Magic Kids Beg for Alcohol in Chicago

Posted on Nov 17th 2010 12:00PM by Garin Pirnia
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Todd Owyoung

On Tuesday, up-and-comers Magic Kids performed songs from their debut record, 'Memphis' at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. Named after their hometown, the sunny indie-pop album was almost the entire focus of the six-member group's short set.

Before the show even began, towering frontman Bennett Foster asked the audience if anyone wanted to buy them a drink because the drink tickets they received from the bar weren't enough. Luckily for them, an audience member granted their wish and delivered them frosty beverages during their second song.

Even though the Kids' one and only record is comprised of terse tracks clocking in under 30 minutes, it didn't stop them from performing all of their songs with jaunty gusto. The band opened with 'Phone,' an upbeat tune replete with high-pitched vocals, co-ed harmonies, chimes and a violin. Soon, the head-bobbing in the crowd turned into full-fledged dancing on 'Good to Be' and the woozy and breezy lovelorn ballad 'Sailin'.'

After bassist Michael Perry stopped to fix his microphone, which was repeatedly shocking him, the Magic Kids continued with the soulful 'Summer.' They rounded out their set with the spunky 'Superball,' the melodic 'Hey Boy' and ended on the croon-worthy 'Cry With Me Baby.'

After a plea from the crowd to play one more song, the band regrouped for two more, including a punkish song that incited both the crowd and the band to bounce around with giddiness. When the band walked offstage for the final time, the audience shouted for even more songs, but unfortunately that was all Magic Kids had in their arsenal.

Watch Magic Kids' 'Superball' Video