On May 16, Sunflower Bean brought a storm of sound to Johnny Brenda’s. The New York trio, known for its fluid movement across glam rock, dream pop and punk, has now fully embraced the weight and texture of noise rock. The show was not polished or pristine. It was loud, raw and unfiltered in a way that felt deliberate. From the first note, it was clear that the band was leaning into distortion not as a decoration, but as a foundation.
Following the performance, the band spoke candidly about their evolving sound. Sonic Youth, Gazi and a heavy dose of 1990s grunge have been core influences in their recent direction. “We’re digging into a lot of 90s and grunge pop,” they said. That influence was palpable on stage. The music was built on dissonance, thick tones and emotional release. The shift is not about reinvention but about distillation. They are stripping away the unnecessary and doubling down on what resonates.
Lyrically, the band acknowledged a growing sense of responsibility. When asked whether they feel pressure to deliver meaning with every track, they admitted to thinking more carefully about lyrics than they once did: “There’s pressure sometimes, but mostly it’s about saying what we feel,” they said. “Our own struggles, how we see the world, what we’re going through.” Their words were honest and grounded, not curated for effect. There is no posture here, just lived experience shaping the work.
Sunflower Bean also reflected on their dynamic as a trio. Having grown together within the industry, they noted that collaboration has become central to their creative process. “We’ve grown through a lot,” they said. “We make more decisions together now, and we’ve learned how to enjoy it more too.” That balance between seriousness and spontaneity was present throughout the night. Their chemistry on stage felt earned.
Their largest show to date was at the venue Brooklyn Steel in late 2023, marking a milestone following the release of their second album. That moment, they said, felt like everything had aligned. While Johnny Brenda’s offered a smaller stage, it demanded no less intensity. The band delivered with clarity and force, making the space feel expansive without relying on scale.
When asked which track would best introduce new listeners at Drexel to Sunflower Bean, they chose “Champagne Taste.” It is a sharp, layered track that captures the band’s current direction. It is not polished for radio or designed for easy listening. It is, instead, intentional, textured and confident.
Sunflower Bean is not chasing a trend. They are building something grounded, loud and unshakably their own. At Johnny Brenda’s, that intent was not only heard, it was felt.