When you try to describe the music of The Growlers, there will always be some kind of pause as you try to collect your thoughts–the thoughts that are jumping between genres, as you try to figure out exactly where this California band belongs exactly. Their music is dancey, beachy, with hints of reggae, Americana–twisting together elements of all those sounds, creating something entirely their own, which a lot of people compare to being “beach goth”–a genre that The Growlers these days seem to have an iffy opinion about.
The Growlers have been releasing music since 2009. Their debut album called Are You In or Are You Out? first introduced their unique sound to the world, followed by five full-lengths, which includes City Club from last year–the album that was produced by Julian Casablancas and was released on his label, Cult Records. The growth of this band is evident when you listen and compare their bookend albums. Their latest music is still exciting, just way more layered and more electronic, which was the initial aim for their energized sound–to cool it a little with their wavy vibes and switch it up into more synthesizer territory (hence the apprehension to automatically be identified as “beach goth”).
The root of The Growlers’ sound is still funky and experimental, which will always be the core of this adventurous band, but it just has a little more guts this time around.
Brooklyn Bowl
9/27-9/29
8:30 p.m.
$30
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