On a busy Sunday the night of May 17th, NY-based indie-rock band Sunflower Bean took the stage at Deep Cuts, Medford’s still relatively new stage-restaurant-bar-arcade-vinyl shop-brewery. It was a warm and breezy outside and in, as the band hit town in support of their excellent recent album Mortal Primetime and their 2024 EP, Shake. We were on hand to catch the show and take some pictures!
First up on the night was Laveda, another New York-based indie-rock band (although the group’s Bandcamp photo will look familiar to any Boston readers). The band proved to be a very logical opener for Sunflower Bean, tapping into the same old-school alt-rock that the headliners sometimes pull from. Laveda put on a spunky set, pulling songs from their first two albums while teasing an upcoming third one, due out later this year. The band noticeably had three guitarists, if not four as singer/guitarist Ali Genevich occasionally swapped instruments with bassist Dan Carr. The band had a lot of energy, mostly in the form of one wildman guitarist who ended the set on the ground in the nominal photo pit. Genevich’s voice and stage presence had the detached aura of Alicia Bognanno, while the band blended present-day straightforward indie-rock with more 90’s dream-pop elements. Laveda had some slightly awkward banter and the band sounded a little constrained, hinting that there’s still growing pains, but they brought a set that was both unique and comforting. If comparable to anything else out there, it sounded like King Of The Dudes-era Sunflower Bean.
After a very brief gap, Sunflower Bean took the stage, launching immediately into “Champagne Taste,” the opening track from Primetime. The album features a number of soft and vulnerable tunes, but still sees the band diving ever deeper into a pure classic rock sound. Even the band’s attire showed how they blend zeitgeist indie with classic rock – singer/bassist Julia Cumming was adorned in all black, while guitarist Nick Kivlen had on bright 70’s garb. Kivlen’s guitar skills were impressive all night long, playing rhythms and occasional solos far more complex than most indie axe-wielders. Cumming’s voice was electric too, powerful exactly when it needed to be. The band takes influences from many different eras and groups, but the influence of T. Rex seemed especially present on this night. The band was locked in across the fifteen-song setlist, with Cumming and Kivlen clearly having a blast upfront while drummer Olive Faber kept them on track behind the kit.
Ten of the fifteen songs the band played came from their two newest releases, but the remaining five were pulled from across their discography. Some of the highlights were new cuts “Nothing Romantic” and “Take Out Your Insides,” as well as their 2018 single “I Was A Fool.” Kevlin joked that they cut “Fool” from the set the previous night only to have a disappointed fan complain to them that they didn’t play it. It was clearly spur of the moment in Boston – it was crossed off the setlist for this show, too. They also joked that it was only their third time playing new cut “I Knew Love” live, while noting it was the last time they could mention that stat with it still sounding impressive. Another fun moment occurred partway through, when they called a fan to the front who was wearing a homemade shirt promoting both of the band’s recent singles, “Champagne Taste” and “Nothing Romantic.” The band closed the proper set with the final song on Primetime, “Sunshine,” before coming back after a comically short break to do a two-track encore. The night closed off with “Easier Said,” off their 2016 debut album, and an absolutely rollicking version of an even earlier cut, “Somebody Call A Doctor.” All in all, it was a wholesome and downright fun night of indie-rock, with a satisfied crowd dispersing into an equally inviting spring night.
Check out some photos below!
