Words and Media By: Joshua Reynes
“It’s so good to be home!” Mica Tenenbaum exclaimed as Matthew Lewin plucked bass to the “Dawning of the Season” intro. It’s always so rewarding finding a band and seeing them grow right before your very eyes. This is exactly the case for Miami-natives Magdalena Bay, currently on “The Mercurial Tour” for their critically acclaimed debut Mercurial World, a project I named my favorite of 2021. When they announced a hometown show in November, I knew it was something to witness. At that point, I was working on design finals, which I used as a creative outlet to share and propagandize my excitement. The ironically “chronically online” duo has circled my headspace ever since I found “How to Get Physical” on @danababy97’s playlist during quarantine (if you get it, you get it). Subsequently, I discovered that they were supposed to play with Kero Kero Bonito as they toured their rescheduled Florida shows, then it was March 2020…...sing along if you know the words!
As one does, my friend and I drove from Tampa to Miami for the day. Mag Bay played the Gramps in the Wynwood Arts District, an outdoor venue featuring artwork from NOLA-based artists Milagros Collective – who also collaborated with the group on their “Hysterical Us” video. Special guest and fellow Floridian Millionyoung kicked off the night with hand-crafted synths and vintage visuals to match. His GTA-ready sonic textures eased us into the night at this intimate, breezy venue.
Before being guided into NOWHERE, we were greeted by Chaeri, a virtual character that the duo interacted with throughout the show. Mica and Matt came out on stage with alternate outfits from classic tour bodysuits. Matt donned a Milagros shirt that camouflaged him into the venue. Mica, in true “Mercurial Gworl” fashion, wore a similar suit styled with a skirt and her Y2K headset mic.
In between songs were skits that further drove home the group’s thematic recipe of surrealism, conceptuality, and performance art. From Chaeri’s “routine checkups,” Mica’s banter with the polygon rendering, a “Clampy” cameo during disco-floor jam “Secrets (Your Fire),” Mica waking up waking Matthew from his “sleep,” to Mica guiding us into the Mercurial World, I swore I was at EPCOT. I’ve never described an artist’s set like that, and I don’t think any other artists separate from Mag Bay do it with so much whimsy, inspiration, and energy.
After a skit challenging Chaeri’s allegiance to her creators, she glitched into “You Lose!” a grungy chiptune anthem of existential proportions. Mica emboldened the crowd, “don’t be scared to jump around just a little bit,” and they brought the house down, and her keyboard with it. As we obliged, appeared another one of the group’s characters, Fluffy, a demonic ghastly creature err…I mean the group’s dog. I was spending all evening scouring Wynwood trying to find him, but he was there all along!
Mica flexed her vocal versatility on the more dramatic cuts – crooning with conviction on the remorseful “Chaeri” and evoking clean-cut anxiety on “Hysterical Us.” Matt’s guitars had a delightfully overdriven tone, giving body to their tracks. The setlist mirrored the album’s sequencing, but seeing it combined with their stage presence made me appreciate their artistry even more – especially songs in the project’s latter half like “Domino.” Their encore engaged in timely fan service. This is min Starting with TikTok fancam staple “Killshot,” which featured a transition into the infamous “slowed+reverb” remix. Its sultry, thumpy beat was followed up by “How to Get Physical” – a full-circle moment for quarantine me (I shrieked because I didn’t think they were doing this). The night closed with 2018’s “Ghost,” a surprising treat that features vocals from both Matt and Mica.
After the show, the two made their way to the merch table, sold shirts, and conversed with
fans. I asked Matt if his wardrobe was coincidental and that I thought that the venue was painted custom for them; I told Mica about how Mercurial World is my Small Talks AOTY. This show was one to remember; it really feels like this tour is the last time Magdalena Bay is going to play venues that size, but I’m so glad I got to experience it now – in their hometown of all places. It’s kinda “like a butterfly floating in amber. We’ve made this moment...Eternal.”
Comments