The Growlers in Phoenix

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 Phoenix News

• BRONCHO Book 'Double Vanity' 10th Anniversary North American Tour Exclaim! · Feb 2, 2026
• The Growlers Announce 2020 ‘Natural Affair’ Spring Tour Live For Live Music · Oct 14, 2019
• The Growlers announce 2019 fall tour Consequence of Sound · Apr 22, 2019
• The Growlers Tickets, Concerts & 2026 Tour Dates Event Tickets Center · Jun 26, 2018
• The Growlers: Beyond The Beach Jambands · Feb 21, 2015

Live Music in Phoenix

Phoenix's underground music scene has always had a weird streak — maybe it's the heat, maybe it's the isolation. The city's given us some genuinely strange and compelling artists, and there's a solid appetite for the kind of atmospheric, off-kilter rock that The Growlers deal in. The venue crowds here tend to actually listen rather than just exist in the same room.

Phoenix road trip to see The Growlers?

Stay in Arcadia, where tree-lined streets and restored Craftsman homes give you actual neighborhood texture instead of generic sprawl. Eat at Otro, where the cooking is precise without being pretentious. Hit the Heard Museum if you want to understand what Arizona actually is beneath the tourism layer. Hike Camelback Mountain early morning before the heat makes it punishing. Spend an afternoon at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home, which feels oddly fitting for a band that cares about emotional architecture. The whole city slows down at sunset in a way that makes Dashboard's introspection feel less like melancholy and more like clarity.