Play/Pause Listen: Download MP3 | 00:20:27 The Growlers perform in The Current studio (full session + interview) 20:27

The Growlers - I'll Be Around (Live on The Current) 05:26

The Growlers - Night Ride (Live on The Current) 04:19

The Growlers - Daisy Chain (Live on The Current) 03:40

"This band life really stunts your growth," says The Growlers vocalist and frontman Brooks Nielsen. "Everyone else that I grew up with is already doing a lot more adult things than me."

Ironically, however, band life has brought maturity to The Growlers. "Everything in this band, the more serious it gets, the bigger it gets, it forces us to treat it more seriously," Nielsen explains. "You know, this thing started off just really a joke. That's how we named ourselves, that's how we just treated everything. Through the course of people telling [us], 'I really love it, this has helped me, it really affects me,' we become more serious."

On Sept. 30, 2016, The Growlers released their fifth studio album, City Club. They're touring in support of the album, and were recently bumped up by First Avenue from their original booking in The 7th Street Entry to the First Avenue Mainroom. Before the show, The Growlers — Nielsen, along with Kyle Straka (guitar), Matt Taylor (guitar), Adam Wolcott-Smith (keys), Brwd Bowers (bass) and Richard Gowen (drums) — stopped at the The Current studio for a session hosted by Sean McPherson.

During the session, the band displayed their inclination to stretch out their songs, providing a particularly jam-laden version of "I'll Be Around." Stretching like that is something the Growlers have been doing a lot on tour. "I think through the shows and the obligation that we feel we have to the fans, [we] want to enhance it and enhance it," Neilsen says.

The Growlers' music is characterized by the reverb-rich surf sounds of their native California, but lyrically, the band aren't afraid to go to some darker places. Although they originally described their music as "beach goth," they've since distanced themselves from that categorization. "We make this music for ourselves and decide to share it with people," Nielsen says.

As the band and its members have become more serious, Nielsen says he sometimes struggles with the life one chooses when opting for the being-in-a-band lifestyle. "We're constantly having those thoughts," he says, "but at the same time, it's a blessing to be able to live this wild and free."

Listen to the full session using the audio player above.

Songs Performed

"I'll Be Around""Night Ride""Daisy Chain"

Hosted by Sean McPherson

Produced by Anna Reed

Engineered by Michael DeMark

Visuals by Nate Ryan

Web feature by Luke Taylor

Resources

15 Photos

Bassist Brad Bowers and lead singer Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers perform in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers performs in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Kyle Straka of The Growlers in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Bassist Brad Bowers of The Growlers in The Current studio. Bowers' coverall is emblazoned with the Growlers' album title. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers in The Current studio, his jacked emblazoned with the group's album title, 'City Club.' (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Brad Bowers of The Growlers in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Adam Wolcott-SMith of The Growlers performs in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

The Growlers perform in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Effects pedals of The Growlers' Kyle Straka, set up in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers performs in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Richard Gowen of The Growlers performs in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Kyle Straka of The Growlers performs in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers performs in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR)

The Growlers perform in The Current studio. (Nate Ryan | MPR) View 14 more photos

The Growlers - official site