When we first met Southern Cal surf-rock psychonauts the Growlers, those paisley-preferring acid heads declared “Uncle Sam’s a Dick” and teased us with the idea of a breakthrough produced by Black Keys main man Dan Auerbach. While we doubt their nuanced position on taxation and debt has changed much since last summer, the high-profile assist proved unfruitful — as the Growlers’ label explains, “Indie Iron Chef Dan Auerbach had initially tried his hand in the kitchen but when the dish ended up overcooked, the Growlers brought it back to the home kitchen, drank the juice and started over.” As it should be. If there’s a band that marches to its own woozy, slippery beat, it’s the one fronted by Brooks Nielsen, the very same fella who sings about turning tall boys into champagne and bologna into steak on Hung at Heart’s swooning opener, “Someday.” Elsewhere the Growlers play like cowpokes in a dusty honkytonk (“Living in a Memory”) or worldly weirdos on a cross-continental trip (“Row”). Either way, you should ride with these boys wherever they wanna take you. Stream Hung at Heart, due out January 22, courtesy of Everloving Records and Rdio.

The Growlers tour dates:

January 15 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt

January 16 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub

January 17 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder at FSU

January 18 – Atlanta, GA @ 529

January 19 – Durham, NC @ Duke Coffeehouse

January 20 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter

January 22 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat

January 23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas

January 24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory

January 25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool

January 26 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs

January 27 – Montreal, QC CANADA @ Sala Rossa

January 28 – Toronto, ON CANADA @ Horseshoe Tavern

January 29 – Meadville, PA @ Grounds for Change, Allegheny College

January 30 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick Lounge

January 31 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s

February 1 – Madison, WI @ Der Rathskeller, U of Wisc

February 2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry

February 3 – Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room

February 5 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown

February 6 – Ft. Collins, CO @ Hodi’s Half Note

February 7 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

February 8 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre

February 9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

February 13 – Vancouver, BC, CANADA – Electric Owl

February 14 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile

February 15 – Portland, OR – Star Theatre