Singer Brooks Nielsen and music director/guitarist Matt Taylor met in high school in the beach town of Dana Point, California, bonding over surfing, skating, and partying. When offered the chance to perform at a house party, the duo quickly wrote their first six songs in a single day, leading to the first incarnation of the band that would eventually become The Growlers.
After releasing a handful of self-recorded cassettes and CDs, The Growlers issued their first studio album, Are You in or Out? in 2009 on Everloving Records. Aquarium Drunkard described it as “consistent in sound and tone that is as enjoyable straight through or on shuffle… Taken as a whole, the record is a beautiful mix of late 60’s freak-out, folk calmness and surf rock.” Their second album, Hot Tropics, was released in 2010, also on Everloving Records. The band's third album, Hung at Heart, the first to feature Anthony Braun Perry on bass and Jason Kaiser on percussion, was released in 2013. The band originally worked with Dan Auerbach to record the album, but the finished version never saw official release. Instead the band recorded a new version of the album in Costa Mesa, CA with Mike McHugh at his Distillery Recording Studio, to get a more lo-fi sound.
Chinese Fountain, their new "more grown up, well polished" album was released September 23, 2014. This album was produced by JP Plunier at Seahorse Studios in Los Angeles, CA. While touring the album, the band expanded their live band with percussionist Nick Murray.
The band's fifth studio album, City Club was released by Cult Records on September 30, 2016, while they embarked on a supporting tour in the same month. It was the first Growlers album to be credited solely to Brooks Nielsen and Matt Taylor, as opposed to the whole band. Nielsen and Taylor wrote and recorded demos for the album over a span of 2 to 3 months with the help of Kyle Mullarky at his studio in Topanga Canyon, CA. It was preceded by the title track as a single produced by Julian Casablancas, who also owns the label. Neither drummer Scott Montoya nor bass player Anthony Perry feature on the album. On September 25, the band confirmed Montoya's departure from the band and stated that Perry was set to return in the near future. The band toured for this album with Brad Bowers on bass, Adam Wolcott Smith on keyboard, and Richard Gowen on drums. Whether their membership in the band is permanent is currently unclear.
The band released Casual Acquaintances on July 27, 2018, a collection of demos and unused material from the City Club sessions.
Allegations of misconduct
In July 2020, allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against the band, along with other artists associated with Burger Records and the Southern California surf and garage rock music scene. Arrow De Wilde, the lead singer of the L.A. rock band Starcrawler, shared a personal encounter on her Instagram. In her post, Arrow claims she was assaulted by a male stripper hired by The Growlers while they were on tour together in Australia. In a statement issued via Instagram on July 31, 2020, Growlers singer Brooks Nielsen took "full responsibility and accountability for the behavior of all Growlers' band members, past and present," and announced that Matt Taylor would temporarily leave the band. Additionally, former Growlers touring keyboardist Adam Wolcott Smith admitted to an incident of abuse on his Instagram, while on tour with his band Zen Mother.
Dull Boy
The Growlers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kids are all eating themselves
Living on capsules and balls
Thinking that there's nowhere else at all
Flicking a match in the sky
Turning my back on my own
Finally the bottle's bone dry
That says that I'm gone
I am a dull boy with a dead dream
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
This city's shrinking down
I think it's time to leave this town
Pulling out while there's still time
Littered all my memories behind
The statues win so let them have it
Let them keep their squeaky clean
Whatever was now is in ashes
There isn't anymore room here for me
Cause I'm a dull boy with a dead dream
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
This city's shrinking down
I think it's time to leave this town
Pulling out while there's still time
Littered all my memories behind
This city's shrinking down
I think it's time to leave this town
Pulling out while there's still time
Littered all my memories behind
The Growlers' song "Dull Boy" is a commentary on the emptiness of consumer culture and the feeling of being lost in a world that values material possessions above all else. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a society obsessed with shopping malls and pills, with no sense of direction or purpose. The singer feels disconnected from this world and is searching for something more, but is trapped by his own circumstances.
The chorus of "I am a dull boy with a dead dream, searching for a pulse in any given scene" encapsulates the mood of the song, with the singer feeling stuck and unable to find meaning in his surroundings. The lines "The statues win so let them have it, let them keep their squeaky clean" suggest a resignation to the status quo, with the singer accepting that he cannot change the world around him.
Despite the heavy themes, the song has a driving beat and catchy melody that make it a standout track from The Growlers' catalog. The repeated refrain of "This city's shrinking down, I think it's time to leave this town" creates a sense of urgency, as if the singer is running out of time to escape his current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost in the valley of malls
Feeling lost and disconnected in a world that seems focused on materialism and consumerism.
