The Gromble. Photo courtesy of the band
A couple of South Orange County natives, ages 21 to 24, who first became friends in high school before forming their band, which they named after a Nickelodeon cartoon, isn’t the obvious recipe for a successful rock/indie group. Members of The Gromble, however, incorporate one key ingredient in their music that changes their flavor entirely—the unmistakable spice of sincerity.
As the clock ticked closer to midnight on Monday, opening acts Moostache and The Californian had already energized the quaint quarters with their equally captivating sets. Eager friends and fans alike gathered around the stage with angst as The Gromble picked up their instruments and struck a cord that marked the beginning of their November residence at Detroit Bar.
Within a minute of the first song, I was captivated by the smell of honesty that exudes from these “high school friends from Aliso Viejo.” I am a firm believer that talent and passion have nothing to do with each other, but, if by the hand of fate, the two find a way to marinate, a magic stew begins to brew, and The Gromble are definitely simmering in that direction.
Talent wise, they are obvious musicians. There is nothing worse than going to a show and feeling like the instruments are playing the artists. These guys were not only in control of their own individual sound; they also had a mature awareness of their collective sound. There is an obvious sense of ownership and pride in their resonance. Greener bands tend to play for, and at the whim of, the audience, but they had the self-confidence to ignore the obvious attention and instead invert their concentration towards each other.
The Gromble. Photo courtesy of the band.
The idea of high school buds loving the same jams and then forming a band can seem cliché, but after watching them play and then seeing them interact, it’s apparent that their sentiments are organically genuine.
Additionally, they may have dodged the ominous bullet of becoming the next ‘one hit wonder,’ because their range of sound proved equally impressive. On a wider note, they exhibited a nice variance between rock/pop tracks that got the crowd dancing and slower ballad-like songs, which still held everyone’s attention. And in a narrower scope there is an attention to detail, apparent in the lyrics of songs such as “Creepy Crawly,” which solidifies the marriage between talent and passion.
In terms of where they are as a band and where they see themselves in the future, their aspirations are equally candid. They are thrilled with their November residency at Detroit Bar. Honored to be able to hand pick their openers, to whom they tirelessly compliment and applaud. Flattered by their repeated comparison to Weezer, a band they openly adore. Excited about an upcoming album and potential touring. And most importantly, sincerely happy to make music with one another that they can share with all of us.
At the end of the day, art is always art and opinion is only personal, so regardless of the later, the artistry of The Gromble, is undeniable, which gives them not only the talent, but more importantly the honest edge that is needed to potentially make a real dent in the music industry.
