Quick review: Crocodiles

Crocodiles at Privatclub the other night was pretty swell. For a band that lives all over the world, Berlin somehow always works out like a gig on home turf. Friends were there, supporting; the atomsphere was sweet.

Unfortunately, the sound was not as good as it maybe could have been. It was my first time at the new Privatclub on Skalitzer Straße and I am not familiar with their sound system and how it normally performs but I have heard Crocodiles with better sound at a festival. Not to worry - the new material is great and I can't wait for the album to be released.

Viva Crocodiles.

Review: Crocodiles (again)

Remember the Civil Civic concert and my subsequent review? Remember how disappointed I was that this amazing band, one of my absolute favourites, weren't given the chance to give a good performance because of the sound that night and other more minor circumstances? Remember my frustration?

Well, as sad as I am to say this, but this night tells a similar story. I was so hyped to go to this show. Having seen Crocodiles three times before, performing to perfection yet with raw rock'n'roll sound and antics, I couldn't wait for another party with this group, and to hear the new material. For this was the record release party for the new album. The excitement was almost unbearable. I'm a fan after all.

Quick review: Crocodiles

I was so very unsure of whether this was going to work. Crocodiles at Festsaal? Sounds like a gamble. But what do you know? It did work just fine. This was thanks to a fairly young audience willing to dance and support the band. But primarily, that band has gone from a lo-fi two-piece to a professional five-piece band, which knows how to perform. And they don't need amazing lighting or projections or curtains. Rock'n'Roll and an attitude is all it takes.

The odd thing was: all the while I was watching the gig I was thinking "I shouldn't like this" and all the while I was loving it. The music doesn't seem that special when you theoretically analyse it. It's a mix of a lot of "have heard before". The stage show isn't out of the ordinary. But Crocodiles just get it right. It all works perfectly in synch - the music with the attitude and performance - and you can't help but enjoy it. 

I'm glad they seem to have taken a liking to Berlin, having played here twice this year, as well as a couple of DJ gigs. Because they somehow match Berlin and Berlin appreciates them. They are a good band, the way good bands should be: no gimmicks.

If you like to see pictures of Crocodiles and read a little more about them, check out my review of their gig at West Germany.

Review: Crocodiles

Somehow this gig felt incredibly exclusive, queueing in the staircase that leads to West Germany at 11pm on a Thursday night. We heard the band soundchecking and the excitement was building.

Crocodiles actually came onstage at midnight and, since they had had a warm up as support of White Lies at C-Halle, went into a full rock performance straight away. Musically tight with a good rhythm section, they played their songs with a lot more rock'n'roll than they sound on record.
Lead singer Brandon Welchez sure likes to give a performance, and on this occasion that included anything from grabbing a phone from an audience member, joining the crowd for a dance, climbing on top of the drum set, to just dancing in a self-indulgent fashion. It made for a fun gig to watch.

If I didn't know this group was from San Diego, I would for sure guess so anyway. The look and energy convey Southern Californian style to the max and strongly remind me of a lot of groups from San Diego in the 1990s.
But, to the disappointment of my date, they weren't wearing sunglasses onstage. 

Maybe I felt at times that the band was loving itself just that little too much. But then again, I prefer that a lot to those groups who just stand around playing a guitar with nothing much to it.

This was something. This was fun.