#AOTW-THE GROWLERS

It’s refreshing in this day and age when a band can maintain some semblance of mystery. In the overwhelmingly media saturated culture we live in, it’s nice when certain aspects of people’s lives remain unknown. I bring this up because we now live in the time of celebrity sex tapes, gossip blogs, and well shit the Internet in general. We know too much about unimportant things. So when digging up bio info for this week’s AOTW, I was delighted to find very little. What I did find was this excerpt written by not a member of the band or professional writer, but by RCVA Surfer Alex Knost reposted wherever bio info on the Growlers was needed:

The growlers are a rock and pop group formed in long beach California in 2006 who are yet to became one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music. During their years of stardom yet to come, the band consists of Brooks Nielson (vocals) Scott Montoya(bass guitar, vocals,), Matt Taylor(lead guitar, vocals) and Brian “don’t surf” Stewart (drums, vocals). They were managed by their own alter ego Epstein until his death in 2009. …

It goes on for a bit longer, but the poorly worded ramblings of Mr. Knost are cited on many sites as gospel. I like that. I like a little theatricality in music. Why take yourself seriously when you can make money fucking around? I don’t care if we never get the real story. This week’s Artist of The Week: The Growlers.

As Knost pointed out, The Growlers came onto the scene in 2006. Their sound has been classified, as “Beach Goth,” but “Beach Goth” doesn’t mean shit. The band itself on a t-shirt coined the phrase, rock writers ran with it. The band stands out by performing psychedelic surf songs about zombies, graveyards, and having a good time. Their first full-length was released in 2007 titled The Greatest sHits a sprawling 25 track record that was accompanied by the DIY Coupling EPs. Those recordings combined with endless touring allowed the band to build a following for their unique sound. Here is their track Sunset Girl from Greatest sHits, it reminds me of The Arctic Monkey’s Suck It and See. It’s less spooky than the other Growler tracks but I really get a kick out of it.

Their second album came in 2009 titled Are You In Or Out? This is when The Growlers really hit their stride. The band’s lead singer Brook’s Nielsen is attributed for most of the gothic and occult themes in their songs and they really start to come through here. His voice warbles through as if Deer Tick’s John McCauley decided to start doing a Jim Morrison impression. I mean that in a good way, and that’s saying something considering I hate The Doors. There’s just too much damn organ going on. Sometimes songs need to end fellas. I think the band is at it’s best on HeeHaw Stomp, when they go really twangy and heavy on the reverb.

That video is a trip. Most of the videos The Growlers put out are exactly that. A trip. Each of them is eerie, unsettling, and hypnotic. Few bands these days know how to execute a good video. Too much emphasis is put into special effects. Poignant moments don’t happen in After Effects. Simplicity is the name of the game.

Next came my favorite Growlers album, Hot Tropics, released in 2010. It is chock-full of hits. It starts out with Graveyard’s Full. The vocals and instrumentation come together to form a gypsy creepfest for the ears. In this rendition of the song, performed on Audiotree Live, we get a glimpse of Brooks performing while doing trance like two-step. I love it. I hope that move becomes socially acceptable everywhere.

Sea Lion Goth Blues is where these undead beach boys go into full swing. It’s got the black magic lyrics, the 60’s surf guitar, and the understated drums, all of which would be right at home in a zombie version of Beach Blanket Bingo. Can they make that? Zombies are big right now. Why not get a zombie musical off the ground? Frank Darabont, if you’re reading this, get to it.

Their most recent effort titled Hung At Heart came out late last month. The release was delayed in order for the band to figure out just exactly what they wanted to put out there. With all members participating writing songs, The Growlers literally had hundreds to choose from. Hung At Heart represents a mere thirteen of them. Pet Shop Eye’s is a great little ditty off of the album. A crooner style love song about meeting a beautiful girl that the protagonist can do nothing about because, well, he’s already got a lady and he can’t go bringing another one back to the crib. Most ladies don’t find that kosher.

For a band classified as “Beach Goth” they don’t look Goth at all. I assume that’s because The Growlers are in on the secret of music, which is, music is supposed to be fun. What’s fun about Goth? What’s fun about looking sad all the time? These guys get it. They went the other way. Weird wigs, big hats, wacky stage presence, and great tunes. Along with their discography, The Growlers are putting together one hell of a resume. Last year they played countless road gigs, as well as Rock in Rio, Brazil’s largest rock festival. This year there will be more road gigs and they are now slated to play Coachella. That being said there is no reason to miss them. Keep an eye out for their tour bus pictured here.