A chilly May evening in the buzzing East End of London was the perfect setting for NYC power trio Sunflower Bean’s live show and album signing, for their self-produced fourth album Mortal Primetime.
The trio consisting of Julia Cumming (bass, lead vocals), Nick Kivlen (guitars, backing vocals), and Olive Faber (drums) blend many elements from the full spectrum of rock including searing guitar solos, driving drums, gritty bass and layered harmonies with the attitude that goes with it.
The band kicked off their set with album opener ‘Champagne Taste’, a riff heavy stomper with oodles of attitude. Followed up by another single from the album, ‘Nothing Romantic’ – combining Heart-style vocals and soaring riffs, and a lyrical antidote to the tortured artist ideas of love.
In addition, they gave a nod to their last EP Shake with the songs, ‘Lucky Number’, interestingly also the name of their label, and the gorgeously riff-tastic ‘Teach Me to be Bad’.
Next up was latest single ‘There’s a Part I Can’t Get Back’ with powerful lyrics about the cruelties of lost innocence and musical nods to Fleetwood Mac and the 1980s.
If I die before I wake, I pray the lord lets me get even first
Despite a shorter than normal set, as the band went on to sign their album for fans, they still enjoyed interacting with the audience, including Julia noticing that the usually noisy Brits were pretty silent when she mentioned that they came from the US.
More highlights included ‘Look What You’ve Done To Me’ a melodic paean to obsessional love and ‘Take Out Your Insides’ layered vocals combined with an all-consuming woozy distortion and lyrics about being raw and honest with your partner.
To wrap up the evening, we got a treat with the double whammy of ‘Sunshine’, the final song from the new album, where Julia and Nick’s vocals intertwine in a sonic haze, surrounded by fuzzy distortion and ‘Somebody Call A Doctor’ the first song off their very first EP.
It was a beautiful way to showcase just how far the band has come on their own journey through rock, unashamedly displaying their influences from different rock sub-genres and making it their own.
Catch them live on tour in the US for the next few months and in the UK in the autumn.
Follow the band: Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube