A warm, funky bass groove met my ears as I entered the performance space of The Triffid last Friday (23 Feb), a repurposed hangar in Newstead which is quickly becoming one of Brisbane’s hottest, live-music venues.
Onstage, Byron Bay trio The Babe Rainbow were making their way through a tasty, psychedelic jam which reminded me that although the ‘60s and ‘70s are long gone, acid is as popular as ever. I mean, how else do you explain high-waisted flares and paisley shirts in this day and age?
The Growlers - Image © Lachlan JohnstonThe Babe Rainbow’s technicolour performance was the perfect warm-up for The Growlers, whose eclectic blend of psychedelia, surf rock, synth-pop and Allman Brothers-style country (a sound which they have dubbed ‘beach goth’) turned the Triffid’s hangar into a right proper hipster hoedown.
Click here for more photos from the show.
Playing songs from their latest album, ‘Chinese Fountain’, as well as their extensive back-catalogue, The Growlers delivered a tight, high-energy set, segueing seamlessly between songs.
The Growlers - Image © Lachlan JohnstonStarting with ‘Row’ and ‘Cut One’s Losses’, they powered through a fully-packed setlist which lasted well over an hour and included ‘One Million Lovers’, ‘Love Test’ and ‘Hiding Under Covers’.
The Growlers’ combination of musical styles makes for truly interesting live listening. Where one song may have a distinct country twang, the next is a deep, bluesy number and the one after a love song driven by synth.
The Growlers - Image © Lachlan JohnstonWith eyes closed it’s easy to hear influences ranging from The Strokes to Dick Dale and INXS, but that’s not to say they’re derivative. In fact, The Growlers craft songs which transcend genre and attract fans almost as diverse as the band’s sound.
Click here for photos from The Growlers’ Perth show.
