The Growlers in Denver

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 + Denver

The Growlers rolled through the Ogden Theatre in July 2019 with the kind of set that rewarded longtime fans. They dug into deeper cuts like 'Monotonía' and 'The Moaning Man From Shanty Town' alongside staples, building toward 'Going Gets Tough' as their closer. It was the sort of show that suggested they take Denver seriously—23 songs that felt less like a greatest hits run and more like a band working through their actual catalog.

The Growlers in Denver News

• Review – The Growlers Brought “Beach Goth” To Denver 303 Magazine · Jul 22, 2019
• The Best Concerts in Denver This Weekend Westword · Jul 19, 2019
• 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 Denver

Denver's got a soft spot for bands that don't stay in one lane, which plays to The Growlers's strengths. The city's seen enough psych-rock and indie experimentation to not flinch at their drift between surf, punk, and electronic territory. Local venues have built an audience for exactly this kind of genre-fluid noise—restless, skeptical listeners who'd rather hear something odd than something safe.

Denver road trip to see The Growlers?

Stay in Highland, where tree-lined streets and independent bookstores make it feel like you're actually in Denver rather than passing through. Eat at Frasca Food and Wine if you want to understand why Colorado takes its ingredients seriously—it's fine dining without pretense. Before the show, spend an afternoon at the Denver Art Museum's contemporary wing, which often has installations that match the visual language of experimental music. Walk around Santa Fe Drive's gallery district. It's the kind of neighborhood where the art and music scenes actually talk to each other.