Magic Man (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Magic Man was an American electronic rock duo originating from Boston, established in 2010 by vocalist Alex Caplow and guitarist/keyboardist Sam Lee. The group expanded by incorporating Gabe Goodman on bass, a longtime high school acquaintance, along with college friends Justine Bowe on keyboards and Joey Sulkowski on drums, transforming the New England ensemble into a complete band. Their EP You Are Here was released in September 2013, preceding their debut full-length album, Before the Waves, which came out on July 8, 2014, under Columbia Records. On July 10, 2015, Magic Man announced that Goodman, Bowe, and Sulkowski had left the band, reverting to the original two-member formation.[1]
Real Life Color (2010)
Following their first year of college, Alex Caplow and Sam Lee participated in WWOOF, traveling throughout France to work on organic farms. During a visit to a circus festival, they encountered a French amateur magician known as "Magic Man," whose name inspired the band's moniker.[2] Influenced by these experiences, the pair crafted a synth-pop sound with an emphasis on dance rhythms. They self-produced and launched their initial album, Real Life Color, on January 25, 2010.
You Are Here (2013)
With the lineup expanded by Justine Bowe, Joey Sulkowski, and Daniel Radin, Magic Man refined their musical style and released the EP You Are Here in September 2013. The band toured across the United States supporting Walk the Moon and subsequently joined a short tour opening for Sir Sly.[3]
Before the Waves (2014–2015)
In January 2014, Magic Man embarked on a tour with New Politics and Sleeper Agent during New Politics's headlining run. Early that year, Daniel Radin departed to concentrate on The Novel Ideas and was succeeded by Gabe Goodman. Their single "Paris" premiered in February at number 39 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and climbed to a peak position of No. 33; it was accompanied by an official music video. By March, "Paris" had ascended to number one on Alt Nation's Alt 18 Countdown. That same month included a performance at South by Southwest and a west coast headlining tour across the U.S., followed by participation in The Gospel Tour alongside Walk the Moon and Panic! at the Disco.
Magic Man's debut full album Before the Waves was released on July 8, 2014. Produced by Alex Aldi, recognized for his work with Passion Pit and Holy Ghost!, it featured songwriting by Alex Caplow and Sam Lee. To promote this release, the band undertook their inaugural headlining tour and joined The Gospel Tour during summer alongside Panic! at the Disco and Walk the Moon.
Reunion of Founding Members and Third Album Era (2015–2019)
Following their headlining tour in spring 2015, Magic Man commenced work on their third full-length album. On July 10, the band announced that Justine Bowe, Gabe Goodman, and Joey Sulkowski had left, leaving original members Alex Caplow and Sam Lee as the core lineup once again. On January 19, they revealed plans for the Hotline Spring Tour, joining forces with indie pop groups the Griswolds and Panama Wedding. Additionally, Magic Man contributed to the track "Cinderella" by The Knocks, featured on their debut album 55, which was released on March 4, 2016. Their fourth studio release was tentatively scheduled for 2016 under the speculated title "After the Storm." However, after a prolonged period of inactivity and rumors surrounding the band's future, Magic Man officially declared their breakup through social media on August 8, 2019.
Touring Personnel
- Fran Litterski – keyboards and vocals (active since 2015)
- Pepe Hidalgo Ramos – drums and percussion (active since 2016)
- Austin Luther – bass guitar (active since 2016)
Media Coverage
Magic Man has received attention from prominent publications such as Rolling Stone, Glamour, the Boston Globe, and GQ, which praised Before the Waves as "12 tracks of alt joy." The album was also recognized as one of the top releases of 2014 by the regional outlet Sound of Boston.
Studio Albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Real Life Color |
|
| Before the Waves |
|
Extended Plays
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| You Are Here EP |
|
External links
- ↑ "Magic Man on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ↑ "Meet Magic Man, the Band That Gets the Victoria's Secret Angels Dancing". Instyle. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ↑ "Artist Spotlight – Magic Man". Audiophile. Retrieved 11 July 2014.