Their founder Captain Beefheart aka Don Van Vliet might have passed away recently but his extraordinary band, The Magic Band, are going strong and will perform another of their electric concerts in Berlin this November.
Always firm favourites of the great John Peel, the Magic Bands reformation was instigated largly by a request for them to perform at the Autechre curated All Tomorrows Parties in 2003.
They toured the UK in 2005, playing a selection of small venues. John Peel was initially skeptical about the re-formed Magic Band. He played a live recording of the band recorded at the 2003 All Tomorrows Parties festival on his radio show; afterwards he couldn’t speak and had to put on another record to regain his composure. Later the band did a live session for him.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band | Sure ’nuff ‘n Yes I Do
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=hCSPf5Viwd0
The band’s albums are Back to the Front (on the London-based ATP Recordings, 2003) and 21st Century Mirror Men (2005). They played over 30 shows throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, and one in the United States. They have been chosen by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival that he will curate in March 2012 in Minehead, England.
Post-Beefheart, receiving only a “grumpy” reception from him,the band reformed in 2003 with John French on lead vocals, Gary Lucas and Denny Walley on guitars, Rockette Morton on bass, and Robert Williams on drums. At the start of their only European tour, Williams left and was replaced by Michael Traylor. The band released two albums and toured before disbanding in 2006 so dont miss the chance to see them again now!
The Magic Band LIVE
Sunday, 24th November 2013 | 20:00 CET
Kesselhaus (Kulturbrauerei) | Knaackstraße 97 | 10435 Berlin/Prenzlauer-Berg
kesselhaus.net | atpfestival.com/themagicband | beefheart.com
