Ward of the Weird: The Growlers’ Groovy Getaway?

Note: this week’s music blog was “prompted” by me, but technically “written” by Grok 3. This has been one of my favorite tracks for years, and I thought Grok did a tremendous job with this assignment.

The Growlers’ “I’ll Be Around” sneaks up like a rogue orderly with a sly grin—unassuming at first, then bam, you’re hooked on its grimy, groovy grip. This track’s a masterpiece that’s somehow still kicking around the underground, a surf-stained stunner with riffs that rumble like a gurney on a bumpy ride. Brooks Nielsen’s voice—raspy, raw, and real—growls out “I’ll be around,” a promise that’s less lovey-dovey, more a gritty grunt of sticking it out. The guitars snarl and sway, dripping with dirty distortion, like they’ve been dragged through the sand and plugged into a busted amp. It’s beach goth at its best—sunburned, soulful, and stubborn as hell.

Then there’s the video, a trippy tumble through a hospital from hell. Picture this: Nielsen staggers in, nose oozing red, looking like he’s one cough from collapse. Flatline hits, lights dim—but hold up, this ain’t the end. Dude’s a ghost now, grooving through a ward gone wild. The place is a retro riot—funky rugs, warped walls, shadowy figures throwing a party while the EKG’s still screaming. It’s absurd, it’s alive, a psychedelic pulse that flips the script on the song’s steady vow. Those riffs keep chugging, a swampy soundtrack to this medical mayhem, tying the chaos to the cool.

This underrated banger’s got layers—loyalty laced with lunacy, a love song stitched into a fever dream. The Growlers don’t just play it; they plaster it with personality, from the gritty guitar growls to the hospital’s hazy hijinks. It’s a trip worth taking, a masterpiece that deserves more ears. So crank it up, let the riffs rattle your ribs, and ride this weird ward all the way out.

About The Author

Blake Walley

Blake Walley is a writer, reporter and producer. An idealist and truth-seeker obsessed with the future. A new media trailblazer and outside-the box-thinker. Former Las Vegas bartender influenced by Gonzo journalism. Inspired, eccentric, and always up for a challenge. Blake has been making waves for over 10 years with his original analysis and creative style.

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