The Growlers, an indie rock ensemble rooted in Los Angeles, California, first appeared on the scene during the initial years of the 2010s, drawing on an atmospheric fusion of surf rock drenched in reverb, country-folk elements, and classic rock influences. Following several modest early recordings, their 2014 release Chinese Fountain achieved notable mainstream chart traction and broadened their reach ahead of the 2016 LP City Club, produced by Julian Casablancas. In tandem with their extensive catalog, the group has organized and topped the bill at their own yearly festival. During 2020, the band acknowledged multiple cases of sexual misconduct, which prompted two members to exit.
The self-described “Beach Goth” act, founded in 2006, cycled through repeated lineup shifts before stabilizing around the central roster of Brooks Nielsen (vocals), Matt Taylor (lead guitar), Scott Montoya (drums), Anthony Braun Perry (bass), and Kyle Straka (keyboards, guitar); the configuration later contracted to the trio of Nielsen, Taylor, and Straka. Their first album, Are You in or Are You Out?, appeared on Everloving Records in 2009, with the Hot Tropics EP arriving the next year. In 2012 they launched their own Beach Goth Festival, an annual gathering that has showcased acts across pop, metal, and hip-hop. The follow-up full-length Hung at Heart surfaced in 2013, while their third album, Chinese Fountain, emerged the subsequent year via FatCat in the U.K. and Everloving in the U.S. That record marked a modest breakthrough, entering the Billboard 200 pop chart. For the ensuing project the band enlisted Strokes member Julian Casablancas as producer, yielding City Club on his Cult Records imprint in 2016. Two years afterward they compiled rarities and B-sides titled Casual Acquaintances for their own Beach Goth label. The single “Foghorn Town” preceded the full-length Natural Affair, which arrived in January 2020.
Though never roster members, the Growlers were cited alongside other California indie acts linked to Burger Records for instances of sexual misconduct throughout their tenure. After the initial accusations surfaced in July 2020, Starcrawler frontwoman Arrow De Wilde disclosed that the band had subjected her to a sexually degrading end-of-tour prank involving an Australian male stripper during an earlier tour. In the ensuing fallout, late-period keyboardist Adam Wolcott Smith confessed to his own abusive conduct and departed the group. Frontman Nielsen issued a public apology for their actions and stated that lead guitarist Matt Taylor would also step away temporarily.
