In celebration of their soon-to-be-released third studio album featuring their original lineup, dance synth-pop Boston locals Magic Man arrived in San Diego on the last leg of their six-week long North American tour, dubbed Hotline Spring, with The Griswolds and Panama Wedding.
Opening to a foggy and brightly-lit stage, longtime tour buddies of the headliners, New York synthpop four-piece Panama Wedding, amped up the crowd for the upcoming energetic bands. Fan-favorite “Uma” was introduced by an invitation to the crowd to sing along, and a cover of The Killers’ “When You Were Young” was received by dancing and cheering.
Australian indie rock group The Griswolds opened to a guitar riff and an empty stage, followed by the blinding light show that would be the theme for the rest of the night. Playing a few new songs off their upcoming album, including “Out of My Head,” as well as some older favorites (“Down and Out,” “Beware the Dog”) from their self-titled freshman studio album, the band was highlighted by dynamic dance moves. Drummer Lachlan “Lucky” West was serenaded by the band and by the crowd with “Happy Birthday.”
Frontman Alex Caplow’s energetic and enthusiastic dance moves and charming smile can be identified by any who have attended a Magic Man show, and tonight was no different. Moving with the lights as they spiraled around the stage, Alex, guitarist Sam Lee, and the members playing with the two-piece on the spring tour enraptured the crowd and kept the night at a high point. Crowd pleasers like “Waves” and “Texas” from their most recent album, Before the Waves, were balanced with a few newer songs upcoming in the album Alex announced as being finished just recently, including an encore opening with “Paris” and closing with another unreleased song, “Ignition.”
