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Live From The Current Studio

Sunflower Bean perform in The Current studio

Sunflower Bean perform in The Current studio.
Sunflower Bean perform in The Current studio.MPR photo/Nate Ryan
  Play Now [23:47]

by Bill DeVille

April 06, 2016

Sunflower Bean - Human Ceremony (live on 89.3 The Current)
by MPR
Sunflower Bean - Easier Said (live on 89.3 The Current)
by MPR
Sunflower Bean - Space Exploration Disaster (live on 89.3 The Current)
by MPR

"Life's a long roadtrip these days," says Sunflower Bean's Nick Kivlen.

And life on the road is something this Brooklyn-based band know quite a bit about — it's where they seem most at home. Between 2014 and 2015, Sunflower Bean performed 50 shows in New York City (the most any band had played in the city in that timespan).

The rigorous tour schedule continues in 2016. Last month, Kivlen (along with bassist/singer Julia Cumming and drummer Jacob Faber) appeared at SXSW, performing an exhausting string of 12 gigs over the course of four days.

"We haven't had much time off ... but it's okay," notes Cumming.

One of the SXSW gigs was particularly memorable, due to Sunflower Bean's opening act — 83-year-old country music legend, Loretta Lynn.

"That was insane," says Cumming. "They should have just given her the night. It was like 'oh my God, we have to go on after that? Just give her two hours, we can chill tonight ... it's Loretta Lynn!'"

Sunflower Bean have been touring in support of their full-length debut album Human Ceremony, which came out in February of 2016. This week, they stopped by The Current's studio to chat with Bill DeVille ahead of their show at the 7th St Entry.

Listen to the complete in-studio session by clicking the audio player above.

Songs Performed


"Human Ceremony"
"Easier Said"
"Space Exploration Disaster"
All songs from Sunflower Bean's album, Human Ceremony, available on Fat Possum.

Hosted by Bill DeVille
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Nate Ryan
Web feature by Daniel Nass