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Fun Fun Fun review: Magic Kids
Fresh-faced and bouncy, the Magic Kids gave a charming wake-up call to the first batch of Fun Fest goers early Sunday afternoon. Still riding on the momentum from their debut album “Memphis,” named after their home city, the members skipped through pop with heavy Beach Boys influence.
For as young as they looked, the six members formed a tight-knit group of musicians. The lineup included a keyboardist and a violinist, who added an elegant chamber element to the group’s sunny sound. Between twinkly piano rolls and chiming chord progressions, the members would swoon together in three and four part harmony. And although they looked younger than most members of the audience, between songs, they stole gulps from cans of Heineken Light.
One of the most surprising moments of the set came during “Summertime,” the centerpiece of the band’s debut. After a brief baroque intro, the band rolled into a swinging beat, and singer Bennet Foster broke from his adolescent tenor to sing in a suave lounge voice. As the band swayed into the chorus of the song, Foster sat down on the stage and propped himself up on his elbow, giving a boost to the lounge feel of the song.
“Memphis” is an album of innocence. From songs like “Hey Boy,” which gives a playful twist to the tale of summer love infidelity, to “Superball,” which swims in nostalgic childhood memories, the record brims with youthful optimism. And as the band’s Fun Fest performance showed, they embody that spirit perfectly.
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