Bad Suns Bring California Glow to South Texas
Updated: Aug 24
Bad Suns | Photo Credit: Jaxon Whittington
On a warm, humid April evening, downtown Corpus Christi’s Brewster Street Ice House filled with fans eager to see alternative rock standouts Bad Suns bring their retro-tinged indie rock sound to South Texas. The April 25th show appeared to mark the band’s first documented performance in Corpus Christi, arriving as part of their ACCELERATOUR in support of their latest album, Accelerator, released August 8, 2025.
Opening the evening was Dallas-based trio little image, a Hollywood Records act whose sound has evolved beyond the alternative pop-rock label often attached to them, leaning into something heavier and more energetic in recent years. They wasted little time winning over the Corpus Christi crowd, delivering a set that felt far more substantial than a typical opening slot. A noticeable pocket of dedicated fans sang along throughout the performance, drawing pleasantly surprised reactions from the band as voices from the crowd echoed their lyrics back to the stage.
Following the powerful set from little image, it was finally time for Bad Suns to take the stage. Rather than relying on elaborate visuals, sprawling stage setups, or other production-heavy elements, Bad Suns have built their live show around the strength of their musicianship and the natural charisma they bring to the stage. The band’s current lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Christo Bowman, bassist Gavin Bennett, and drummer Miles Morris, making them a notably compact three-piece compared with the four- or five-member lineups common in alternative rock. Yet their smaller size never translated into a smaller sound.
The band opened with Accelerator track “Slow Karma” before reaching back to their 2014 debut. “We Move Like the Ocean” and "Life Was Easier When I Only Cared About Me" set the tone for a set that moved freely between eras rather than focusing solely on their newest material. The latter portion of the show leaned particularly heavily into fan favorites, with “Violet” transitioning into “Do the Twist of Fate” before the band closed out the night with three of their most recognizable songs: “Communicating,” “Cardiac Arrest,” and “Daft Pretty Boys.”
Despite performing on the relatively compact stage at Brewster Street Ice House — seemingly smaller than many of the venues elsewhere on the tour — Bad Suns never appeared limited by the space. Bowman, in particular, seemed determined to make the performance feel as personal as possible, constantly engaging with the crowd while making use of nearly every inch of the stage. Rather than allowing the venue’s size to restrict the show, the band used it to their advantage. With little distance separating the musicians from the audience, fans were able to experience the performance at close range, creating an intimacy and sense of connection that can often be lost in larger concert halls. For a band whose live presence depends more on direct interaction and energy than elaborate production, the smaller setting ultimately felt especially well suited to them.
At one point during the set, Christo took a moment to apologize to the crowd, admitting that the band was starting to feel the effects of a long stretch on tour. It was a quick, honest moment that made the show feel just a little more personal. Even if the miles were catching up with them behind the scenes, Bad Suns kept the energy up, never wanting to let fans down.
As the final notes rang out and fans lingered near the stage, the exhaustion Bowman had mentioned earlier was hard to believe. Whatever fatigue the band may have been feeling never made its way into the performance. Bad Suns brought plenty of energy, chemistry, and personality to the small Brewster Street stage, proving that they don’t need a huge venue to put on a memorable show. If anything, the smaller setting only made the experience feel more personal, giving Corpus Christi a performance that was every bit as engaging as one in a much larger room.
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