By: David de Young
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Angela Gannon (left) and Romeo Stodart (right) of The Magic Numbers at the Ascot Room - Photo by David de Young
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A larger turnout might have been expected when The Magic Numbers played the Ascot Room Friday, considering this was the band's first visit to the Twin Cities. They have arguably released one of the best albums of 2005 (the eponymously-titled The Magic Numbers on Capital/EMI.) And other recent notable kudos includes winning Best New Act at the Mojo Honours List this past June in London.
Dubliner David Kitt opened the show about 7:30 p.m. A relative unknown in America, Kitt has a substantial following in Ireland where he is a mainstay at Dublin’s Oxegen Festival. Though the subleties of Kitt’s originals may have been lost on this crowd, his slow, bluesy cover of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” perked up a few ears. Kitt peformed tonight with recorded tracks for accompaniment instead of a full band, another reason he may not have connected with the audience despite a respectable performance.
The Magic Numbers stepped onstage wearing smiles as warm and welcoming as any you are likely to see. The crowd, which by now numbered maybe 200, some of whom had been sitting during the opening act, moved forward en masse.
The love the fans have for this band showed right from the start. Many people in the front rows had their hands high, punching the air with fingers and fists. I honestly haven’t seen fans so authentically in love with a major label band in some time. This is the kind of affection that Bon Jovi, who was playing at a venue 20 some times the size a few blocks away, can only dream of.
Appearing nothing less than thrilled by the warmth of the reception, they moved right into their traditional opener, “The Mule,” and the set progressed like many they have played this past year, including one at the Swedish Hultsfred Festival which you can listen to here. ( Next up was “Long Legs,” a song guitarist and lead singer, Romeo Stodart introduced as being “about waking up in the morning and thinking, ‘Cool, I don’t have to get dressed today ‘cause I’ve still got my boots on from last night.’”
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Michelle Stodart plays bass and keyboards - Photo by David de Young
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By this time, Senses Fail and Saves the Day had taken the stage in the main room on the Quest club’s first floor. Stodart mentioned they could hear “little bits of Metallica” coming from downstairs, but added, “We’re gonna try to rock harder than those guys.” They broke into “Forever Lost,” and during the sing-along chorus, Saves the Day, or whoever it was down there, was temporarily left in the dust.
“I See You, You See Me” features angelic vocals by Angela Gannon. The end of this song is downright beautiful (and that’s not a phrase I throw around.) The swapped out vocals add layer upon layer of tenderness, especially on the part, “Looks like it happened again.” Unfortunately as the song quieted down, you could again hear the music from competing show downstairs.
The set featured a couple of new songs not on the album. One was “Gone Are The Days,” a song powerful enough song to foster anticipation for the next album already. Another new song, possibly titled “You Never Had Me,” they said had been named by a fan from Seattle, and that they had only been playing during the last couple weeks of the tour. When it was finished, Stodart announced it was the best they’d ever played it. Next up was “Hymn For Her,” which Stodart said the band had debated whether or not to play tonight. I am glad the debate ended in the song’s favor as the closing song from the album is one of its sweetest tracks.
Before “Love’s Just a Game” Stodart again mentioned the annoying background noise, adding, “They gotta soundproof this place.” [Quest management: please take note!] Across the back of the stage I could see David Kitt dancing, drinking and smoking along.
Stodart told people to feel free to bounce around on the set closer “Love Me Like You.”
The band was back almost immediately for the encore and spoke to the audience more extensively than at any other point in the evening. They mentioned they’d been in town a couple days and had even had a chance to go bowling Thursday night at Memory Lanes in South Minneapolis, after which they also made an appearance at the Varsity Theater to see the Shout Out Louds.
There were 5 songs in the encore, including “Mornings Eleven” which they dedicated to their families (fitting as each band member had family right there on stage with them), and “Wheels On Fire” which they dedicated to David Kitt. “The Beard” had kind of a Appalachian dance party feel to it. They finished off the night with a Johnny Cash song, which might have been “Goodbye, Little Darlin’, Goodbye.”
Set List
1. The Mule
2. Long Legs
3. Don’t Give Up The Fight (At times this song reminds me of "You Don’t Have To Be A Star" by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.)
4. Forever Lost
5. I See You, You See Me
6. New song: Gone Are The Days (http://www.ewradio.co.uk/songdetails2.php?sid=12122)
7. New song: You Never Had Me?
8. Hymn For Her
9. Love’s A Game
10. Love Me Like You
Encore:
1. Crazy In Love (Beyonce cover)
2. Mornings Eleven
3. Wheels On Fire
4. The Beard
5. goodbye little darlin’ goodbye
Location Info:
The Quest Club
Artist Info: David Kitt, The Magic Numbers
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