Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Sims Sr.
Hi Kevin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Early on (1997), I made an album with my hometown (Denison, TX) band THREE and had some regional success. I moved to Austin in 2004 and, within a year, began playing in corporate cover bands for an income while putting a band (Lies A Bloom) together and writing an album that was released in 2009 to some acclaim. A few years passed, during which my cover band career began to rob me of my creative endeavors. If I wasn’t working, I rarely would pick my guitar or sit down at the piano because I associated these things with work. In 2017, this frustration drove me to have a moment of singular inspiration (at the time, my love for classic progressive rock music had been renewed, particularly with a band called Gentle Giant). A concept album about my teenage years of working in construction with Stan: I would quit my cover band gigs, begin working in construction (for research), and embark on one of the most creative periods of my life. I formed a band of amazing players (of which mutual respect had been built in the cover band world), and Crocodile was born. We made that album (His Name Is Stan And He’s A Bad Motherf**ker) about a workaholic named Stan and a punk kid named Kevin and released it in 2018 to much acclaim. We followed the success of our first album with the follow-up “Howling Mad Black Music Under Hot Stars” in 2019. Then the pandemic happened, and here we are in 2023, releasing our third album (Oct 12), “The Tale Of Otter, Thorn Eater, And The Colored Coyotes Of Hidden City” – A progressive rock western. It’s the first album that embodies the potential of Austin rock and roll music.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Seldom. Haha. Any time one must manage a group of people for one’s creative vision, it’s vital to find the momentum and then surf it the best you can. It’s quite the balancing act. This is especially true in progressive rock, which demands lots of work, group management, rehearsing, and time, as the material is usually complex and musically demanding. And sometimes, the only reward is the music itself. So, finding that special gang of players that believe in something strong enough to be now releasing our third album together should be cherished and not taken for granted. Also, balancing your financial life (which can be trying for an Austin musician/creative) is always a possible source of frustration and uncertainty. The current music business landscape is only sometimes in favor of the artist.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
- Personally
I am a musician (primarily guitar, but I also play bass guitar, piano, drums, sing and teach music) and a writer. For example, our upcoming album is a concept fusing progressive rock with classic country music to create an album that unfolds as if you were watching a Western. So, I had to essentially write the “movie” first to know the lyrical layout and the musical arc that would best tell the story. The method was a first for me, and the process was self-inspiring. - Crocodile
We specialize in making interesting progressive rock albums. Progressive rock is a tricky label. To us, it has a classic (YES, Genesis, RUSH, Jethro Tull, ELP) meaning, but only in so far as we approach making music in an unrestricted (one could say indulgent!) way where the only limitations are your wildest imaginations and your skill. However, complexity for its own sake is boring. It sucks. That’s why having a nice melody, a good groove, or a moving lyric is just as important. In this regard, we are also influenced by other bands like ELO, The Smiths, and The Beach Boys. The result is a creative balance of mentally stimulating music with emotionally satisfying grooves and feelings. All with a healthy dose of Austin guitar playing!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Getting out and seeing other bands (especially in your genre) is vital. Not just to be supportive of your peers, which is important, but otherwise, you might risk forever being “the new guy.” Always on the outside, especially if you’re not a social type by default. People are sensitive, especially artists or creative types, so support and unspoken encouragement can go a long way with all of us. And the nice thing is that these gestures are usually reciprocated if not multiplied. Go to shows. Say hi. Introduce yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crocodileatx.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/crocodileatx
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/crocodileatx
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3wT52aN1VXavZK2If81fVy?si=4wC4FBJFTjSlalmpWJCdPw
Image Credits
Angela P. Betancourt (Crocodile pics), Heather Mason (individual and live pics)
