After Rocket from the Crypt and Hot Snakes disbanded, John Reis — aka Speedo, aka Swami — had a son, Tiger, cofounded the North Park club Bar Pink Elephant (now known as Bar Pink), built a recording studio/rehearsal room in his backyard, hosted his own radio show the Swami Sound System on FM 94.9., and formed a new band, the Night Marchers.

Reis first came to prominence with Drive Like Jehu and Pitchfork. "Even after Rocket from the Crypt and Hot Snakes ran their course, I knew I didn't want to stop playing music," Reis told Billboard.com. "I like collaborating, and I wanted to be part of a band. I wasn't interested in becoming a bedroom artist. I also love to play in front of people."

The Night Marchers also includes Hot Snakes bassist Gar Wood, who has moved to guitar for the Snakes. Wood is a vet of many celebrated SD bands, from Fishwife through Tanner and the current Beehive and the Barracudas. Drummer Jason Kourkounis is a third Hot Snakes vet (he was also in Mule), and bassist Tommy Kitsos (CPC Gangbangs), who lives in Philadelphia, fills out the group.

Asked if he misses the now defunct Rocket from the Crypt, Reis told MyFoxKC.com "I do have a little regret in that now that we don’t play together I don’t see those guys anymore. JC2000 moved to Belize, Apollo 9 is a schoolteacher, Petey X is doing merchandising for tons of bands, Night Marchers included. N.D. I still see quite often, and Mario owns an amazing record store in San Diego called Thirsty Moon."

The only former Hot Snakes player NOT in the Night Marchers is singer-guitarist Rick Froberg, a native San Diegan and graphic artist who transplanted to New York over a decade ago. (Before Hot Snakes, Froberg and Night Marcher front man John Reis played in Drive Like Jehu — they started out together as teens, in Pitchfork.)

Froberg returned to public music-making in 2008, fronting the New York–based band Obits, which already has a self-released single out.

At the 2008 San Diego Music Awards, the Night Marchers took home the Best Rock Album award, for their record See You In Magic. The band was mostly inactive in 2010 and 2011. After two years of inactivity, their sophomore full-length dropped in late 2012, as John Reis announced that a world tour was being booked for summer 2013.

Their full-length Allez Allez won Best Alternative Album at the October 2013 San Diego Music Awards.

As of 2016, bassist Tommy Kitsos was playing with Cruz Radical.