Bad Suns
Bad Suns played a sold-out show with previous tour mates HUNNY at the beautiful North Park Observatory.
Bad Suns, with HUNNY and Field Medic, gave the packed house all the feel-good summer vibes on warm summer night. With a line wrapped around the block by the time doors opened, the normally spacious theater felt almost claustrophobic with the sheer number of fans in the building. Having released their sophomore album, “Disappear Here,” just under a year ago, Bad Suns has steadily risen to have an almost cult-like fan base. Similarly, fellow tour mates HUNNY have toured with everyone from San Diego locals The Frights to The Neighbourhood despite barely having two EP’s under their belt.
The show started off with Field Medic giving an impressive set, setting the bar high for the rest of the night. For your next indie music fix, be sure to check out this local artist. Having dropped a full album in 2015, Field Medic has since dropped a number of EP’s and singles that are perfect for all things summer, from crisp, clear mornings to warm nights at the beach. Take a listen to Powerful Love,” “O.T.L.,” and “GLITTER.”
Next up was the ever-eclectic HUNNY. Never failing to impress in their wardrobe, the group was clad in pieces including Hawaiian button downs, glitter jackets, and vintage sport coats. Just under a month past the release of their latest EP “Windows I,” HUNNY’s set was rich with new tracks such as “Hallways,” “Shy,” and “Televised,” in which they snuck in a “Parking Lot” verse. During one of the more fun moments of the night, the boys transitioned the end of “Cry For Me” into a medley of classics such as Brittany Spears’s “Oops I Did It Again,” Smashmouth’s infamous “All Star,” and Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” With a set that grows more polished every time they come through, HUNNY gave an incredible set before finishing with their most recent hit, “Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me).”
It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed, the crowd screamed, and Bad Suns took the stage. Frontman Christo Bowman, along with members Gavin Bennett, Miles Morris, and Ray Libby, have truly come into their own as performers over the last few years, owning the stage and captivating the crowd in a way that every fan hopes their favorite artist would. Known for getting up close and personal with the crowd, Bowman trekked from one side of the stage to the other, never straying too far from the edge of the stage. During one song, the energetic crooner even stepped into the crowd for as long as he could take hands grabbing at him.
With two albums full of hit tracks, Bad Suns played nearly every song they had, to the fans’ delight. Opening up with title track “Disappear Here,” the indie-alt-rockers slayed through songs new and old, including “Love Like Revenge,” “Daft Pretty Boys,” “Transpose,” “Swimming In The Moonlight” and “Move Like The Ocean.” Fans sang along and danced their hearts out to older hits like “Outskirts of Paradise,” “Cardiac Arrest,” and “Rearview.” Eventually, the band took a quick break off-stage, with Bowman assuring the audience, “Don’t go anywhere,” before coming back for an encore consisting of “Heartbreaker” and “Salt.”
Nearing the end of their tour, neither HUNNY nor Bad Suns held anything back in playing heartfelt shows. If you weren’t there, you can catch Bad Suns at High & Low Festival in September, or on their fall tour with HUNNY (with their closest stops in Vegas, Phoenix, or San Francisco).
Review by: Christine Heyne