San Diego Reader

Caleb Chial: Bass guitar, Keyboards | John Cooper: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Dave Gargula: Drums

Genre: Acoustic, Rock

RIYL: Wilco, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, the Kings of Leon

Upcoming Local Shows

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Song Downloads

• Alley Bird
• Black Gold

Related Links

• Howls website

• Blurt: "Howlin' After Hours" · July 21, 2009

• MySpace Page

Synoposis

Inception: Encinitas, 2008

Influences: Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Wilco, Ryan Adams, the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the Who, Tom Petty, Hank Williams, Gram Parsons

Background:

The Howls were formed in early 2008 by singer-guitarist John Cooper and drummer Dave Gargula. Later adding bassist-keyboardist Caleb Chial and a roster of rotating lead guitarists, the band plays around town at the Belly Up, the Casbah, and elsewhere.

Gargula also played with several Christian bands, including Heaven Is for Sinners and Upon His Coming, as well as being a veteran of the San Pasqual High School marching band.

In early 2009, the band reported, “We’ve been recording what will be our first official release over the last month or two, in the middle of the night in a cold warehouse up in North County. It’s been a fun but tiring endeavor to record all night and wake up and go to work every morning. Here’s to hoping it pays off!”

By early 2010, the debut EP was being offered as a free download on their website. According to Cooper, “We recorded it entirely by ourselves in a warehouse in the middle of the night and at my house in downtown Encinitas.”

In late 2012, their music was heard in the TV show Sons Of Anarchy.

Discography