ANDY HEDGECOCK is entertained by a playful novel that embeds a fictional game at its heart
Sunflower Bean
The Wardrobe, Leeds/Touring
“LET’S make some loud music!” hollers Julia Cumming, the first of many such exhortations from Sunflower Bean’s bassist and lead vocalist, whose volume-control button seems to have malfunctioned.
This might be a problem if the New York trio, joined by keyboard player Danny Ayala, failed to deliver on the statement of intent. Yet from opening track Burn It — all Joan Jett attitude and big rock riffs — it’s clear that they’ve outgrown their formative roots in shoe-gaze and indie psychedelia.
SUSAN DARLINGTON swoons in the presence of a magnetic frontman
New releases by Porridge Radio, The Cribs, and Bjorn Meyer
WILL STONE relishes the chance to hear the Isle of Wight indie sensation in an intimate setting
SUSAN DARLINGTON is bowled over by an outstanding play about the past, present and future of race and identity in the US



