Beach Bunny
For a band with such a summery aesthetic, Beach Bunny has a distinctly warm sound that is best served with a chill in the air. Perhaps it’s the comfort of a deep kick drum that rises to meet vocalist Lili Trifilio’s deeply emotional, meditative melodies as she flips between matter-of-factly spoken and sing-songy lyrics, or guitar riffs that fill the empty space left by her words. The band’s music is a beautifully refined version of Chicago’s indie scene from the mid-to-late 2010s, where Trifilio got her start. She’s bubbled up to fame since, with early TikTok virality and multiple chart-topping albums cementing Beach Bunny as an alt pop/rock sensation. On Sunday, September 7, the band hosts Pool Party 2025 at the Salt Shed alongside Soccer Mommy, Annie DiRusso, Sidney Gish and Great Grandpa.
It’s been almost a decade since Beach Bunny released their first EP, “Animalism,” which contains all the raw elements of a masterpiece. Highlights include the instrumental “Intro” track, which features a ringing phone; “Six Weeks,” which they rerecorded for their breakout EP “Prom Queen”; and “Call Me Baby,” where she sings, “I know I, know I shouldn’t stay/But the way you say, way you say my/Name, I think you’ve changed/When you’re exactly the same, exactly the same.” Voice on the edge of cracking, Lili Trifilio’s early vocals waver under the weight of her feelings, almost dissipating into sobs. Her ability to translate diary-entry meltdowns into bedroom pop hits makes her songs into cinematic windows of her heart. Even when Beach Bunny’s early production sounds like DIY garage band practice, there’s a gripping sincerity.
Their first three years of singles and EP releases built their sound up to what they’re known for: no-frills, straight-to-the-blood injections of melancholy. This barebones talent was ripe for the emerging virality of short-form content, where Beach Bunny joined the likes of other emerging artists like PinkPantheress. Their skills only just crystallizing, it took until 2020 for them to release their debut album, “Honeymoon.” It’s a well-placed bow on their pre-pandemic sound and a time capsule to their biggest hits, with guitar riffs and Trifilio’s cadence reinterpreting past releases with a signature bluegrass-tinged rock.
Seemingly, since they began touring in 2018, their sound lost some of its authenticity. While hard to quantify, Trifilio’s spoken demeanor grew both more deadpan in her delivery, or too focused on speed and harmonics. With a little time to recuperate, however, Beach Bunny’s latest album, “Tunnel Vision,” released this April, finds Trifilio’s soul once again. While infusing a bit of country into the group’s punk rock, their third LP wrestles with lost years and a flattened culture. In line with online hits, the album dangles short sound bites of witty, vulnerable brainrot but almost resists virality with a more moshable punch.
Beach Bunny Presents Pool Party 2025 takes place on Sunday, September 7 at Salt Shed, 1357 North Elston. Doors at 3:30pm; show at 4:30pm. Tickets start at $58.25, available at saltshedchicago.com.
