On Tuesday night at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, the Growlers played a “secret” show for a bunch of lucky ass kids – tickets were done by lottery for $1 each. The show was promoted through social media as an announcement for Beach Goth 4, but the real reason the Growlers and company threw the impromptu show together was to benefit the tragedy that hit Echo Park on the 4^th of July.

The home of local music fixtures BG and Wrecks Brixton caught fire on the morning of July 4^th on the 800 block of Alvarado Street in Echo Park. Sammy Winston, poet and musician, died in the fire saving his roommates’ lives. An online fund was started to benefit Winston’s family, the Brixton brothers, and the other survivors of the fire, and has now reached over double its goal. Per the Crowdrise page, “Permanent Records, Lolipop, Non Plus Ultra, Blundertown, The Echo and many more will be planning live benefit shows around the city,” so keep your eyes and ears peeled for more fun things to do for a good cause.

The Growlers, long time friends of everyone at the Alvarado house, announced early on the day of the show that tickets would be sold only through lottery, and all proceeds would benefit the A Little Help From Their Friends Crowdrise fundraiser.

Fans started lining up as early as 2pm in the Observatory parking lot, and by 8pm, the eager crowd was overwhelming. The lucky few chosen squeezed and scrambled their way into the Constellation Room, filled way beyond capacity, as the Growlers took the stage, with White Fence drummer Nick Murray helping out on percussion. They played songs from almost all of their albums: “Wet Dreams” and “Sea Lion Goth Blues” from their early Couples; “Something Someone Jr.,”off Are You In Or Out; and crowd favorites “One Million Lovers,” “Humdrum Blues,” and “Good Advice” off their most recent album, Chinese Fountain.

The Growlers also took the opportunity to announce the lineup for Beach Goth 4, the bands’ very own festival they do annually through Burger Records, taking place October 24-25. The lineup includes the most eclectic mix I’ve seen: Grimes, Die Antwoord, Wanda Jackson, Subhumans, Del the Funky Homosapien, and so many more. And, of course, the Growlers.

“BG and I love everyone in that crew,” said Wrecks Brixton, “and have been the biggest fans and supporters of their music since the beginning. We are both just so grateful, shocked, and blessed for last night.” –Maya Eslami

(Peep the full Beach Goth 4 lineup here.)