To say I was blown away by this performance would be incorrect; my ears were blown for sure, but my mind was taken to an entirely other dimension. A set totaling not much more than 40 minutes isn't one that you would think would lend itself to amazing experiences. However, when the members of Young Magic took the stage in Denver this past evening they transformed that tiny raised platform into a purely "magical" place.

With a video playing scenes depicting foreign places projected in the back, the music started with sounds from a plethora of electrical devices and a lone guitar. After a few interlude moments, the bass beats of "You With Air" came pulsating out into the crowd. Instantly audience members were forced into a body groove, which was only to be transcended by the lead beat boxing vocals and eerie backing vox. The energy with which Isaac (electronic instruments and vocals) used his instrumentation only fueled the energy of the audience.

When "Sparkly" first came across my stereo it was a new musical experience. The live version was only that much better. One has to think that the time this band spent fine-tuning their harmonies was just as long as the time they spent writing the rest of the music. Leading in the song were delicate lyrics from Isaac laid on top of the haunting "oooo's" from Melati (guitar and vocals). When these combined with a slight wiggle on the lower guitar string and a steady R&B beat on the tambourine, it was hard not to lose yourself on that stage. There's an unexpected beauty to the song and seeing how much the band lets the music move them really brought it all together.

The other selection that really struck me that evening was "Slip Time". Another subtle intro kept the crowd wondering what would come next. But when the sounds of a wooden xylophone mixed with a reverbed bass and screeches reminiscent of a hip-hop mix started, we all knew what was in store for us. Lyrics kept it fairly simple this time, mostly repeating the chorus. So even though the song was not as jam-packed as "You With Air" and not as mellowed as "Sparkly", it still translated to the stage very well.

After seven years in the biz, this was one of the most impressive shows I've had the chance to experience.

-Rachel Fredrickson

Young Magic
July 23, 2012
Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO

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