The Growlers in Salt Lake City

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 + Salt Lake City

The Growlers have kept their Salt Lake City appearances sparse, which makes their 2017 stop at The Depot feel particularly memorable. They rolled through in late March, delivering a stripped-down set anchored by "Big Toe," the kind of track that showcases the band's ability to find strange beauty in mundane subjects. It was the type of show that reminded you why The Growlers operate in their own lane—beachy psych-rock that doesn't need a packed schedule to leave an impression.

The Growlers in Salt Lake City News

• The Growlers Announce Summer 2020 Tour Glide Magazine · Jan 23, 2020
• The Growlers announce "Natural Affair" summer tour dates BrooklynVegan · Jan 21, 2020
• The Growlers Announce 2020 ‘Natural Affair’ Spring Tour Live For Live Music · Oct 14, 2019
• The Growlers Tickets, Concerts & 2026 Tour Dates Event Tickets Center · Jun 26, 2018
• The Growlers share new song "Late Bloomers" Northern Transmissions · Jun 1, 2017

Live Music in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City's indie and alternative rock scene has quietly built some muscle over the past decade. Venues like The Depot and In the Venue have hosted touring acts that lean guitar-heavy, and there's a decent local contingent doing psych and post-punk work. The Growlers' fuzzy, raw energy should find sympathetic ears here, even if the scene skews a bit younger and more internet-connected than the typical Growlers crowd.

Salt Lake City road trip to see The Growlers?

Stay in the Avenues neighborhood—tree-lined streets with actual character, close enough to downtown but removed from the noise. For dinner, Lazy Dog in Sugar House serves exceptional Colorado lamb and maintains a wine list that doesn't insult your intelligence. Spend an afternoon at the Natural History Museum of Utah in Red Butte Canyon; the building itself is architecturally stunning and the collection gives real context to the landscape you're actually standing in. The city's proximity to actual mountains matters when you've got downtime.