Magdalena Bay Reveals an Imagined Beautiful World at The Gothic

Photos: Tucker Cargile

The two visionaries from Magdalena Bay, Matt Lewin and Mica Tenenbaum, surely are taking over the music scene as they “stood mirrored” in front of a sold out Gothic Theatre last Tuesday night, featuring their just-released album Imaginal Disk in its entirety. The vast ad beautiful show delievered and entirely new imagined world in a stage show, one that has grown so much over these past few years. 

They opened with “She Looked Like Me” with the lyrics “I didn’t know her when she walked in.” Now people know MagBay. Just a couple of years ago there was space to stand right in front of them at the Bluebird – this year saw Denver’s scenesters filling the venue well before the first notes left the stacks. The uber-talented couple has added two musicians to the lineup since, helping to create a rock/pop musical world of epic proportion and imagination, with a set design that rivals one that of Montreal toured with over a decade ago.

There is something deeper to Magdalena Bay’s latest, Imaginal Disk, paired with stage lights, outfit changes, and video.

It’s impossible to peg them down, too. As MagBay rolled through “Killing Time”, “True Blue Interlude” and “Image” and two songs from the previous album, to an early peak of “Death & Romance” – a song that sports pure rock over pop textures and amazing keyboard additions. Next, “This dance won’t end, it goes forever…” drops into “Fear, Sex,” showing how hot this band delivers – both throughout the new album and the live performance. 

I truly loved Mercurial World and all their early EPs and singles – see more here – but there is something deeper to Imaginal Disk and they way it paired with the stage lights, outfit changes, and video storytelling over a giant screen on stage the blew our mind. I’m obsessed with “Vampire in the Corner” especially the live explosion of sound at the end. “Watching T.V.” brings an edge to Mica’s beautiful voice as she says “It’s time to meet the monsters around you…” An astounding science fiction wail finishes the song as the beautiful scenes dissolve into chaos and we meet the monsters inside us.

“Tunnel Vision” is another with the beautiful pop evolving into noise and transitional chaos as Mica says “I can fall back then I see…” right into “Love is Everywhere,” and then transitioning to “If, if you want it there….” – “Feeling DiskInserted” – a play on the imagery of the cover image of the album.

Nick Villa’s heavy drums bring in “That’s My Floor,” and gives the band a funky strut, signing “I’m coming up to the party and I want more, So open up for me,” and we are all literally seeing the band kick in the door of the indie rock/pop scene.

And yet again, they dip back into their own style with “Cry for Me,” filled with caring lyrics and warm sounds they’re known for: “Think of Love when you remember me….”

The amazing “Angel on a Satellite” flies across the poetry of “A thousand eyes .. they turn to smile .. that’s why I’m always dancing .. so shout it from the mountaintops.,” and we will as we bear witness to their talent. 

They concluded the set with “The Ballad of Matt & Mica” a braggadocious track reminiscent of The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat with a gospel feel. “Open heart … Is it my turn? … Bang bang and a happy ending … Not ordinary, not ordinary.” They surely are not that. Amazing night.

Get a taste of Tuesday night’s experience with the playlist below: