By Rebecca Sirull, inside editor
Before their show, Magic Man joked that they were happy someone was interviewing them so there would be at least one person in the crowd. This couldn’t be further from the truth as a packed room cheered on the Boston-based group, but it’s this kind of self-deprecating humor and underestimation of their own success that makes the band just so magical.
Last night’s performance at NAGA in Cambridge was the highlight of Gilt City’s Better Than Backstage Kick-Off Party as the band gears up to take the stage at Boston Calling this weekend. DJ Big Phyll pumped up the crowd with a dance-worthy set, as guests received makeovers from Benefit cosmetics and sipped on Argo tea cocktails.
“The coolest thing about the show was the way the venue was set up, so it was kind of like a private party and it was awesome that there was a huge crowd,” said junior chemistry major Charlie Hoyt.
The crowd’s energy spiked as Sam Lee (guitar), Gabe Goodman (bass), Justine Bowe (keyboard) and Joey Sulkowski (drums) stepped onto the stage and began playing their first song. Rather than waiting for his cue alongside his bandmates, lead singer Alex Caplow blended in with the first row of fans, nodding his head to the music before jumping onstage to begin belting out the lyrics amid wild cheers.
This kind of entrance is telling of the band’s relationship with their fans. Known for their interactive social media presence and eagerness to get to know the members of their audience, Magic Man makes their connection with the crowd a key part of every performance.
“A thing that we strive for as a band is not creating a separation between the crowd and the band,” said Sulkowski. “We like to interact with the fans and we like to be friends with the fans, so it’s not to become big and egotistical, it’s just to make people enjoy the experience.”
The band describes their sound as “triumphant synth rock,” inspired by one of Caplow and Lee’s favorite bands, Explosions in the Sky, who once posted ads that read “seeking a drummer for sad, triumphant rock band.” Caplow went on to explain the band’s desire to create music that is able to elicit a variety of emotions in their listeners, citing Robyn as an influence on the mixture of happy and sad that they aim for.
Clearly this is a winning combination as the band’s set received a phenomenal response from the crowd. The smaller venue made for a more intimate performance, allowing audience members to truly immerse themselves in the music and feel like Caplow was serenading them each individually.
“I loved how friendly they were and easy to meet. I feel like I didn’t just meet their music, but I met them as well,” said Madalyn Walker, a junior anthropology major at University of Vermont.
Magic Man continued to play a combination of songs from their first EP “You Are Here”, released in September 2013, and new songs from their upcoming album “Before the Waves”, which will be released on July 8 and is available now for pre-order.
After a quick shout out to his fellow Newton South High School alums in the audience, Caplow closed out the show with a rendition of “Paris”, one of the band’s most popular songs. For the final verse, he once again broke down the barrier between audience and performer by making his way into the crowd and joining the fans who joyfully surrounded him and shouted along to the words.
If this performance is any indication, Magic Man is sure to light up City Hall Plaza and kick off day two of Boston Calling in the most triumphant way.
Photo by Rebecca Sirull.
