Magic Bullets

A simmering sextet from San Francisco, Magic Bullets may be the most ordinary-looking bunch of guys to start up a post-punk band. Their haircuts are short, and so are their songs. You might invite them over to mow your lawn, but you don’t expect them to churn out the kind of evocative, guitar-layered songs that instantly flood your mind with moody memories. Well, at least this mind (after a slew of free drinks – thanks KamranV!)

Phillip Benson (lead singer) of Magic Bullets

Led by the towering Phillip Benson, the group formed in 2004 out of San Mateo County, which is not quite San Francisco and not quite Silicon Valley (maybe that explains the band’s lack of hipster irony). The Echo show was the group’s first stop on an extensive tour of the western states in support of their debut, "A Child But in Life Yet a Doctor in Love (Words on Music)". The strange title comes from a friend’s dream involving Paul Reubens. It’s best not to delve into that little nightmare.

Suffice to say, Magic Bullets make music with no pretense. “"We’'re just comfortable being ourselves,”" said drummer Colin Dobrin before the show. “I think it’s almost an anti-statement.”

It’'s lovely stuff driven by guitars, held down with bold bass lines and rhythmic keyboards, and finished off with sweet-but-sad vocals. You might be reminded of Band of Horses, French Kicks or The Walkmen. Catch ‘em when they return soon to LA.

More info: http://www.words-on-music.com/magicbullets.html

Written by Phat X. Chiem / Photos by Wathana Lim for LAist