Crocodiles // Stubbs BBQ 06.11.12

San Diego based Crocodiles ripped through a stellar opening set last week at Stubb’s BBQ here in the ATX. They may have only been getting the crowd ready for headliner The Temper Trap but they were easily my favorite part of the evening. It seemed an odd pairing anyway. There was hardly any familiar ground between T Trap’s lofty stadium ambitions (spread over a falsetto croon) and Crocodiles’ lo-fi noise barrage (that cuts with angular rhythms and reverb laden hooks). In the end the Crocs were Chrome to the Trap’s Plastic.

The band never lost momentum throughout the relatively quick setlist. They warmed up with new single Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9) and then cranked into full gear with my hands down favorite Crocodiles track, the joyfully sacrilegious Neon Jesus. From there on it was hardly a moment of silence as nearly every song was strung together with a barrage of guitar feedback or some other wall of beautiful dischord.

Having been a fan of theirs since their debut back in 2009 it was nice to see the band unafraid to tread older waters. The crowd was suffering a bit in the Texas heat and it was hard to muster more than a head nod until the breeze picked up a bit, turning the set into the perfect ice-cold LoneStar chugging soundtrack. It wasn’t long before we realized this would be an awesome band to watch rehearse in a sweaty packed garage and started making comparisons to the Velvet Underground (with more growl) or (a slightly more grounded) Spacemen 3.

Then, before we knew it, it was dark and the Crocs had to make room for something completely different. Something much bigger, but really only about half the fun.

- Sleeperwolf

Crocodiles’ 3rd album, Endless Flowers, is out now via Frenchkiss Records. Remaining tour dates after the free music.

Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9) // download



Endless Flowers // download


    Remaining US tour dates:

    06.22 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
    06.23 Chicago, IL - Reggie’s Rock Club
    06.24 Detroit, MI - Magic Bag
    06.25 Toledo, OH - Mickey Finn’s
    06.26 Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox
    06.27 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell’s
    07.13 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
    07.14 New York, NY - Village VOice 4Knots Festival
    07.15 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
    07.16 Chapel Hill, NC - Cat’s Cradle
    07.18 Orlando, FL - The Social
    07.19 Palm Beach, FL - Respectable Street
    07.20 Miami, FL - The Vagabond
    07.21 Tampa, FL - New World Brewery
    07.22 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Purgatory Stage)
    07.24 Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant Street

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