The Growlers have taken up something of a residency at Baby’s All Right this week. Their West Coast vibes are taking over the venue for a healthy five-night run (which started last night), but tickets are unfortunately sold out. If you didn’t manage get tickets, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.
Below, you’ll find videos taken by our Photo Editor Cheryl Georgette Arent from the Growlers’ September show at Bowery Ballroom, and a sneak peek of our feature with the band that can be found in Issue #3. You definitely need to take part in their live show experience, and this is the next best thing to snagging a ticket of your own. So enjoy the band’s warm, summery vibes while you take shelter from this endless NYC winter.
The Growlers, a gypsy-inspired quintet led by singer Brooks Nielsen and guitarist Matt Taylor, are one of the most recognized ambassadors of surf-rock and all things West Coast. Their latest album, Chinese Fountain, is the band’s fifth studio album, and the most polished to date. In addition to their trademark sound – strained gravelly vocals, guitar twang, warm organ tones, and reverb – Chinese Fountain flirts with both dance music and the virtues of crisper mixing, culminating in an impressive sonic evolution for the band. But don’t worry – that much-loved hangover grit is still there; it’s just taken the time to brush its teeth and put on some pants.
Known for its rowdy, female-heavy audience, the Growlers’ Beach Goth festival just celebrated its third year in Santa Ana, and though I was unable to make my way out west to catch the psychedelic debauchery, I got to see the Growlers at their sold out show at Bowery Ballroom back in September. That night, which opened with an elaborate Chinese dragon show, had a curious, child-like energy permeating through the space as the band serenaded the crowd with a collage of sounds – from surf to psych to garage, even incorporating elements of disco.
From what I can tell from their music and live show, Nielsen genuinely understands people – specifically, how they work and how to work them. With a mastery of simple yet cutting lyrics, the Growlers spin poetic tales detailing the plight of a mischievous hopeless romantic. At Bowery Ballroom, frenzied fans pushed to the front to better experience Nielsen’s storytelling spell, following his every word and move as he shuffled and sang onstage. In a fit of wild energy, he swung his mic, only to have it disengage into the crowd and nail someone in the head. He felt horrible about the mishap, and when he got the mic back, he dedicated the next song to his “swollen angel,” which made the crowd collectively swoon.
After heading home, I couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the experience. This beach goth vibe encapsulates something special, and I wanted to understand it further, possibly discover the hidden meaning behind the band’s deceptively down-to-earth lyrics. So with the help of my buddy Nathan at Riot Act, I was able to score some phone time with Nielsen while the Growlers were on their US tour.
