LIVE: The Magic Gang @ Arts Club, Liverpool

It's always fun to revert back to your admittedly embarrassing indie phase every now and then. Good music, dark fruits or beers and small sweaty venues. What’s more to love other than feeling like the oldest person there? Watching The Magic Gang took me straight back to Year 10, the prime time of my phase, and I felt like I was watching the next generation experience theirs.

Being the first time I had seen them live, it's not like I was blown away or anything. I can't say it was a gig that will take a spot on my ones to remember list but that doesn't diminish the fact that The Magic Gang are good. Very good in fact.

The Brighton four-piece wasted no time in getting to the bangers after the usual platitude “Liverpool, it’s been too long! We wouldn’t want to start our tour anywhere else.” Racing through the likes of Take Back The Track, Just a Minute and Make a Sound from their new album ‘Death of a Party’, the band also roused the crowd with old classics such as Jasmine and All This Way. That being said, nothing could compare to the animated reception of when Hotel Apathy was introduced. “This is an oldie,” says lead vocalist Jack Kaye as the anticipation builds. “It’s never been done before.” The room suddenly erupts into deafening screams as the song begins and sends the audience crazy as they jump and wail back every lyric in joyous, high-pitched, pubescent tones.

The themes in the bands songs are relatable to their young fanbase, who dominated the crowd, opening up small pits and occasionally sacrificing their drinks in order to have fun. Tackling topics such as feeling inadequate and hopeless romance, the band matched the sentiment of their lyrics with an energised stage presence which almost was on par to the crowds.

The intimacy of the venue allowed the audience to feel much more connected with the band and the consistent talking to them between songs added to this. Even though the majority of the bands music is quite mellow and relaxed, they never fail to put on an energetic performance to an always-eager crowd. You could even clearly see the love they have for performing as the joy and excitement spread across their faces all night. Their hour of Beach Boys-tinged guitar-based pop was an earworm of a set and provided the ultimate nostalgia. It would be a big mistake to not see The Magic Gang live at least once in your life.

You can catch The Magic Gang on the rest of their tour at the following dates below, find tickets here.

OCTOBER

15 - Gloucester Guildhall, Gloucester

17 - O2 Institute 2, Birmingham

18 - Riverside, Newcastle

19 - The Beat Generator, Dundee

20 - The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen

21 - SWG3, Glasgow

22 - Waterfront, Norwich

24 - The Leadmill, Sheffield

25 - O2 Ritz, Manchester

26 - EartH, London