music
Are You In Or Are You Out?
If five beach bums tried to surf their way to the classic California rock sound (The
Doors, The Byrds, etc.) but instead got lost in a cloud of pot smoke and found themselves
at a goth house party, you would end up with something like The Growlers. The Growlers
are from Orange County; they like a little reverb on their guitars; there’s a little bit of dark
soul in their sound; and they do look and act baked much of the time, but that’s where the
similarities to those other bands end.
The band’s psychedelic pop music is sometimes called “beach goth” because it has a
groove that’s slowed down just a little too much. They add vaguely sinister-sounding circus-
calliope sounds where you wouldn’t think they should go, and singer Brooks Nielsen’s jerky
on-stage motions recall Ian Curtis. Yet while they appear as if they might have just found
themselves in the middle of a live performance with no recollection of how they got there,
they always seem to play like they know what they’re doing. The band’s third album, Hung at
Heart, is being released in November on vinyl, CD and cassette (any doubts that they’re
trendsetters?), so expect them to play some new material along with favorites such as “Sea
Lion Goth Blues” or “Barnacle Beat.” Recorded in Nashville with Dan Auerbach of The Black
Keys, the highly anticipated Hung at Heart is rumored to integrate a bit more country into
the surf sound they’ve made their own.
While Jim Morrison might have been enough to look at in nothing but leather pants,
singer Brooks Nielsen gives people plenty of visuals through wigs, costumes and props
(like a taxidermy wolf-dog that might crowd-surf along with fans dressed like mermaids).
That kind of showmanship deserves more than the occasional Lizard King comparison. The
Growlers play with Guantanamo Baywatch and Cosmonauts at 8 pm Sunday, Sept. 9, at
WOW Hall. $13 adv., $15 door. — Vanessa Salvia
The Sound of Zeros
What would a modern take on The Sound of Music look like? Probably a lot like Edward
Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Take out the nuns, the Nazis and the children running
around in curtains, and replace them with a troupe of musically gifted hipsters led by a
charismatic conductor who looks a lot like Russell Brand.
Said conductor is actually Alex Ebert, who spent much of the 2000s as lead singer of
power-pop group Ima Robot. As of late, Ebert has turned his attention to a character of his own
creation named Edward Sharpe. Ebert began drafting Edward Sharpe as a sort of imperfect
savior to the masses who falls victim to his own human whims. In 2007 Ebert met fellow vocal-
ist Jade Castrinos outside a cafe in Los Angeles and the Zeros began to take shape.
Over the next two years Ebert and Castrinos amassed a group of eight extremely diverse
musicians who all added color and spirit of their own to the Zeros’ indie-folk sound. In the
summer of 2009 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros released their first full-length
album, Up From Below. Their sophomore release, Here, debuted this spring.
The Zeros sound like a vintage summer day. Recorded on 24-track tape, Up from Below
and Here maintain the slight hiss of songs played on a record player. With so many
members playing different instruments, they’re reminiscent of a laid-back folk orchestra.
All members contribute to vocals, which adds energy to the songs while encouraging
audience participation during live performances.
Live performances include much instrument swapping, clapping and dancing, even on
stages that barely look big enough to hold the entire band. Highly energetic and eclectic,
the Zeros fill venues with exuberant sound and eccentric characters.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros play 7 pm Wednesday, Sept. 12, at McDonald
Theatre; $35 adv., $38 door. — Natalie Horner
PHOTO BY LAURE VI NC E NT BOULE AU
24 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 EUGENE WEEKLY
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