Upon arrival at Amsterdam’s Paradiso on the evening of March 22nd, a small queue was already forming outside in anticipation of The Growlers. The crowd was a mix of all ages, from younger fans to older listeners, all waiting patiently for the doors to open. There was a relaxed but eager atmosphere as people filtered inside.
The Growlers, a six membered band from southern California, are known for blending surf, psych and garage sounds. With seven albums to their name, they have developed a sound that is easy to recognise and pleasantly unique. As the band played the intro to ‘Drinking The Juice Blues’, Brooks Nielsen walked onto the stage and then briefly greeted the crowd before officially launching their show.
From the start, the band showed a strong sense of identity. Brooks Nielsen stood out immediately, dressed in red Converse, blue jeans and a tartan blazer. His slightly eccentric appearance was matched by his unusual but entertaining dance moves, hopping from one leg to the other and swinging his arms during instrumental moments. This set the tone for the evening, which carried a calm and easy going vibe.
The crowd responded with gentle swaying and nodding along to songs like ‘Badlands’, ‘Habit Of Dredd’ and ‘Row’. Cheers broke out in between tracks, and a few voices could be heard singing along. During ‘Love Test’, the audience became more involved, joining in loudly, and the same energy carried into ‘One Million Lovers’, which also featured a short drum solo from Richard Gowen.
Brooks kept things light between songs, at one point joking that the band had only just started and that people might want to call in sick the next day as it would be a long night. The band’s shared love for music became clear in the smiles shared across the stage. Guitarist Thomas Hunter added a heavier feel during ‘Orgasm Of Death’, headbanging along as the song built.
Even those on the balcony stood up during the more upbeat songs, dancing along as the band’s nostalgic and slightly unusual sound encouraged movement throughout the venue. Brooks later shared a story about walking through the city the day before, mentioning the sights and even spotting two real life cowboys. This led into a cover of ‘Some Velvet Morning’, delivered with a playful touch. Brooks bowed slightly and mimed taking off an imaginary hat, adding to the moment. A guitar solo from Thomas Hunter followed before the band moved into ‘Wet Dreams’. Later, Brooks introduced ‘Someday’ by describing it as “a song about a small town and a bullet train that is no longer there.”
After ‘I’ll Be Around’, the band left the stage briefly, only to return for an encore. During ‘Who Loves The Scum?’ a crowdmember threw beer up in the air. It didn’t seem to trigger a reaction from the rest of the audience nor did it seem to affect the performance. The final songs ‘Going Gets Tough’ and ‘Night Ride’ saw the audience singing loudly together. ‘Night Ride’ closed the set with a long outro and a strong round of applause. Brooks thanked the crowd warmly before the band exited the stage. With playful stage presence, memorable songs and a clear enjoyment of performing, the band left a lasting impression and sent the audience home satisfied.
