Julia Cumming Shares Top Tour Moments
Bassist recalls signing rocks, Wawa pretzels and even sunset moments across U.S. cities...
Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.
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Sunflower Bean bassist Julia Cumming has been documenting her US tour highlights via Instagram, offering fans a glimpse behind the scenes of life on the road. From perfecting her favorite bass lines to sampling iconic snacks and leaving her mark on every city, Cumming’s latest post is a love letter to touring life.
Onstage Highlights
“This is one of my favorite bass lines to play on stage,” Cumming admits, “because it sounds great when I hit the slide up perfectly. But when I do and I can feel us really communicating on stage, it feels amazing.” She also recalled her excitement at signing a commemorative rock in Troy, New York—“Hopefully it will become part of this wall they are building out of rocks that bands sign. Pretty cool way to commemorate a gig.”
City Snapshots
Philadelphia’s “cool alleys” reminded her “of Europe,” while she savored “one of those magical tour moments when the sun is setting and you get to experience dusk in a city you never imagined visiting.” She even shared a humorous wake-up call courtesy of Olive’s blind uncle’s cat, determined to find a bag of Hot Cheetos.
Fan Encounters & Tour Treats
A dedicated fan crafted a shirt featuring track titles “Champagne Taste” and “Nothing Romantic,” which Cumming celebrated with a post-show Diet Coke. She’s also been on point with her gas station style, representing a “spikey and experimental sunflower” design, and indulging in the “elite tour snack,” a famous Wawa pretzel. Despite resisting the urge to haul home giant Madonna posters, she admits “it took so much restraint.”
Their “favorite tour pet,” Finn the dog, made an appearance, “giving me some snuggles before falling asleep,” and Cumming regretted not signing a street wall in Boston after donning her pre-set tee. The band’s recent WFUV session, which aired a special version of “Champagne Taste,” was another standout moment. She also spotted their show posters plastered “at our most used subway stops,” and teased baby tees featuring an angel design “because it looks like they are friends,” available only on tour.
In early April, Sunflower Bean released their fourth album, Mortal Primetime, and celebrated with an in-store performance at Rough Trade NYC and a hometown release show at Warsaw in Brooklyn. Their coast-to-coast trek continues this month, with dates in major venues from Johnny Brenda’s in Philly to The Ballroom in Austin and The Chapels in San Francisco.
Through every signed rock, local snack discovery and sunset silhouette, Julia Cumming’s tour takeaway is clear: the real highlight isn’t just the music—it’s the moments that make each city feel like home, even if only for a night.
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