by Lauren Rosier
Photo by Travis Shinn
I’ve known the Pennsylvania-based hard rock band, Crobot, long before they were sharing the stage with rock giants, Anthrax and Motorhead. Back then, they played bowling alleys in small Pennsylvania towns. Things have certainly changed for the quartet since they were signed to rock record label Wind-Up Records in 2013.
“It’s been crazy! To think that we’ve been to 20 different countries in the past year is insanity. We’ve been working hard for a while and will continue to keep doing what we do best, write and play music,” lead vocalist Brandon Yeagley explains. “The fact that we see fans screaming the words back to us from here to Lithuania is just a crazy thing. We’ve been really fortunate to have such a great team working with us and a lot of people willing to do everything they can to help spread the word. “
It’s definitely been a crazy ride since 2013- a new record,new publicists, hectic touring schedules.
“We have always been really keen on staying hard at work and keeping busy; so, the hectic schedule is something we have grown used to. We wouldn’t change it for the world though. Hard work certainly pays off. Of course, you need quite a bit of luck involved, too. It is really an amazing thing to have such a great team helping us along the way. We wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for the fans and our Crobot crew alike,” Yeagley says.
The band’s first single, “Nowhere To Hide” is a straight up rock and roll track and nothing more. Completely full of the rock and roll spirit.
“[Nowhere To Hide] represents the surface of the Crobot spectrum. It could definitely represent our sound in a nutshell. Fast-paced, in-your-face rock ‘n roll is what we are all about,” Yeagley explains. “Another track that could singularly define our sound is ‘Skull of Geronimo’. We each have our own moments on that track and it ventures through the Crobot sonic spectrum seamlessly. It’s also one of our favorite songs to play live.”
Crobot’s latest release, Something Supernatural, is absolutely mind-blowing. Much of the influence on the record comes from essential hard rock bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. However, that isn’t the only era the band draws inspiration from.
“There are certainly a number of great bands out there that are similarly putting their own stamp on a classic sound,” Yeagley adds. “Bands such as Graveyard, Clutch, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, Corrosion of Conformity, and Queens of the Stone Age are all bands that have also solidified their way into the Crobot spectrum of muses.”
The band’s writing process draws heavily from being fans of rock music and just being products of their respective environments.
“Whether it was the fermentation of our eardrums in hard rock since our youth, or the continuation of stepping backwards chronologically in our sonic tilling endeavors, when we step foot inside the writing shed, it is a totally organic process. We lock ourselves in the garage, armed with our audible weapons of choice, a case of beer, and a few joints, and just see what happens,” Yeagley states.
They aren’t concerned about writing the next radio hit or following any trends.
“We are truly creating music we would love to hear As selfish as it may sound, we write songs for Crobot.”
Crobot plays The Chameleon Club in Lancaster tonight and will be back in the Philadelphia area on 9/22 at the Tower Theatre.
