Outside of warehouse venue The Depot, hordes of fans queue outside in the cold and wet. I arrive 15 minutes after doors – over an hour before even the opening act is set to take stage – and by the time I enter the building, the entire front half of the room facing the stage has been taken over. One thing becomes immediately apparent: Magdalena Bay fans are passionate.
Miami alt-pop duo Matt Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum are here supporting their latest album Imaginal Disk, which has at this point been out for nearly a year and a half, but the momentum for it, and for Magdalena Bay, shows no signs of slowing. Entering the venue, we’re greeted with the sight of a stage covered in black and white sheets, which stay as the opening act takes the mic. Opener Allie X was well-picked for the occasion, with appropriately heavy synth-lead pop tracks to help set the tone for the upcoming main act. She delivered a formidable, high-energy performance with some powerhouse vocals.
In the intermission between sets, I made the mistake of leaving my spot in the room to use the bathroom. Getting back and finding my place proved to be a challenge – the whole warehouse floor was now filled with eager fans, and the excitement is palpable.
Finally, the sheets are lifted, and the band take stage.
One of Magdalena Bay’s biggest strengths is that they are absolutely dripping with originality, which is immediately apparent in the stage design. It’s not often that the visual design of a show is worth taking note of, but here the stage design is meticulous and beautiful.
Their music is synth-lead, which for some artists can lead to live performances that feel like the album you’ve already heard played over a speaker with some live vocals for the price of admission. Albums can be difficult to live up to on a live stage – especially when they’re as good as Imaginal Disk. Magdalena Bay are not one of these artists. The live performance takes their already lively music and creates whole universes between the notes – it’s difficult to overstate the energy of the show, which is simultaneously entirely faithful to and elevates the record.
In no small part, this energy is thanks to touring drummer Nick Villa, who also worked on Imaginal Disk. His drumming is distinctive and crucial. One highlight of the show was his drum solo at the end of Tunnel Vision, which was given its own introduction by Tenenbaum, and which seemed to have the entire audience holding their breaths or its duration.
The star of the show, though, is undoubtedly frontwoman Mica Tenenbaum herself. Tenenbaum has one of those irreplicable stage presences. She runs and dances around the stage while she sings seemingly without the need to catch her breath, and never so much as hits a dull note. Her movements are always perfectly attuned to the mood of the song. For Death & Romance she struts with conviction, and for its moodier sister song Fear, Sex she remains in place, on a pedestal, with sensuous, languid movements. You get the sense that, without the music playing, you’d still be able to hear it by following her movements.
Things that, from a less committed band, might come with a hint of self-deprecation, of “we know, this is silly”, are instead delivered straight and with utmost sincerity. Tenenbaum’s sunflower costume for Vampire in the Corner could look ridiculous, but the earnestness with which it’s worn, coupled with the beautiful quiet and crescendo of the song, make for a scene that you can only watch in awe. Magdalena Bay are an act that reward an open-hearted listen – if you’re willing to askew the irony and the fear of looking ‘uncool’, you will be rewarded with an emotionally fulfilling and life affirming experience. And when, during the final song (titled The Beginning, of course) you’re told to jump up and down and never stop jumping, everyone around you will be too busy doing the same to notice how silly you look.
After the show, the line for the merch table just about snaked out of the building. Clearly, anyone who had arrived at the show unsure about the band had come out fully convinced and converted to the church of Matt and Mica. To meet your brand new image, and your new favourite band, give Magdalena Bay a chance.
Words by Rhia Davies
Image courtesy of Evan Blockley. No changes have been made to this image.
