Crobot
CROBOT
“It’s better to reign in hell than to serve God’s will,” sings Crobot’s eccentric vocalist Brandon Yeagley in their grooving track “La Mano de Lucifer.”
A group of hippies born a few decades too late, Crobot jams like the musicians of old, playing psychedelic stoner metal with their special flourish: unashamed nerdiness.
Since their early days they’ve had a fascination with science fiction and incorporate that passion into their music.
“A lot of my lyrics especially come from growing up watching a lot of horror movies,” explains Yeagley. “‘The Necromancer’ actually talks about Deadites, which are from The Evil Dead trilogy.”
A group of hippies born a few decades too late, Crobot jams like the musicians of old, playing psychedelic stoner metal with their special flourish: unashamed nerdiness.
Since their early days they’ve had a fascination with science fiction and incorporate that passion into their music.
“A lot of my lyrics especially come from growing up watching a lot of horror movies,” explains Yeagley. “‘The Necromancer’ actually talks about Deadites, which are from The Evil Dead trilogy.”
Dedicated to the world of sci-fi, they were pleased with the Ender’s Game movie.
“It was a great representation of the novel,” Yeagley argues. “But it just can’t capture everything.”
We also came to the conclusion that explosions in movies must be used tastefully, because otherwise they’re just overkill. “Sometimes it ruins it, and I watch movies a lot less now because of it,” says bassist Jake Figueroa.
“It was a great representation of the novel,” Yeagley argues. “But it just can’t capture everything.”
We also came to the conclusion that explosions in movies must be used tastefully, because otherwise they’re just overkill. “Sometimes it ruins it, and I watch movies a lot less now because of it,” says bassist Jake Figueroa.
A Deadite from The Evil Dead trilogy
In October of last year, Crobot released their first album Something Supernatural, a brilliant debut. The album features the uptempo single “Nowhere to Hide,” which features Yeagley’s unique vocals and the infectious groove they so skillfully craft with the rhythmic contributions of drummer Paul Figueroa and bassist Jake Figueroa.
In “La Mano de Lucifer,” Crobot delves into their dark side, using the ideas of devil worship to create a heavy stew of sound topped with the perfect melodies spun by Yeagley’s clear vocals.
Not only does Crobot wake up the neighbors, but also the dead, with their fast-paced, danceable song “The Necromancer,” which features Yeagley’s harmonica playing. It somehow works perfectly with their stoner metal sound.
I have to admit, psychedelic stoner metal is not my favorite subgenre of rock, but their funk-take on the classic sound hits a sweet spot, and I seriously enjoy listening to their music. And if you enjoy their music on album, wait till you see them live! It’s so much better, if you can imagine that.
In “La Mano de Lucifer,” Crobot delves into their dark side, using the ideas of devil worship to create a heavy stew of sound topped with the perfect melodies spun by Yeagley’s clear vocals.
Not only does Crobot wake up the neighbors, but also the dead, with their fast-paced, danceable song “The Necromancer,” which features Yeagley’s harmonica playing. It somehow works perfectly with their stoner metal sound.
I have to admit, psychedelic stoner metal is not my favorite subgenre of rock, but their funk-take on the classic sound hits a sweet spot, and I seriously enjoy listening to their music. And if you enjoy their music on album, wait till you see them live! It’s so much better, if you can imagine that.
Although Something Supernatural came out only eight months ago, they are already planning to hit the studio and start recording a new record.
“That’s our plan,” explains Jake Figueroa, laughing, “but there are other people involved in the process who have a much different plan for how it’s all supposed to go down.”
Crobot has encountered a concept called ‘marketing strategies,’ that tends to get in the way of relieving their itch to publish new music. Despite the annoyance of it, they do have to admit that their record label is usually right, and takes good care of them.
In fact, their label has helped them to get on tour with Anthrax and Volbeat, which is apparently the best thing in the world because Volbeat has an awesome caterer.
“Culinary Underground is the company. They are—can I say the f-word?—fucking awesome,” says Jake Figueroa.
“That’s our plan,” explains Jake Figueroa, laughing, “but there are other people involved in the process who have a much different plan for how it’s all supposed to go down.”
Crobot has encountered a concept called ‘marketing strategies,’ that tends to get in the way of relieving their itch to publish new music. Despite the annoyance of it, they do have to admit that their record label is usually right, and takes good care of them.
In fact, their label has helped them to get on tour with Anthrax and Volbeat, which is apparently the best thing in the world because Volbeat has an awesome caterer.
“Culinary Underground is the company. They are—can I say the f-word?—fucking awesome,” says Jake Figueroa.
Being on tour with Volbeat and Anthrax has been a memorable experience for Crobot, and the best part of it, according to Yeagley, is “finding weed.”
Crobot is from Pottsville, PA, and I can’t help but be amazed at such a coincidence. I wonder if they live off of highway 420.
Marijuana is an important part of Crobot’s life; it helps them explore more creative alleyways.
“We’ve actually been told before when we’re in the studio, ‘You guys need to go outside and smoke a little bit, then come back and re-write that riff,’” laughs drummer Paul Figueroa.
In fact, as a gesture of kindness, they passed out rolling papers to the muddy crowds at Rocklahoma while they slipped and slid (and in the case of Bishop, fell) on stage in the driving, horizontal rainstorm.
Crobot is from Pottsville, PA, and I can’t help but be amazed at such a coincidence. I wonder if they live off of highway 420.
Marijuana is an important part of Crobot’s life; it helps them explore more creative alleyways.
“We’ve actually been told before when we’re in the studio, ‘You guys need to go outside and smoke a little bit, then come back and re-write that riff,’” laughs drummer Paul Figueroa.
In fact, as a gesture of kindness, they passed out rolling papers to the muddy crowds at Rocklahoma while they slipped and slid (and in the case of Bishop, fell) on stage in the driving, horizontal rainstorm.
At the end of interviews, I traditionally ask, What is one question you’ve always wanted to be asked during an interview, but never have?
Yeagley’s immediate response was, “What’s my favorite color? Nobody ever asks me that.” Of course, when I then asked him what his favorite color is, his response was, “I don’t know.”
Jake Figueroa said, “I’ve always wanted somebody to ask me to hang out, but I’m just a bass player, so nobody wants to hang out.”
Then the band decided that what they’ve always wanted to be asked is the question, Will you come smoke a joint with me after the interview? Of course, I wasn’t going to ask them to smoke a joint with me, so instead I offered them to go smoke a joint without me, which they appreciated, and I assume they fulfilled.
Yeagley’s immediate response was, “What’s my favorite color? Nobody ever asks me that.” Of course, when I then asked him what his favorite color is, his response was, “I don’t know.”
Jake Figueroa said, “I’ve always wanted somebody to ask me to hang out, but I’m just a bass player, so nobody wants to hang out.”
Then the band decided that what they’ve always wanted to be asked is the question, Will you come smoke a joint with me after the interview? Of course, I wasn’t going to ask them to smoke a joint with me, so instead I offered them to go smoke a joint without me, which they appreciated, and I assume they fulfilled.
 | Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future. |
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