If you’ve been stuck in a Montreal thunderstorm before, you can imagine just how relieved I was to arrive (albeit soaked) at Théâtre Beanfield and settle into the crowd. Pool Kids had already taken the stage, stoking the audience in anticipation of Beach Bunny’s performance. A math rock/emo band from Florida (of all places!), Pool Kids did not disappoint. They were new to me, but after playing together for almost a decade, the group had their set down to a science.
As always, I’d pre-gamed their show by binge-listening to their music on Spotify the week leading up to it. Of course, I had to consult the masses (bartender near my place), and even though their name rang a bell, we couldn’t quite place it. Turns out Hayley Williams had scouted them years ago when they dropped their album Music to Practice Safe To, which triggered some media attention and well-deserved recognition. Grateful that an old IG story eventually led to this Paramore-approved quad becoming an impressive addition to Beach Bunny’s tour lineup.
I loved the contrast with BB’s sunny, high-energy indie rock. Pool Kids’ sound was undeniably rebellious and true to the genre. Also true to tradition, they even ended the show with the crowd cheering to their chants: “We love our queer fans, trans rights are human rights, (insert expletive directed at Trump), free Congo, free Palestine!” And as we know, there’s nothing more punk rock than human rights. Right on.
Like any great opener, the crowd was amped for the night, and people were buzzing, waiting for Beach Bunny to take the stage. When they announced their tour, I was a bit surprised to see they’d been booked at the Beanfield, which I’d considered one of Montreal’s more modestly sized venues. Though it was a bit off the beaten path (read: more than 10 steps from downtown), once people settled in, it was clear they’d made the perfect choice—the crowd was the perfect size to reflect the energy of her set without being packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Elbows were only thrown (respectfully) in the mosh pit, which is kind of perfect if you ask me.
It also made for a fantastic first indie rock show, which, based on the ages of some of those around me, was likely the case. Beach Bunny has been on my radar for a hot minute, to the point where I forgot that I’d originally discovered them (like many other artists today) on TikTok after their single “Cloud 9” went viral back in 2020. It especially warms my heart to see so many middle and high school-aged girls at the show, since so many of Beach Bunny’s anthems carry feminist, no-BS themes that I definitely could have used at their age.
The fact that these messages are shared while fans wear bubble-gum pink merch—notably the cutest pink bunny ears I’ve ever seen—makes it all the more impactful. Growing up listening to the indie rock of the early 2000s, I often felt that I needed to adopt the skater girl/tomboy look in order to be accepted in the scene. Beach Bunny’s authenticity represents the exact opposite ideology, and I’m elated to see that passed onto the next generation of female concert-goers.
She wasted zero time getting on stage, whipping out a neon-pink, sparkly electric guitar (um, where can I get mine?) and launching into the aforementioned “Cloud 9,” followed by the opening track of her new album, “Tunnel Vision.” Feet kicking and tennis skirt swaying, the show was exactly what I expected from lead singer Lili Trifilio.
Each song built on the last, following the track list of the album in a perfectly predictable way, with a few classics like “Blame Game,” “Sports,” and “Prom Queen” thrown in for good measure. Stoked to find the band is just as good—if not better—live, I was bobbing along to each catchy tune, singing lyrics I didn’t even realize I knew. How could you hear them once and forget them though?
Her songs come from the heart and go right into yours, exploring and voicing familiar feelings of frustration, fear, inadequacy, uncertainty—all natural parts of growing up and figuring it out. On the flip side, she sings about excitement about the future, the unknown, potential, and dreams. Watching the crowd, I could tell that these were experiences everyone could relate to: the shared experience of just being human.
And I have to say, listening back to her record now, that feeling is unforgettable. I might put it on when the world is being a little bit unfair, but I’m going to jam out and know that there’s a whole crowd of fans out there who are feeling it with me. Hopefully, they’re wearing some pink bunny ears. 🙂
Setlist
- Cloud 9
- Ms. California
- Mr. Predictable
- Big Pink Bubble
- Weeds
- Oxygen
- Chasm
- Nice Guys
- Tunnel Vision
- Violence
- Pixie Cut
- Vertigo
- Blame Game
- Good Girls
- Clueless
- Sports
- Dream Boy
- Just Around the Corner
- Six Weeks
- Prom Queen
- Painkiller
Review – Lauren Maddock
Photos – Melih Nehir
