Crocodiles (band)

This article is about the American indie pop band. For the New Zealand band, see The Crocodiles.

Crocodiles
Origin	San Diego, California, US
Genres	Noise pop Indie pop Post-punk revival
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Fat Possum Records
Associated acts	The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower The Soft Pack Dum Dum Girls Some Girls The Slits Blank Dogs
Members
Charles Rowell, Brandon Welchez

Not to be confused with the New Zealand band of the same name, Crocodiles are an noise pop/indie pop band from San Diego, California, USA. The group was formed in 2008 by core members Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell after the break-up of their former hardcore bands Some Girls and The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower. Crocodiles' sound has typically been likened to The Jesus and Mary Chain, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Spacemen 3.^[1]

Whilst at the same time playing in an early incarnation of Dum Dum Girls (Welchez is married to frontwoman Dee Dee Penny), Crocodiles initially gained exposure in 2008 after fellow Southern California noise pop band No Age included their single "Neon Jesus" in a list of the year's best songs. This led to the duo being signed to Mississippi-based label Fat Possum Records, who released the band's self-recorded debut album Summer of Hate, in April 2009.

After touring in support of their debut full-length, the first half of 2010 saw Crocodiles go into a studio in the Mojave Dessert with British producer James Ford. The resultant sessions comprise the band's second album Sleep Forever. The record was released by Fat Possum in the September of that year.

In addition to their own recordings, Crocodiles have collaborated with Television Personalties' frontman Dan Treacy as well as Dum Dum Girls. Although initially gigging as a two piece, Welchez and Rowell have expanded the band to include a live drummer, bassist and keyboard player. Musicians in the live band have included members of Blank Dogs and The Slits.

Outside of his activities with Crocodiles, Rowell has published a book of prose writing with Cold Cave front-man Wes Eisold, while Welchez along with wife Penny, occasionally releases records by West-Coast bands under the ZOO MUSIC label name .^[2][3]

Discography

• Summer of Hate (2009)
• Sleep Forever (2010)

References

1. ^ Crocodiles at Allmusic
2. ^ Critics' Choice New CDs, The New York Times, [1], Accessed May 4, 2010
3. ^ Crocodiles: Summer of Hate, Pitchfork Media, [2], Accessed May 4, 2010

External links

• Filmed interview, August 2010