A Magical Moment with Bad Suns in Tempe

By Mia Andrea

Graphic: Emily Lantzy

     Bad Suns recently embarked on their Away We Go Tour to promote their latest release, Mystic Truth. The album was released a week after the final show, but this didn’t stop the band and the crowd from giving it their all. The LA-based alternative, indie-pop group finished the tour by stopping in Tempe, Arizona for a free show, and it’s no doubt that word about the show spread around town. Fans queued up hours before the show, including myself, with hopes to earn a spot in this incredible show before the maximum audience capacity was reached.

     After some high-energy performances from two local bands, the enthusiastic crowd welcomed Bad Suns to the stage as they opened with “Away We Go,” the first single from Mystic Truth. The group’s stage presence was absolutely captivating as they filled the stage with catchy guitar solos, lively keys, and a beat that is guaranteed to make any audience member jump along.

     I, along with so many surrounding fans, watched the show with a smile on my face the whole time. As Bad Suns performed crowd favorites such as “Daft Pretty Boys” and “Cardiac Arrest,” it was impossible to not sing along or sway side-to-side with frontman and vocalist Christo Bowman. The setlist, which consisted of a diverse mix of songs from the band’s last two albums, continued to draw attention to the band’s latest singles and upcoming album. Mystic Truth stays true to Bad Suns’ lively, indie-alternative sound, and the live renditions of both “One Magic Moment” and “Hold Your Fire” definitely captured the dreamy energy of the album as fans sang along.

     Bad Suns wrapped up the show with two dynamic songs from their first album, Language & Perspective. I think that many fans in the audience could agree that “Rearview” was one of the most fun performances of the night. Bowman joined the wonderful chaos of the crowd and had the audience pushing towards to front to be a part of the interaction. When the time had come for the group to close their show with “Salt,” the fans all danced one last time to the upbeat tune.

     Bad Suns is now on their North American Mystic Truth Tour until May 11, and are set to perform at Lollapalooza this summer. Follow the band on social media (@badsuns) to stay updated on upcoming tour dates and releases, because I would definitely recommend attending a Bad Suns show as they continue to take on 2019!