The Magic Beans

Local Legends? That may be a bold statement, but the The Magic Beans are heading in the right direction. Last Friday marked a non-stop party that surely must have worn down more than a few pairs of dancing shoes, thanks to The Beans and supporting acts Pamlico Sound, SunSquabi, and Funkhouser.

Promoted as a Snowball pre-party, it just might take the full week leading up to the festival for the crowd to recuperate. The music was non-stop from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and the genres didn’t lack variety. Funk, disco, progressive electronic, and bluegrass fusion influences shook the speakers Friday night.

When The Magic Beans took the stage something just screamed “headliner.” Their stage presence is as professional as it gets. They are always composed, but still let the crowd know they’re having a blast.

Members: Josh Appelbaum, Chris Franklin, Scott Hachey, Hunter Welles, Casey Russell & Sean Thomas on lights have really created something special. Some people compare their sound to The String Cheese Incident, having some blues and folk influences, but these guys are really doing something that comes from the soul. It’s almost impossible to put a label on.

When locked in they can read each other like any serious up-and-coming band should. With a repertoire well known to their local audience, you can feel the excitement in the crowd during every song.

“Adonde?” invokes that kind of emotion every time. Being a popular composition, they took the opportunity to show how they’re not afraid to take every song as far as they can. It seems like they are consistently pushing their limits.

The big surprise of the night was The Magic Beans cover of “Life During Wartime” by the Talking Heads. It was the perfect addition to an already raging set that really brought the show over the top. You could tell they were excited to be where they were.

Wanting to spread the love, they had one of the saxophonists from Pamlico Sound come out to play. Being a spur of the moment decision, happening earlier that night, the addition worked well and the sax really complimented the Bean’s sound.

The Magic Beans delivered a show that was nothing short of amazing between the songs they delivered and every positive emotion that came with them. Equally deserving of credit are the opening bands. They raised the show to the status of a night filled with some of the best local music Boulder can offer.

The Pamlico Sound kicked off the party with an hour of good ol’ funk that had the crowd moving at 9:00 p.m. In the Boulder scene, if you can get anyone into the venue before 11:00 p.m. you’re doing something right. Pamlico’s set had the big band feel thanks to their screaming horn section jolting the crowd with a rhythm that couldn’t be ignored.

Not letting the party die, local Boulder DJ Funkhouser (Matt Friedman) was responsible for the entertainment during the set breaks. His LED was like a party beacon. It let people know that even though he was set up next to the soundboard, he was center stage.

His tracks had enough power to resurrect a genre some call dead. With a high-energy four-to-the-floor beat throughout both his sets, he made sure the audience had a damn good reason to leave the dance floor.

You may remember SunSquabi from Global Dance Fest 2011. These guys are an awesome example of progressive music at its best. Guitar, bass and drums all played over a DJ setup that allows their experimentation to be as limitless as the Internet.

Far from being overly reliant on their laptop, SunSquabi’s dubstep and vocal samples added just the right amount of flavor to the mix. Their set was the perfect way to throw in just the right amount of electronics while still staying true to the instruments they were holding. Their set was a great addition to the bill.

With some people getting a presale ticket for $10 it seemed like a steal. Four hours of non-stop local music for a price even college kids can afford and it was more than worth - Swaager

The Magic Beans are an up-and-coming jam band out of Boulder, Colorado. I recently saw them perform at Quixote’s in Denver, and they really brought it that night. The Magic Beans are able to play many different styles of music, ranging from traditional bluegrass to deep space funk. Even as a new band, they have enough music for a three hour show without slowing down. Check out a nice, live recording of their track “Underwater Oasis” from their soundcloud. These dudes keep it super mellow. Keep an eye out for these guys. They’re playing a late night show at the Waterfront Music Festival at the Mish in May, and it will surely serve the Magic Beans well. check out “Underwater Oasis” - D.O.S Entertainment, Adam Freedman

The Magic Beans is a troupe of musicians that got jarred up in Four Mile Canyon, Colorado and created a bond that allows for spontaneous improvisation and music greater than the sum of its parts. The Beans style is all encompassing and completely natural. Genres include but are not limited to jazz, folk, rock, bluegrass, funk, blues, reggae, electronica, honky tonk, etc. The Magic Beans love music and love sharing the fun with everyone in earshot. Just don't expect to be sitting down. Rejoice! - The Marquee Magazine

The self-proclaimed jamband from Four Mile Canyon stays true to its title. With five band members, they play a variety of instruments, including electric mandolin. The Magic Beans cite influences from almost every genre of music, from country to electronica. They have a psychedelic rock/reggae feel infused with experimental sounds. They're no strangers to improvisation either: their impromptu riffs will have you rocking out on your own air guitar solo, so don't expect to be sitting long. Don't miss out; this show is sure to be magical. - The Scene