The Magic Gang

British indie band

The Magic Gang

The Magic Gang performing in 2015

Background information
Origin| Brighton, England
Genres| Indie rock, indie pop
Years active| 2013–present
Labels| Warner, YALA! Records, Telharmonium
Members| Jack Kaye
Angus Taylor
Kristian Smith
Paeris Giles

The Magic Gang are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton in 2013. The band consists of Jack Kaye and Kristian Smith who are vocalists and guitarists, bassist Angus Taylor, and drummer Paeris Giles.[1] Songs from the band have been described as having elements of power pop[2] and indie pop,[3] and the group's vocal harmonies have been compared to those of the Beach Boys.[4][5]

## History[edit]

The band members are originally from Bournemouth.[6] Kaye and Smith met each other at Brockenhurst College. They moved in together with Taylor and Giles in Brighton after meeting them while studying at BIMM University.[6][7]

The band released their first EP, The Magic Gang, on 8 January 2016 on the record label Teleharmonium Records.[3] They released their second EP, The Second EP From, on 23 September 2016[8] and their third, EP Three on 24 March 2017.[9] EP Three was the first ever release on YALA! Records, a record label that had recently been founded by Felix White, guitarist from The Maccabees.[10]

In 2018, the band released their debut album The Magic Gang. The album reached number 12 on the UK Albums Chart and received a score of 71 on Metacritic which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Outlets who gave positive reviews of the album include NME, The Line of Best Fit, DIY Magazine, and The Guardian.[11] The band was also nominated for the "Best New Artist" award at the 2018 NME Awards.[12]

In March 2020, the band were meant to embark on a UK tour with Blossoms but the tour only commenced in August 2021 after it was postponed as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

The band released their second album, Death of the Party, in August 2020.[13]

In January 2024, the Magic Gang announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus, allowing them to spend some time exploring their own creative pursuits.

## Band members[edit]

* Jack Kaye — vocals, guitar
* Kristian Smith — vocals, guitar
* Angus Taylor — bass
* Paeris Giles — drums

## Discography[edit]

### Studio albums[edit]

* The Magic Gang (2018)
* Death of the Party (2020)

### Extended plays[edit]

* The Magic Gang (2016)
* The Second EP From (2016)
* EP Three (2017)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Milton, Jamie (23 March 2018). "The Magic Gang Did It Their Way". Vice. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
2. ^ Clarke, Paul (21 October 2019). "The Magic Gang - Interview". Louder Than War. Retrieved 25 November 2023. "...packed full of their trademark melodic powerpop..."
3. ^ a b Daly, Rhian (9 November 2015). "The Magic Gang Delve Into Shuffling, Sensitive Indie-Pop On The Immediate, Classic-Tinged 'Jasmine'". NME. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
4. ^ Balmont, James (17 August 2020). "Good Vibrations: The Magic Gang". DIY. Retrieved 25 November 2023. "...call on the stacked acapella harmonies of perma-influences The Beach Boys."
5. ^ Picknell, Kyle (27 September 2018). "The Magic Gang have no tricks up their sleeve, just great chorus after great chorus". JOE. Retrieved 25 November 2023. "This is Britpop for millennials, Beach Boys harmonies and guitars cut from the same indie cloth as The Maccabees..."
6. ^ a b Conrad, Anna (13 March 2018). "Meet The Magic Gang, the band championing feel-good guitar music". British GQ. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
7. ^ "The Magic Gang". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
8. ^ "The Magic Gang - Only Waiting". DIY. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
9. ^ Richards, Will (24 March 2017). "The Magic Gang - EP Three". DIY. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
10. ^ "The Magic Gang share new track 'How Can I Compete'". Mystic Sons. 7 February 2017. "the first release through the newly-formed Yala! Records, founded by The Maccabees' Felix White"
11. ^ Blake, Jimmy (25 August 2018). "The Magic Gang: The band ready to 'get bigger and bigger'". BBC. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
12. ^ Daly, Rhian (7 February 2018). "VO5 NME Awards 2018: Introducing your favourite new acts – the Best New Artist supported by Vans nominees". NME. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
13. ^ a b Lavin, Will (30 August 2021). "The Magic Gang talk "dream" Blossoms tour and reveal plans for new EP". NME. Retrieved 25 November 2023.