The kids are all eating themselves
Young people are becoming consumed by their own desires and losing sight of the bigger picture.
Living on capsules and balls
People are living on drugs and distractions to escape from reality.
Thinking that there's nowhere else at all
Believing that there is no alternative to this way of life.
Flicking a match in the sky
Starting something new, burning bridges and leaving behind the past.
Turning my back on my own
Leaving behind old relationships and familiar patterns to pursue something new.
Finally the bottle's bone dry
Reaching the end of something, having exhausted all options.
With a message inside
A final message or explanation for leaving behind the old life and starting anew.
That says that I'm gone
A clear statement that the artist has left and will not be returning.
I am a dull boy with a dead dream
The artist feels uninspired and unfulfilled in life, with no clear direction or purpose.
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
Looking for some sign of life or excitement in the mundane and monotonous aspects of life.
This city's shrinking down
Feeling suffocated and trapped in a small and stagnant town.
I think it's time to leave this town
Realizing that it's time to move on and find a new place to start over.
Pulling out while there's still time
Leaving before it's too late, before the singer becomes stuck and unable to escape.
Littered all my memories behind
Leaving behind the past and all of the memories associated with it, ready to start anew.
The statues win so let them have it
The old guard, with their traditional ways and stagnant thinking, have won and the artist is ready to move on.
Let them keep their squeaky clean
The artist has no interest in the pristine and polished image that the statues are trying to maintain.
Whatever was now is in ashes
The old way of life is gone, burned away, and it's time to start fresh.
There isn't anymore room here for me
Feeling like there is no place for the singer in this town, no way for them to grow or thrive.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@winstonsmith5493
"Dull Boy"
Lost in the valley of malls
The kids are all eating themselves
Living on capsules and balls
Thinking that there’s nowhere else at all
Flicking match in the sky
Turning my back on my own
Finally the bottle’s bone dry
With a message inside
That says that I’m gone
I'm a dull boy with a dead dream
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
This city’s shrinking down
I think it’s time to leave this town
Pulling out while there’s still time
Littered all my memories behind
The statues win so let them have it
Let them keep their squeaky clean
Whatever was now is in ashes
There isn’t anymore room here for me
'Cause I’m a dull boy with a dead dream
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
This city’s shrinking down
I think it’s time to leave this town
Pulling out while there’s still time
Littered all my memories behind
This city’s shrinking down
I think it’s time to leave this town
Pulling out while there’s still time
Littered all my memories behind
if anyone of you are willing to put a music(!)video on this platform.......please put the lyrics along with it.for god fckn sake.
@SYCHO-DELIC
My buddy from CALI showed me this song.... because California is what we love.
@pazhonda1821
on the morning of August 13th 2016 at 09:15 this song was playing on 91.1 KLSU while I was escaping the flood waters in Denham Springs, Louisiana. I felt as IF this song was made just for me to listen to at that particular time. I will forever love this song. It was the anthem of that city that day.
@iamkatethe3rd251
this is amazing! best of luck to you and your loved ones
@florentplomb4743
One morning I heard this song for the first time when I was travelling peaceful on the Hawaiian coast, the sea air and the ocean view it was also an magical and unforgettable moment.
@bridget8687
that's my birthday! beautiful story
@msermac6400
Paz Honda I'm from Hammond! Hello neighbor.
@connorwinter7016
Paz Honda it was not made for you
@carlosprieto2051
A sound I won't ever forget
@winstonsmith5493
"Dull Boy"
Lost in the valley of malls
The kids are all eating themselves
Living on capsules and balls
Thinking that there’s nowhere else at all
Flicking match in the sky
Turning my back on my own
Finally the bottle’s bone dry
With a message inside
That says that I’m gone
I'm a dull boy with a dead dream
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
This city’s shrinking down
I think it’s time to leave this town
Pulling out while there’s still time
Littered all my memories behind
The statues win so let them have it
Let them keep their squeaky clean
Whatever was now is in ashes
There isn’t anymore room here for me
'Cause I’m a dull boy with a dead dream
Searching for a pulse in any given scene
This city’s shrinking down
I think it’s time to leave this town
Pulling out while there’s still time
Littered all my memories behind
This city’s shrinking down
I think it’s time to leave this town
Pulling out while there’s still time
Littered all my memories behind
if anyone of you are willing to put a music(!)video on this platform.......please put the lyrics along with it.for god fckn sake.
@sangosdal
thanx