Beach Bunny Delivers Electrifying Performance at the Crystal Ballroom
By: Maddison Schiller
Monday night, May 26, 2025, saw Beach Bunny transform Portland’s iconic Crystal Ballroom into a vibrant testament to their undeniable growth as a live act. The sold-out show, a fact the lead singer Lili Trifilio gratefully acknowledged throughout the night, was buzzing with anticipation. Long before the main act, most of the eager crowd arrived early, drawn by the promise of a fantastic night.
Scarlet Demore, a small independent band that hails from Chicago, kicked things off like Beach Bunny themselves. They brought electric energy with them from the moment they came on stage, immediately grabbing the audience’s attention. Their dynamic performance built the crowd up for a great night of rocking tunes, setting an excellent foundation for what would come.
From the moment Beach Bunny launched into their set, it was clear this was not the same band I had seen on previous tours (and not just because there were new faces on stage). Every member exuded a newfound confidence, a palpable sense of ownership over their music and their stage. It felt as if they had finally acknowledged their awesomeness, truly leaning into the high-octane energy the crowd was relentlessly giving back. This symbiotic relationship between band and audience fueled a performance that was tighter, more dynamic, and utterly captivating. The tour itself is promoting Beach Bunny’s third studio album, Tunnel Vision, and fans were treated to a near-complete live rendition of the record, with all but one track from the new release brought vibrantly to life on stage.
The night built to an unforgettable crescendo, culminating in what might be the most memorable moment of any Beach Bunny show to date. Throughout the evening, Lili had playfully acknowledged the Crystal Ballroom’s unique layout - split down the middle with a general admission side and an exclusive 21+ section. Before launching into their hit single, “Painkiller”, Lili seized on this unusual setup. With a smile plastered across her face, she implored both sides of the room to form a “wall of death”. The crowd roared in response, parting like the Red Sea. Lili declared this a historic first: the “first double wall of death at a Beach Bunny show!” The energy in the room became incandescent as both halves of the room erupted, crashing together into a unified surge of pure, unadulterated euphoria, raging as if it were their last night alive.
This moment perfectly encapsulated the band’s evolution; not only are they musically sharper, but their comfort and command on stage have reached new heights, allowing them to create truly unique and unforgettable experiences for their dedicated fanbase. Beach Bunny didn’t just play a concert; they orchestrated a shared, explosive celebration of their music, leaving every person in the Crystal Ballroom buzzing and bouncing long after the final note faded. Catch them in a city near you here.
