Photos and review by Notes From Vivace
LOS ANGELES – Sunflower Bean recently released their “Mortal Primetime” album. The album is packed with songs such as “I Knew Love” that will require a tissue box within arms length.
The lyrics are emotive and moving: “I have walked through broken glass from houses I destroyed.”
In support of their fourth album, the band dropped by the Lodge Room to an enthusiastic fan base that rushed the stage as soon as the venue doors opened. In a way, it was a homecoming stop for the band as they tour across North America. The band announced that Julia Cumming and Nick Kivlen recently moved to Los Angeles and that the band recorded the album a year ago in Van Nuys.
The band made sure the fan base got injected with a dose of adrenaline to start off the night with a rocking rendition of their new album’s opening track “Champagne Taste.” The Lodge Room light team blasted the stage with a white glow that obscured the band members as if they were silhouettes. Cumming showed her power vocals during “Lucky Number.” The crowd screamed their approval when “Twentytwo” was announced. Cumming could be seen hugging her bass during the song.
The band showed their love for the song “I Knew Love.” Kivlen dedicated the song to his girlfriend Meka. Perhaps realizing he might have stepped on Cumming’s love for the song, he asked, “If that’s okay, Julia?” She gave her approval before sharing her own bond with the song, “This is one of my favorites so you better be cool about it.” Drummer Olive Faber wasn’t mic’d up, but also seemed to want to get her input heard on the song as she gave the drum kit a few solid hits during the song’s introduction. The song is a reflective tune that had the audience swaying to the rock ballad and cheering loudly as the song concluded.
Los Angeles-based band Tashaki Miyaki opened up the night with a dreamy set. Lead guitarist Luke Paquin was sporting a Friends TV show cap. The song of their set had to be their concluding song “Somethin’ Is Better Than Nothin’.” Paige Stark’s vocals emphasized the lyrics “It’s gonna be alright” with greater and greater intensity and conviction that mesmerized the audience.
GIFT is supporting Sunflower Bean throughout the tour. It didn’t take long for the New York band to win over the Los Angeles crowd – say a few notes into their opening song “Wish Me Away.” “It’s All Too Fast” had lead singer TJ Freda twisting his body and guitar in every possible direction with alternative rock intensity that had the crowd screaming “F*ck Yeah!” Head banging by the audience was a requirement for “Gumball Garden.” The band’s final song “Pinkhouse Secret Rave” had the band revving up the music, sending the band into hair flings and guitar twists.
Sunflower Bean setlist: Champagne Taste, Lucky Number, Teach Me To Be Bad, Who Put You Up To This?, Look What You’ve Done to Me, Easier Said / Somebody Call a Doctor, Twentytwo, I Knew Love, There’s A Part I Can’t Get Back, Sunshine, Nothing Romantic. Encore: Shake.
Gift setlist: Wish Me Away, Going In Circles, It’s All Too Fast, Later, Gumball Garden, Pinkhouse Secret Rave.
Tashaki Miyaki setlist: Tonight, Cool Runnings, I Want You, Keep Me in Mind, Get It Right, Reason, I Feel Fine, Somethin’ Is Better Than Nothin.’
