UK indie royalty, The Magic Numbers reacquaint themselves with Australian audiences when they tour nationally here for the first time in nearly ten years.
Last in Australia for Splendour In The Grass 2010, The Magic Numbers return for live performances off the back of their 2018 album 'Outsiders'. “We had some amazing live shows over there when we did Big Day Out [2006] in the beginning,” vocalist and lead guitarist Romeo Stodart says.
“Then we did Splendour In The Grass and we did some of our own shows, and the Blues & Roots Festival, so we have great memories of all those times playing and also getting the chance to hang out and be by the beach,” he laughs. “We're excited to be coming back; it's crazy that we've lasted that long.”
Crazy, perhaps, but not surprising. Since their early days when the band were primarily a live unit, The Magic Numbers have demonstrated almost continual development across their album releases, and none more so than 'Outsiders'.
“In terms of how we feel we're playing as a band now, I think we've been a lot more confident and free with improvising onstage,” Romeo says, “and ['Outsiders'] is the fifth record, the fifth time being in studio making an album, so I hope that we've learned certain things.
“I'm really pleased with how the record sounds as well, I think it's one of the best-sounding records we've made. The guitars sound exactly like they do when they're coming out of my amp, so that's a definite plus.”
Having cut their teeth as a live band and amassing a loyal following long before any of their songs were committed to record, Romeo says it's vital the band's studio work is an honest reflection of their live performances.
“You want to translate the energy and the dynamics of things,” he explains, “because when you play live you're searching for that moment all the time, like an unconscious moment where everything aligns and feels great and it's just pure.
“That's what you want to do in the studio, but the environment can be quite clinical so you have to learn how to do that in that space as well. Over time we definitely know the tricks of being able to let go and not over-think it or analyse it, but still get the best of what we have.”
Made up of two brother-sister duos – Romeo and his sister Michele, plus siblings Angela and Sean Gannon – The Magic Numbers share a special bond well beyond that of a mere band.
For Romeo, it's all just one, big family hanging out and playing music. “It's weird as well because we're a band and all of that, but we're really just two families who got together to play music and create. That's been, for us, the saving grace in a way.”
The Magic Numbers Australia Tour 2019
Thu 21 Mar - The Triffid (Brisbane)Fri 22 Mar - The Corner (Melbourne)
Sat 23 Mar - The Factory Theatre (Sydney)
Tue 26 Mar - The Gov (Adelaide)
Wed 27 Mar - Capitol (Perth)
