The Growlers have always brought people together, primarily through their eclectic sound that has only become more diverse over their decade spanning career. The Growlers have built their own world, one best described by their ethos ‘Beach Goth’, which, as the name suggests, is both hopeful and haunting.
Starcrawler. Photo courtesy of @jack.gobbe
No strangers to Australia, The Growlers have brought their travelling circus down under once again for their biggest headline tour to date. Opening act Starcrawler fit the ‘Beach Goth’ bill to a tee, their abrasive and psychedelic punk making their debut Australian tour one to remember. Where Starcrawler brought the zany energy of their hometown Los Angeles, Babe Rainbow delivered their signature Byron Bay breeze with a set that ignited a boogie in every punter.
Babe Rainbow. Photo courtesy of @jack.gobbe
The Growlers began their night with their latest single, ‘Try Hard Fool’, a shimmering track that finds the band perfectly blend introspective lyrics with disco surf sounds - quintessential Growlers. The swaying riff of ‘Night Ride’ really kicked the night into gear, the grooves of bassist Anthony Braun Perry accentuating frontman Brooks Nielsen’s croon.
‘Hiding Under Covers’ began a streak of beloved fan favourites from the band’s earlier years. Whether it be the disco grooves of ‘Love Test’ and ‘Black Memories’ to the sun-bleached sounds of ‘Someday’ and ‘Pet Shop Eyes’, The Growlers have crafted a discography full of ever so diverse sounds.
The Growlers. Photo courtesy of @jack.gobbe
‘Pulp of Youth’, a charming cut from new album ‘Natural Affair’, follow the string of older tunes, exhibiting the progress of the band and their constantly evolving sound. The title track of the album finds adoration from the crowd despite its recency, with the pair of new songs shedding light on the healthy state of the band at the turn of the decade.
‘City Club’ and ‘Chinese Fountain’, two of their most groove heavy tracks, round out the set, proving The Growlers can just as easily make you cry as they can dance.
The Growlers. Photo courtesy of @jack.gobbe
As the band emerges onstage for an encore, the loose-limbed crowd greets ‘I’ll Be Around’ with the excitement only found in a crowd of die-hard fans. Closer ‘Going Gets Tough’ finds one of the biggest singalongs, its ever too true lyrics enchantingly sung by Brooks with hints of both despair and hope in his voice.
The track’s subject matter is all too relevant, with Brooks farewelling the crowd with the story of how the song stems from their house burning down, and that many around our country are in the same position and we must stay strong. The Growlers don’t just bring people together, they bring them closer.