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SXSW review: Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic drew me to their Wednesday night Brooklyn Vegan-sponsored showcase at Club de Ville based on the strength of one track, “Fangela.”
The leap of faith turned out to be absolutely worth navigating the sweaty hoard packed into the hipster environs. Here We Go Magic — artist-turned-full-time-musician Luke Temple and band — meshed five-part vocal harmonies with a drums-heavy, cascading groove that proved inescapable to audience members close enough to be entranced.
Sometimes bands that build a following based on lo-fi, acoustic four-track recordings aren’t able to transition to a full-on rock band. Here We Go Magic absolutely made the transition, muscling up their intimate lo-fi recordings with a high-fidelity, electric live show complete with pop-craft perfectionism reminiscent of the Elephant 6 Recording Co. bands from the previous decade.
I had a little trouble concentrating during the Here We Go Magic set as I was entirely distracted by an email on my phone that confirmed Alex Chilton’s death (vocalist of Big Star, one of my all-time Top 5 favorite bands). But, Here We Go Magic’s rhythm-centric music seemingly hypnotized the entire audience and pulled me out of my melancholic state.
Although the touring line-up of Here We Go Magic formed recently, drummer Peter Hale and bassist Jennifer Turner played with the natural chemistry of old soulmates. Their musical prowess allowed songs to extend past the five minute mark - without feeling too long - while the beat drew the listeners in, allowing Temple’s subtle, poetic lyrics to soar to the forefront.
Grooves started in one lane of traffic and never merged to another. By the time the band played the stand-out new track “Collector,” the music’s transcendental pulse had pushed my heart beyond the sadness of Chilton’s death toward hope. Hope that Chilton might receive the accolades in death that he never received in life.
Look for Here We Go Magic’s sophomore album “Pigeons” to drop on June 8. If their packed-house show and propulsive new lineup are any indication, Here We Go Magic will continue to bubble up from the underground indie rock scene into the consciousness of music fans everywhere.
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