Magic Kids

The Magic Kids began their life as a off-shoot of Memphis band the Barbaras, who released a single for Goner Records in 2008 and then stalled out. In 2009 Bennett Foster (vocals, guitar) and Will McElroy (keyboard) joined up with Ben Bauermeister (drums), Michael Peery (bass, vocals) and Alex Gates (guitar vocals) to form the Magic Kids. Often joined on stage by vocalist/violinist Alice Buchanan, the group’s giddily exciting stage presence and songs that call to mind the sweetest, happiest moments from the catalogs of the Beach Boys, Herman’s Hermits and the Apples in Stereo soon made them a popular band. With their innocent approach and Phil Spector/Girl Group-loving sound, the band weren’t the typical Memphis-sounding band though. Perhaps that’s why after releasing one single for local label Goner ("Hey Boy"/"Good to Be") in late 2009 and a split single with Smith Westerns for Fat Possum in early 2010, the band was signed by New York label True Panther and began working on an album. Memphis was released in August of 2010 and along with the core members of the group, it included contributions from quite a few of the band’s friends.