28th July 2009
Right I'm going to try and only mention this briefly and if I stray off at a tangent as this review progresses then feel free to set badgers upon me! Crocodile live at Stereo in Glasgow lasted a mere 25 minutes. I never even got my pint finished and I did hang around for several tens of minutes afterwards awaiting an encore or something - anything!
That's it I've said my piece now despite my rankles and I have to say Crocodiles (for all 25 minutes) were astounding. Waltzing on-stage looking very unassuming; I say that because they could have been any number of skinny-dressed indie wannabes except for the fact that vocalist Brandon Welchez tonight resembles a youthful, brazen Lou Reed and sounds every bit as convincing. He leaps about wildly throwing imaginary shapes and staring into oblivion. It's an impressive feat considering the crowd are little in number and very subdued for a Glasgow crowd and tonight Crocodiles deserved the full on Glasgow treatment.
Bursting the ears with an assault that is made all the more impressive when you consider it's just Welchez and guitarist Charles Rowland backed by processed beats that stand-up surprisingly well with Rowland's screeching guitar and effects library. Rowlands is very much the star here even if Welchez looks and acts the part he's Marr to Welchez's Morrissey.
'Flash of Light' screams like some kind of manic loony patient who's watched one too many X-Files episodes and truly believes, 'Soft Skull (In My Room)' is very much born and bred in the grime of downtown 70's NYC, whilst the finale 'I Wanna Kill' is simply the best send off. I just wasn't expecting it so soon but it's the perfect dark summer tune that just bristles with spiky energy and as Welchez continues his Lou Reed fantasy the rest of us simply stare in awe.
Meandering outside I'm kinda lost as it's too early to go home but I wander about charged from the show looking for something, anything that will fill me up for the evening. Alas I head for the train enthralled yet slightly disappointed. It's an awkward feeling yet I know I've seen a spectacle.

That's it I've said my piece now despite my rankles and I have to say Crocodiles (for all 25 minutes) were astounding. Waltzing on-stage looking very unassuming; I say that because they could have been any number of skinny-dressed indie wannabes except for the fact that vocalist Brandon Welchez tonight resembles a youthful, brazen Lou Reed and sounds every bit as convincing. He leaps about wildly throwing imaginary shapes and staring into oblivion. It's an impressive feat considering the crowd are little in number and very subdued for a Glasgow crowd and tonight Crocodiles deserved the full on Glasgow treatment.
Bursting the ears with an assault that is made all the more impressive when you consider it's just Welchez and guitarist Charles Rowland backed by processed beats that stand-up surprisingly well with Rowland's screeching guitar and effects library. Rowlands is very much the star here even if Welchez looks and acts the part he's Marr to Welchez's Morrissey.
'Flash of Light' screams like some kind of manic loony patient who's watched one too many X-Files episodes and truly believes, 'Soft Skull (In My Room)' is very much born and bred in the grime of downtown 70's NYC, whilst the finale 'I Wanna Kill' is simply the best send off. I just wasn't expecting it so soon but it's the perfect dark summer tune that just bristles with spiky energy and as Welchez continues his Lou Reed fantasy the rest of us simply stare in awe.
Meandering outside I'm kinda lost as it's too early to go home but I wander about charged from the show looking for something, anything that will fill me up for the evening. Alas I head for the train enthralled yet slightly disappointed. It's an awkward feeling yet I know I've seen a spectacle.



