep and the recently reunited grammy nominated rock act Rage Against The Machine. CROOKED is primed to leave their mark on the music industry.

James Gabriel - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Keyboards and Programming
David Benton - Bass
Adam Peterson - Guitar
Alexi Greenling - Drums

http://www.crooked1.com/

Crooked is also a rapper from North-Cali and part of the Darkroom Familia.

SHIFT
Crooked Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can we pretend for a day
All this pain went away
I arrange myself to be
A product of all I see
I wish that I could be
Something more than me
I feel this changing me
Grabbing, pulling down and changing me

Every time I look in your eyes
You make it so hard that I cant find
I cannot feel free
Look at yourself before you look at me

I cannot feel
I have no feeling

Overall Meaning

The song "Shift" by Crooked is about the struggle of feeling trapped and powerless, and the desire to escape from that. The lyrics evoke a sense of being overwhelmed and burdened by one's own circumstances, and the longing for something more. The opening line, "Can we pretend for a day, all this pain went away," suggests a sense of desperation and a desire to escape for even just a moment. The following line, "I arrange myself to be a product of all I see," speaks to the idea of being influenced by one's surroundings and feeling defined by them.

The chorus, "Every time I look in your eyes, you make it so hard that I can't find, I cannot feel free, look at yourself before you look at me," seems to be directed at someone else who is causing a feeling of entrapment or oppression. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to maintain their own sense of identity and autonomy when they are constantly being pushed down and restricted by someone else. The final line, "I cannot feel, I have no feeling," reinforces the idea that the singer has been so beaten down that they feel numb and disconnected from their emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

Can we pretend for a day
Is it possible for us to imagine, just for a day

All this pain went away
That all our suffering simply vanishes

I arrange myself to be
I shape myself into someone

A product of all I see
Based on everything that I witness around me

I wish that I could be
I desire to exist as something different

Something more than me
Something greater than my current self

I feel this changing me
I sense that something is altering within me

Grabbing, pulling down and changing me
It's seizing and dragging me down, modifying me irreversibly

Every time I look in your eyes
Whenever I gaze into your eyes

You make it so hard that I cant find
You make it incredibly difficult for me to locate

I cannot feel free
I don't possess the freedom to do what I want