A dedicated audience of lyric-spouting fans maybe only filled the Vogue three-quarters of the way last Thursday night for the Magic City Hippies on their Enemies tour promoting their album of the same name.
Energetic, this six-piece with lead singer Rob Hunter at the helm was definitely having fun and indulging in their dynamic performance. A dedicated audience of lyric-spouting fans may only have filled Vogue three-quarters of the way last Thursday night for the Magic City Hippies on their Enemies tour, promoting their album of the same name. If you didn't go, you missed out on some magic. Plus, they just appear to be so happy, approachable, and normal: nice guys having a great time with each other and their audiences.
The appeal is real, and the show was like a party with friends. They opened the show with "I Can't Let You Go," followed by "Enemies," a hypnotic, synth breakup ballad that, like most all their stuff, is dappled with a mood. Truth be told, every song is an easy groove, especially "Fired up," with a heavy bass line that at one point felt very Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo, which is a compliment on high and wild man trumpeter Michael Fatum, whose parts recalled those s saxophone moments a la Mars Williams.
Yes, it was a banger. But, we also heard a dependence on varied vocal distortions in the techno meets raw musicianship way they have.
It resonated with a mellow, hypnotic, dreamy feel and was definitely a highlight to hear. At one point in the show, the guitarist Jake Pinto was up in the north balcony playing a keytar while the trumpeter ascended to the south balcony.
