Live Review: The Growlers at CBD Live

​Described as a travelling circus, Californian band The Growlers have returned for their biggest Australian tour, off the back of the release of their 6th studio album Natural Affair. They bust through a two-hour set, dancing and grooving along to hit after hit. The stage bursting with colour and the music bursting with flavours of surf rock, psychedelic, pop, rock and beat. The Growlers leave crowds in awe of their style, charisma and attitude, and this night is no exception.

The RSL club in Southport seems like an odd choice of venue to host such an influential band, but I’m open-minded and intrigued with its potential. Considering their last year’s show at Miami Marketta sold out, I’m shocked at the unusually small crowd that it holds.
 
Rumours surrounding the support act’s extremely raucous and mildly disturbing antics, I’m left intrigued with how Los Angela’s punk outfit Starcrawler can put on a show. Unfortunately, I only make it in time to catch a small chunk of their set - although my expectations have quickly been fulfilled. Not only is their style infused with doom-laden guitar riffs and a twist of pop punk, lead singer Arrow de Wilde delivers a stage performance of violence and absolute mayhem. Whilst faking a seizure and spitting mouthfuls of blood upon stage, half of the crowd are left fired up and the other half are simply disturbed.   
 
A quick shift in atmosphere as The Growlers waltz onstage to an Australian theme song. Bopping straight into “Big Toe”, the crowd instantaneously scream as they ooze their reverb-rich, vintage surf-rock style. Lead singer Brooks Nielsen’s crisp distinct vocal style could be described as a mirror image to their recordings. Whether it’s his calm nature, not so sober state or his almost dad-like dance moves, Brooke has this natural charm about him that has the crowd hypnotised.
 
With there being no barrier, climbing onto the stage seems irresistible… but to save the possibility of getting kicked out, touching Brooke any chance you can get and handing him random items, seems like a good idea to most. From someone giving him a pen to sign their shirt soon enough lead to people giving him their shoes, their drinks, and even handing a joint that he swiftly puts it in his pocket. “Does anyone else want to donate to my new wardrobe?” … his one on one interaction with the crowd only made us fall in love with him more.
 
Orange and pink fluorescent lights glow through the band as love song “One Million Lovers” has us reciting the heart-felt lyrics word for word. A dance off circle forms behind me whilst a party grows in front, they head into their more groove-infused waters with one of their most popular tracks “Night Ride”. Someone hands Brooks some slippers that look like fish – Yes, the kind you would see on those odd eBay ads. He slides them over his socks whilst laughing “Oh sh*t Cinderella’s has to get ready for the ball” before launching into “Dope on a Rope”.
 
There’s no shortage of hits, the band smashing through over 20 songs in their two-hour set. In between Brooks treating himself to sips on crowd member’s drinks and even a swig from someone’s flask – he certainly has some confidence.
 
“Encore!” and “One more song!” can be heard from every aspect of the room now, and what feels like an hour of waiting, they arrive back onstage, this time with Brooke smoking a cigarette.  The circus chime of “I’ll be Around” emerges and the crowd bop to the bass one last time before they close with slow-burning, melancholic ballad “Going Gets Tough”.

Words by Chloe Magee
Photos by Dom Gould