SUNFLOWER BEAN // STEREO CAFE BAR, GLASGOW
NYC TRIO BRING THEIR 70'S ROCK REVIVAL TO GLASGOW IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW ALBUM 'TWENTYTWO IN BLUE'
SUNFLOWER BEAN PERFORMING AT STEREO CAFE BAR, GLASGOW - 01.04.18 PICTURE: SAM STEPHEN PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆
The old trope that is 'Rock is Dead', we've heard it time and time again. But deep in the Stereo Cafe Bar, the sold out crowd disagree and revel in the classic rock sounds provided by Long Island natives Sunflower Bean from their latest album, Twentytwo in Blue. The crowd are in good spirits and the band - composed of singer/Bassist Julia Cummings, sing/ guitarist Nick Kivlen and Drummer Jacob Faber - have been having a good tour so far, selling out shows and breaking the top 40 in the UK.
Starting with freedom anthem 'Burn It' the concert is off to a muscular start as Julia is able to showcase her powerful vocals. The rest of the set leans heavily on the new material with a couple of big guns from their 2016 debut Human Ceremony, adding their digitally psychedelic sound. The set manages to be both tight and feral, with both superb performances and plenty of impromptu jams that show not only the musical talents of the individual members but also the musical chemistry between the trio.
'I Was a Fool' is as marble smooth live as it is on the record, a perfect display of the strengths belonging to the band: Interwoven dual vocals, bouncy Rickenbacker basslines and solid guitar licks. 'Human For' was given a dedication by Julia to her grandmother, who was prevented from following her own musical aspirations by the sexist attitude that women should stay at home and raise a family.
Ballad 'Memoria' lowers the tempo and is a great example of the killer melodies on the new record. After this the political statement 'Crisis Fest' is a chance to get the audience pumping their fists in the air. The crowd were receptive to all the songs played but it was the closing song 'I Was Home' from their debut album which ignited the crowd into a feral moshpit, a show of the energy the band managed to evoke from the crowd.
The future's bright for Sunflower Bean. A band that can effortlessly breathe life into the sometimes tired dinosaur that is rock music, putting their own twist into a classic sound. See them if you can, their live shows are unforgettable.
SETLIST - | SUNFLOWER BEAN - STEREO CAFE BAR, GLASGOW - 01.04.18
Burn It
Come Down
Twentytwo
2013
Memoria
Crisis Fest
Human For
Puppet Strings
Sinking Sands
Easier Said
I Was a Fool
ENCORE:
Only A Moment
I Was Home