Sun Room Takes Over Santa Cruz
SoCal surf-rock band Sun Room made their last stop of their west coast tour at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA on March 14, 2025. Band members Luke Asgain, Ashton Minnch, Max Pinamonti, and Thomas Rhodes have been on the road since last month. Known for their electrifying live performances, there was no telling what to expect as fans continued to fill the venue.
As the night began, Santa Cruz surf-rock band Trestles took the stage. I could see that many people in the crowd were excited to see them perform. I noticed that the drummer had her kit decorated with flowers. I was also thrilled as I always looked for new bands to listen to. One of my favorite songs from their set was “Blue Hotel” from their EP Postcard. The firm, quick hook in the beginning, was something that captured my attention immediately. As they ended their set, their guitarist handed a guitar pick to one of the girls at the barricade.
Sun Room took the stage and opened their set with fan favorites “Just Yesterday,” “Can’t Explain,” and “Crashed My Bike.” I caught people in the crowd dancing and moving to the beat of the songs, so I knew that the crowd was just warming up as people were starting to surf the stage. The band kept going through their set with no pauses in between.
The lights beamed purple, and I heard the beginning of the strumming chords of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” Sun Room recently covered the song at Jazzcats Studio. I recommend checking it out, as their rendition of the song was amazing. There were people around me singing along.
The next couple of songs on the setlist were some of my favorites. “Outta Their Minds,” “Sunset Garage,” and “Summer’s Here.” All of the songs they played showed off their ‘60’s garage rock influence. Especially with the guitars in “Outta Their Minds” that created a heavy distortion, which is different when you’re hearing the song live.
The band concluded their show with "Cadillac." However, the crowd was not pleased to see the performance end; it felt like the night was just beginning, especially with the intense moshing and crowd surfing happening in the middle of the venue. Many took their place on each other's shoulders, eager for a better view of the stage. Sun Room then made their way back to stage for their encore song "Red Dress."
I had the opportunity to see Sun Room at this very venue back in 2022. Going in, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I left as a devoted fan. Their music opened my ears to an exciting genre I never knew I loved! It’s not just their sound that I crave; the energy from their incredible crowds truly makes the experience unforgettable. I can hardly wait to see them again!
Check out the full photo gallery here.
Setlist
Just Yesterday
Can't Explain
Crashed My Bike
Hate It When You Call
Fun
Don't Cause a Riot
Fade Into You (Mazzy Star cover)
Outta Their Minds
City Life
Something That You're Missing
She'll Move to London
Sunset Garage
On Fire
Sol Del Sur
Jackknife
Get Me Outta New York City
Summers Here
Cadillac
(Encore)
Red Dress