The Growlers in Atlanta

About The Growlers

The Growlers are an Orange County indie rock band that emerged in the late 2000s with a sound that blends surf rock languor with garage rock grit. Built around Brooks Nielsen's deadpan vocals, they've developed a reputation for moody, hypnotic tracks that feel both detached and deeply felt. Their earlier work carried a stoned, coastal vibe—think lazy afternoons that suddenly snap into focus. Songs like 'City Club' showcased their ability to construct simple melodies that burrow into your head, while tracks like 'Artificial Light' demonstrated darker, more introspective leanings. The band has evolved beyond their initial Beach Goth aesthetic while maintaining the core appeal: songs that sound effortless but aren't, lyrics that reveal themselves slowly, and a general refusal to seem like they're trying too hard.

Their shows move at their own pace—no false energy, just a steady, almost hypnotic pull. Crowds tend to sway rather than thrash. Nielsen's delivery stays cool and measured even in intimate venues, which somehow makes songs hit harder. They're the band you watch rather than the band that demands your participation.

Known for City Club, Sunshine, Artificial Light, Floating, The One That Got Away

The Growlers in Atlanta News

• Tour news: Drain, The Growlers, Martin Rev, Empire of the Sun, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd / Foreigner, more BrooklynVegan · Nov 17, 2025
• The Growlers Announce Summer 2020 Tour Glide Magazine · Jan 23, 2020
• The Growlers announce 2019 fall tour Consequence of Sound · Apr 22, 2019
• The Growlers Announces Summer 2019 Tour Dates mxdwn Music · Mar 1, 2019
• The Growlers Tickets, Concerts & 2026 Tour Dates Event Tickets Center · Jun 26, 2018

Live Music in Atlanta

Atlanta's indie and alternative scene has always had its own thing going—rooted more in hip-hop and trap influence than the West Coast psych-rock The Growlers trade in. But the city's got enough experimental edge and venue culture to appreciate their fuzzy, hypnotic approach. There's an audience here for this kind of thing.

Atlanta road trip to see The Growlers?

Stay in Buckhead or Virginia Highland for the neighborhood feel — tree-lined streets, good restaurants, walkable enough to actually enjoy yourself. For dinner, Sotto Sotto does excellent Italian in a no-fuss basement setting, or Rathbun's for steak if you want something more formal. Spend an afternoon at the High Museum of Art, then grab drinks at The Eagle, which has the kind of dark-wood-and-whiskey vibe that actually works. Catch a Braves game at Truist Park if timing lines up. The food scene here is legitimately good without being try-hard about it.