The Best Indie Alternative Psychedelic Surf Rock Bands
Contents
Looking for the best in indie alternative psychedelic surf rock? Look no further than our list of the top bands in the genre!
The Growlers
The Growlers are a Psychedelic Surf Rock band from Orange County, California. They have released six studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. The band’s sound has been described as a “coalescence of surf music, garage rock, and lo-fi indie rock.”
Their sound
The Growlers’ sound has been variously described as “beach goth”, “surf punk”, and “garage punk”. Drawing influence from acts such as The Velvet Underground, The Zombies, and The 13th Floor Elevators, their music has been characterized by its minimalist, lo-fi aesthetic and reverb-drenched surf rock guitar melodies. Lyrically, their songs often touch on themes of love, loss, and paranoia.
Their story
The Growlers are an American band formed in Dana Point, California in 2009. The band’s music has been variously described as “beach goth”, “surf punk”, “garage rock”, and “psychedelic rock”. They have released seven studio albums, with their most recent, Natural Affair, released in 2019.
The Growlers began as a bedroom recording project for singer Brooks Nielsen and guitarist Matt Taylor. The two had known each other since childhood and had played together in a number of bands before forming The Growlers. In 2006, they met Ryan Teti, who would become the band’s first drummer.
In 2009, the trio self-released their first album, Are You In or Out?, which was recorded in Nielsen’s parents’ garage. That same year, they released their second album, Hot Tropics. The album drew the attention of Julian Casablancas, who signed the band to his label, Cult Records.
In 2012, The Growlers released their third album, Hung at Heart. The album was produced by Jonne Nathan and features guest appearances from Brian Wilson and Emily Kokal of Warpaint.Hung at Heart received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number nine on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart.
In 2014, The Growlers released their fourth album, Chinese Fountain. The album was once again produced by Jonne Nathan and features guest appearances from Neal Casal and Nick Waterhouse. Chinese Fountain peaked at number six on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart.
In 2016, The Growlers released their fifth album,. City Club. City Club was produced by Shawn Everett and features guest appearances from Shane McKillop of Modest Mouse and Petra Haden. City Club peaked at number four on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart.
In 2019, The Growlers released their sixth album,, Natural Affair.. Natural Affair was produced by Shawn Everett and features guest appearances from Beck and Jenny Lewis.. Natural Affair peaked at number two on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart..
The Allah-Las
Their sound
The Allah-Las have a very distinct sound that is often described as a combination of psychedelic surf rock and 60s garage rock. Their music has a very vintage vibe to it and is perfect for fans of classic rock who are looking for something with a modern twist. The band has been gaining popularity in recent years, particularly with their latest album, Worship the Sun, which was released in 2014.
Their story
In 2008, The Allah-Las released their self-titled debut album. The Allah-Las are a Los Angeles-based band who play psychedelic surf rock. The four members of the band are all from Southern California and they currently reside in Echo Park. Their music has been featured in several films and TV shows, including The Bling Ring, 500 Days of Summer, and Californication. The Allah-Las have released three albums, the most recent being Calico Review in 2016.
The Black Lips
Though they’re more well-known now, The Black Lips have been around since the early 2000s, gaining notoriety for their live shows which often included vomiting, urinating on stage, and general debauchery. The Black Lips are credited with being one of the first bands to bring garage rock back to the forefront of the music scene, and their uniquely scuzzy sound has exerted a major influence on the music of the past decade.
Their sound
The Black Lips are one of the best Indie Alternative Psychedelic Surf Rock bands. They have a very 60’s garage rock meets surf rock kind of sound. They hail from Atlanta, Georgia and have been around since 1999. The Black Lips have a very raw and dirty sound that is really taking off in the indie community.
Their story
The Black Lips are an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The group formed in 1999 and currently consists of Cole Alexander, Jared Swilley, Jack Hines, and Joe Bradley.
The Black Lips’ music has been categorized as garage rock, punk rock, alternative rock, and psychedelic rock. They have released nine studio albums: Our Land of Abundance (2003), Let It Bloom (2005), Good Bad Not Evil (2007), 200 Million Thousand (2009), Underneath the Rainbow (2014), Arabia Mountain (2011), Beneath the Rainbow
(2014), and most recently Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art? (2017).
The band has toured extensively throughout their career, performing in countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, China, and Australia.
