Crocodiles @ Stereo, 19 Oct

With grizzly bear flags of the California Republic draped proudly over their amps, San Diego’s latest burp of youthful boredom, recently enlarged from recording duo to touring four-piece, romp their way through a convincing set of sunshine haze and delay-soaked ripple. Sounding considerably familiar throughout, Crocodiles tend to underplay their doo-wop feedback shrug, accentuating instead a somewhat lo-fi caveman thud. J&MC comparisons (and straight-out quotations) aside, these guys have found a comfortable stylistic spot in which to chill that, within the live setting, manages to bridge the generational chasm between psych treasures and SoCal forebears Electric Prunes and eighties drug-swallowers Spacemen 3. Opening with Neon Jesus (the debut single they proved their mettle with), the boys come across as much sincere and detached as they do confident and alert. The reverb is thick, the swagger is noticeably present and somehow rays of melody shine through murky clouds of feedback.