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.
Sea Lion Goth Blues
The Growlers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking bout what mark I've made
And if I get killed
I wonder who'll bring roses to my grave
Oh oh oh
Oh you never know when it's your time to go
You never know when you'll have
Sea lions have eight lives and I've
Gone through nine and I don't want to die
But I don't know how many I have left
Or how many I have right
How many days or nights
You'll be inside my feline eyes
Oh oh oh
Oh you never know when it's your time to go
You never know when you'll have
To return your soul soul soul soul soul
I've just been thinking about my will
Thinking bout what mark I've made
And if I get killed
I wonder who'll bring roses to my grave
Oh oh oh
Oh you never know when it's your time to go
You never know when you'll have
To return your
The lyrics in The Growlers' "Sea Lion Goth Blues" are centered around the concept of life and death. The singer contemplates his own mortality, pondering what mark he has made on the world and reflecting on the uncertainty of when he will ultimately have to face his mortality. He wonders who will bring roses to his grave in the event of his untimely death. This theme of uncertainty is reinforced in the lines "Oh you never know when it's your time to go, you never know when you'll have to return your soul."
The lyrics also reference sea lions, which are known for their lifespan of up to 25 years. The singer compares his own life to that of a sea lion, acknowledging that he has already surpassed the expected lifespan, having "gone through nine" of his supposed "eight lives." This only adds to the uncertainty that runs throughout the song- the singer does not know how many lives, or how much time, he has left.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making a mark on the world while we have the chance.
Line by Line Meaning
I've just been thinking about my will
Contemplating on what I will leave behind when I die
Thinking bout what mark I've made
Reflecting on the impact and legacy I have created in my life
And if I get killed
Considering the possibility of a sudden and unexpected death
I wonder who'll bring roses to my grave
Curious about who will mourn and honor my passing
Sea lions have eight lives and I've
Drawing a comparison between his life and that of a sea lion
Gone through nine and I don't want to die
Acknowledging that he has already lived longer than expected but still fears death
But I don't know how many I have left
Uncertainty about how much time he has left on this earth
Or how many I have right
Uncertainty about the quality of his remaining time alive
How many days or nights
Contemplating on the limited time he has left to experience life
You'll be inside my feline eyes
Referring to someone special who will forever be a part of his memories
Oh you never know when it's your time to go
Acknowledging the unpredictability of death
You never know when you'll have
Stressing the importance of living a fulfilling life while you still can
To return your soul soul soul soul soul
Acceptance of the idea that death is inevitable and our souls will one day return to the universe
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BROOKS NIELSEN, KYLE STRAKA, MATTHEW TAYLOR, SCOTT MONTOYA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danieljohnson6382
I’ve just been thinking about my will
Thinking bout what mark I’ve made
And if I get killed
I wonder who’ll bring roses to my grave
Oh oh oh
Oh you never know when it’s your time to go
You never know when you’ll have
To return your soul soul soul soul soul
Sea lions have eight lives and I’ve
Gone through nine and I don’t want to die
But I don’t know how many I have left
Or how many I have right
How many days or nights
You’ll be inside my feline eyes
Oh oh oh
Oh you never know when it’s your time to go
You never know when you’ll have
To return your soul soul soul soul soul
I’ve just been thinking about my will
Thinking bout what mark I’ve made
And if I get killed
I wonder who’ll bring roses to my grave
Oh oh oh
Oh you never know when it’s your time to go
You never know when you’ll have
To return your
@budensity
i want to see a growlers documentary
@CaeserOct
I can't get these guys out of my head. Such profound lyrics, too.
@pinkfloydd6936
Jim Morrison would appreciate this band
@joydivision5948
This was my old account and the comment was about how great the music is, don’t take it the wrong way. Their old stuff saved my life and is my favorite. Love the new sound but that old sound is like that ex girlfriend that knows what you want.
@fabioribeiro3388
Joy Division their first 4 albums are all bangers I love them
@CarlTelama
This song blends in my head very well with "yes, the river knows". When he finishes singing "mystic heated wine", this song begins with the "oh ho oh, oh you'll never know"
@buckerooni
found you guys via the SXSW torrent. I'm recommending this to all my closest imaginary friends.
@yousuck425
I think this is the best music video ever made.
@Maxwellstirling73
my fav Band since End of the Road.great dress sense.
@SwamiEpstein
Such an addicting song.