Crocodiles, Virals, Silver Arm.

Holy Molys Lev 1 Bedford Esquires. Sunday 25th May 2014.

With so many small independent music venues closing down at a rapid and alarming rate, this weekend saw Esquires celebrate it's 24th birthday. The party atmosphere is further enhanced by a first visit to the main stage by Crocodiles who hail from San Diego, California. This is a band who are steeped in a mixture of retro punk, together with the distorted sounds of JAMC and the persona of BRMC. Tonight's show forms part of the band's Criminal Passion Tour 2014 which is taking in the UK and Europe.

A solid sized Sunday crowd is here to witness the occasion. Indeed, this is a gig that I have eagerly awaited and it is pleasing to report that no one was let down this evening. It is one to remember at Esquires as a cracking night where Crocodiles take great delight in delivering swathes of delayed feedback. They start with a couple of songs from the 2010 "Sleep forever" album, namely "Mirrors" and "Stoned to death". However, I feel that the echoey vocals that blueprint the band's set didn't always work and were slightly overused. I much preferred it when they kept it raw and natural. An unusual choice of cover occurs with "Jet boy jet girl", a controversial 1977 gay punk anthem. Brandon Welchez dementedly sings out "ooh, ooh, ooh, he gives me head". This song is familiar as it contains the same backing music as Plastic Bertrand's "Ca plan pour moi".

Crocodiles formed in 2008 with Brandon Welchez and guitarist Charles Rowell. Tonight they feature songs from their previous albums, but strangely do not touch "Endless flowers". Indeed we are even treated to their early composition "Neon Jesus". "Me and my machine gun" is pure rock 'n' roll. The sleazy leather-clad attitude is best shown when Brandon discards his guitar then prowls and struts the stage. A scary deranged figure, he acts it out superbly. "Teardrop guitar" finds the band almost aping a Manc Roses idea and is taken from current album "Crimes of passion". Crocodiles appear for a feedback laden encore which is notable for these fuzzed up art punks switching on some woozy, drugged up lo-fi noise for their new single "Cockroche". As well as the inevitable T-shirts, vinyl and CDs that are for sale, these Americans have something more quirky, but refined, amongst their merchandise. It is a book of poetry written by the band. One poem is entitled "The eulogy of Brandon Welchez" and I quote "...and as great men leave their mark, he's just left a stain...". No Dylan for sure, but a talented bunch none the less.

Back on 22nd February 2008, a vitriolic frontman appeared here at Esquires in a band called Lovvers. When they split up not long after, long haired vocalist Shaun Hencher formed his next project and christened it Virals. His now quartet are a real departure from the old days, preferring something more down the grungy surf pop route. Stage look and presence is good, although crowd interaction is kept to a bare minimum. Shaun does reveal that this short four day stint with Crocodiles has been hectic. "They've killed us" is his description of the US band's actions. Virals are harmless and fun to watch while they fire out a few songs that remind some of a slacker rocking Ash, but nothing really bites.

Formed in 2012, Silver Arm are the real revelation of this evening. This four piece are London based, but do have local connections. They have an excellent frontman who is both amusing and accident prone in equal measure. Take his opening line, prior to "He of the slow creep"; "This song was written by Mungo Jerry in 1949"! With more than a passing nod to early eighties punk (especially DKs), it is not overtly confrontational. They do not hold back on this main stage debut. Everything is going well when disaster strikes in the form of a broken mic stand. I feel that few people in attendance have previously seen or heard this band as it would have been so good to have seen a few drunken sweaty people jumping up and down a bit, especially to "Black magician" or "Scatterbrains". Possibly the Esquires heckle of the year happens when the Silver Arm vocalist takes a swift five second breather before announcing, somewhat randomly, "I feel like Freddie Mercury right now". Quick as a flash, some wag shouts back "Is that cos you've got AIDS?". Much laughter naturally ensues. One thing I can't agree with is last year's Classic Rock Magazine review. They said that "Man the falcons" had a driving Biffy Clyro style rock feel about it. No it didn't. This was fast but good and in a similar vein is "Bad blood". This completed a quartet of songs taken from the band's current EP which was available on vinyl tonight. My thoughts are more strength to Silver Arm.

Crocodiles set list courtesy of Brandon Welchez:

Mirrors, Stoned to death, Jet boy jet girl, Neon Jesus, Hollow eyes, Me and my machine gun, Refuse angels, Marquis de Sade, Billy Speed, Tear drop guitar, Encore, 96 Tears, Cockroche, I wanna kill.