YoBeat: Making Fun of Snowboarding Since 1997

In the ’80s babes would have died for this treatment.  photo: Carey Haider

The San Diego-based Crocodiles may be on the verge of infiltrating your iPod. In Costa Mesa, California the clothing brand Comune has begun supporting the band. Bataleon Am Ben Rice plans to use their tunes if he can put a part together, and Jimmy Fontaine (ex-snowboard photographer, now fashion photographer/Comune Drop City artist) is roommates with the new bass player. MGMT, Postal Service, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (to name a few) are all bands that found an audience in snowboard culture prior to “making it.” Could the Crocodiles be headed down this same track? After seeing this band live it seems possible.

The live show was raunchy, energetic, and talented. Between the performance, antics, and male love, the Crocodiles are not a live show you want to miss. The band went on in darkness, only three red lights back lit the band. In this haunting red glow four silhouettes took their places on stage, an unexpected explosion of electric guitar followed.

Her head shook harder than anyone else’s. photo: Carey Haider

Opening for The Raveonettes, the Crocodiles put on a thirty minute rock show that angered some and excited plenty. The foursome combined to create a highly entertaining show. The guitarist embodied Rock n’ Roll. Visualize the cool confidence of James Dean with an electric guitar, messier hair, and skin tight denim. The drummer, a new addition, plays loud, and never seems to tire. The other new addition, the bass player, kept a loud and energetic rhythm that was hard not to beat your feet too. Fittingly, the standout member is the front man. His on-stage madness engaged the crowd and inspired a range of emotions. Aggressive sexual advances on several crowd members, constant spitting, and Elvis like dance moves were all a part of his show.

The live performance combined electric elements with punk roots. The sound is a combination of tech loops, early punk grit, and has qualities reminiscent of the earlier sounds produced by the B-52’s. In short, it was great. The boys were wild, the show was rowdy, and the crowd bobbed up and down in shared excitement. By the end of the show my ears rang and I felt compelled to buy their CD, and I never buy CDs. I was also convinced that this band had a future, and that their current tour would be a stepping stone to the big time.

It was his show, piss and vinegar included.   photo: Carey Haider

Expect the Crocodiles to build a snowboard following. Their latest recording “Summer of Hate” was recorded when the band was still a two man organization, and while the CD is enjoyable, the four man live show was much better. The addition of a drummer and bass player has given the band’s sound more attitude, more punch, and a harder feel. Since becoming a four man show the Crocodiles have toured Europe and parts of the US. The experience, and inclusion of a drummer and bass player, has developed the bands sound for the better. A bright future seems inevitable.

To hear some tunes and learn more visit:

The Blog

http://killkillkillcrocodiles.blogspot.com/

The Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/crocodilescrocodilescrocodiles