Like a lot of underground rock bands, California five-piece the Growlers started out with some very rough edges, but after a few years of seemingly constant recording and touring, they’ve refined their sound into a poppy, retro-leaning style that they call “beach goth,” a combination of chiming, reverb-drenched guitars, snappy drums, and frontman Brooks Nielsen’s languid vocals, which suggest a guy who never takes his shades off, even indoors.
On their upcoming fifth album, Chinese Fountain (out Sept. 23 on Everloving Records), they show off their flexibility by tackling disco, reggae, and golden oldies à la Del Shannon’s “Runaway,” along with the expected quotient of straight-up guitar pop, like the lead single “Big Toe,” which we’re happy to be premiering here.
The song, download link to mp3 and the Growlers’ upcoming tour dates, are after the jump.