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.
Tijuana
The Growlers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
where there's little boys with m16's
to the city of the wasted dreams
where there's little boys with m16s
To the city of wasted dreams
where there's little girls barely in their teens
take me to the city of wasted dreams
Child look over your shoulder and don’t believe their smiles
child look over your shoulder and don’t believe their smiles
The Growlers's song Tijuana explores the dark and gritty side of the border town that is often romanticized in movies and pop culture. The lyrics "Take me to the city of wasted dreams" indicate a desire to experience the seedy underbelly of Tijuana, where the hopes and dreams of its inhabitants have been crushed by poverty, violence, and corruption. The mention of "little boys with m16's" further emphasizes the dangerous and lawless nature of the city.
The next set of lyrics "where there's little girls barely in their teens, dancing on laps to mechanical beat" paints a disturbing picture of the exploitation and sexualization of young girls in Tijuana's brothels and clubs. The reference of "mechanical beat" further emphasizes the cold and impersonal nature of these establishments. The repeated line "take me to the city of wasted dreams" suggests a certain fascination and attraction to the decay and decayed glamor of Tijuana.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to the city of wasted dreams
I want to go to a place where people have given up on their hopes and dreams
where there's little boys with m16's
where even the children have access to weapons and violence is common
to the city of the wasted dreams
I want to go to a place where the people are disillusioned and hopeless
where there's little girls barely in their teens
where young girls are forced into adult situations and exploited
Dancing on laps to mechanical beat
the young girls are being objectified and used for the pleasure of others in a cold, detached way
take me to the city of wasted dreams
I am seeking out this bleak and depressing place
Child look over your shoulder and don’t believe their smiles
the singer is warning a child to be cautious and not fall prey to the dangerous and deceptive people in this city
Contributed by Michael H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mauricio Díaz
Ether in the ice
Revenge in the water
There's a thorn in your taco
And where is your daughter
Madness in the meat
Dead dogs in the street
Little babies scrappen money that they don't get to keep
Take me to the city of wasted dreams where there's little boys with M16's
Where there's little girls barely in their teens
Dancing on laps to mechanical beats
Child look over your shoulder and don't believe their smiles
Mauricio Díaz
Ether in the ice
Revenge in the water
There's a thorn in your taco
And where is your daughter
Madness in the meat
Dead dogs in the street
Little babies scrappen money that they don't get to keep
Take me to the city of wasted dreams where there's little boys with M16's
Where there's little girls barely in their teens
Dancing on laps to mechanical beats
Child look over your shoulder and don't believe their smiles
Lunatic MD
what's this or is it original?
Ricardo
Everything he says about Tijuana is true.
Cuauhtzin Romero
This definitely sounds like The Doors. Man, this is fire. I cannot avoid thinking in "My wild love" by The Doors. This sounds really good, I won't be on a trip, I'm on a trip.
Allster101
saw them in Oakland this past weekend... dope ass song to come back for the Encore
AKUdas
Love it, just keep repeating!
Ines navy blue
Absolutely Love this!! <33 :) ;)
5thGen RS
Great fucking song!
friki71
I reside in Rosarito but i Luv my Krazy city of Tijuas, where i was born, happy 2020 peace.
David Martinez
Much love, from El Paso <3