The Magic Gang - How Can I Compete

1.    Who are The Magic Gang? 

The Magic Gang are an indie pop rock band from Brighton, England. They have been playing together since 2013 and have recorded two E.P's. How Can I Compete (Feb'17) is a stand alone single for now but a third E.P. is promised for April. 

2. What kind of song is How Can I Compete? 

How Can I Compete is bouncy, bubbly and juvenile pop rock. Sticky as a plumbers crack in summer though. Breezy, feel good, nonsense. 

3. Who do The Magic Gang sound like? 

Weezer-lite, Wolf Alice and The Big Moon. 

4. What have the puppets in the press said about How Can I Compete?

“A big ol’ arms-round-yer-mate moment” – DIY.

“Bouncy, infectious” – The Edge. 

“Jagged college-rock guitars and pounding drums” – Redbrick. 

5. Which bands put the bang in The Magic Gang? 

Some of their main influences are The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Oasis, Queen and Joy Division. 

6. Why should I listen to How Can I Compete? 

Because you like old time rock'n'roll. 


7. What are the best The Magic Gang songs?

All This Way is sweet whimsy with a killer chorus. Jasmine is all shuffling melody and handclaps. Check out the singalong of the chorus in the breakdown. No Fun is a grungy rocker. Pixies meets Weezer by way of Nirvana. 

8. Any more words muppet?

Hugo White of The Maccabees produced How Can I Compete. 

“Exit out the same way you came”

The Smith Street Band are an iconic punk band from Melbourne, Australia. They have been playing together since 2010 and have recorded four albums. They sound similar to PUP, The Drones, Against Me! and The Hard Aches. The Smith Street Band are influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Paul Kelly and Billy Bragg. They recorded a song in 2015 called Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face protesting the Australian Prime Minister and his policies to asylum seekers. Proceeds went to asylum seekers. The Smith Street Band's fourth album More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me (April'17) has spawned two great singles already, Death To The Lads (Nov'16) and Birthdays (Feb'17). Both songs feature the exceptionally honest story-telling qualities of the songwriting, and attention to detail, that set The Smith Street Band's music apart from the others. 2017 will bring better songs than Birthdays but none that are better written, that's for fucking sure.

“Spent the morning cleaning my room”

The Magic Gang - All This Way

1.    On the velvet? Really?

Yeah sorry. That's The Magic Gang an indie pop rock band from Brighton, England. They have been making sweet melodies since 2013 and have one short player to their name. All This Way (Aug'16) is from an up-coming second E.P.

2. What have they got to listen to?

All This Way is a light, bubbly, love sick pop number with a chorus that sticks to you like flies to an ax wound. 

3. Who do The Magic Gang sound like?

The Beatles. Weezer. Buddy Holly. Rabbit!

4. What have those arbiters of taste in the press said about All This Way?

“Simply a quality indie rock song” – Euphoriazine. 

“Yet another slice of gold” – DIY.  

“A definite summer anthem” – Pond Music. 

5. Which bands have helped craft The Magic Gang's magic?  

A few of the bands influences are The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, T-Rex, Queen, Oasis and Joy Division.


6. Why should I press play on All This Way?

The tune is a long slow sip of sunshine with a sticky ass chorus and you've-been-there lyrics. 


7. Do The Magic Gang have any other decent tunes?

Why yes sir. Head straight for Jasmine. Not done? No Fun is a more Pixies/Weezer-esque track. Top shelf squire. 


8. Any more words son? 

The Magic Gang are supporting Spring King in concert this October and Swim Deep are big fans of the band.

“All I really want to know,

Is how I got all this way on my own?”

She Wants Revenge are an alternative rock band from San Fernando Valley, California. They started playing together in 2005 and have recorded three albums, toured with Placebo and Depeche Mode, and sold over 300 000 albums. She Wants Revenge are influenced by bands like Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth, David Bowie, The Cure and Prince.  Must Be The One is the lead single from the band's third album Valleyheart (2011) and a song that has an epic U2 or Kodaline type feel and is sound as a pound.

“I’d break all my promises if you’d just say we’re not done,

‘Cause you must be the one”