Still Magic

[lnr]

I saw the Magic Numbers play at Glastonbury. In a crowded tent named in John Peel's honour which was almost worshipping the ground they walked on. The more they smiled the more the crowd cheered and the happier they got. It's a moment that will probably live with me forever and with that in mind it was hard to imagine they could ever live up to my hopes in seeing them again, but they did.

A smaller crowd, a smaller room, but they filled it with their music. Their simple formula of guitar, bass, drums, assorted percussion and three voices seems to work every time. Playing song after song from their eponymous album you kept feeling like they had to have run out, until they played another and you went "ooh" again remembering how good it was. In amongst them they threw a couple of new tracks, including a lovely acoustic solo from Michelle which will apparently be the B side of their next single, and their contribution to the Warchild album. And they managed to keep the pace varied, with an assortment which included a glockenspiel duet of all things.

They opened the encore with another acoustic number, this time a Beyonce cover, managing at once to be hilarious and beautiful. It was followed by one of their singles and then they got the crowd to sing along to Wheels on Fire. It's always impressive when a crowd can sing well, and they did, even managing to make the slow ending work. A finale of a rousing number made everyone jump and clap and dance along. The crowd yelled itself hoarse, as the band left the stage still grinning. And I'm still grinning too.

Right now I don't believe in cynicism. A feeling I hope will last.

Comments

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to have to see them live for them to click with me - I don't mind the singles (and the intro to Love Me Like You reminds me of the theme tune to Only Fools And Horses, which always makes me smile), but the rest of the album was a bit of a damp squib after all the adulation.

I know exactly what you mean about post-gig euphoria though. My favourite wee indie band makes me grin for a week every time I see them, without fail.

[lnr]

I've had a poke round their website and they're coming nowhere near Cambridge *pout*.

Some time you're going in London can you offer me crash space and drag me along?

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

Going where? To see Bearsuit, you mean? Of course crash space is available whenever I'm in town, which is most of the time save for the odd weekend when I venture outside of zone 2 to see friends.

[lnr]

Yes, them! They sound cool. And well, new bands always good.

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

I'm seeing them in Brighton on Sunday 30th and London on Monday 31st (wow, is it halloween already?). I might well go up to see them in Nottingham next Thursday as well (what, stalking, me?). They tend to have gig sprees and then go quiet for a few months, but I could let you know next time they're playing.