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Artist
The Magic Band
12+ albums
rockAvant-Gardealternative rockguitarblues
about
The Magic Band is a reformed version of Captain Beefheart's erstwhile backing band, led by "Drumbo" John French, Beefheart's drummer and musical factotum for the bulk of his recording career. It was convened at the urging of longtime Beefheart fan Matt Groening to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival he curated in 2003. The initial lineup had all played in the original Magic Band at one time or another: John French (Drumbo) on vocals, harmonica and drums, Gary Lucas and Denny Walley on guitars, Mark Boston (Rockette Morton) on bass, with Robert Arthur Williams filling in on drums for the vocal numbers. After their debut gigs in London and at Groening's ATP, Williams left and was replaced by Michael Traylor. The band then toured the UK and Europe, and played at ATP Los Angeles in 2004. They disbanded in 2006, but reformed in 2011 to play at the ATP planned for that November (at Minehead, England, curated by Jeff Mangum), with Lucas and Traylor replaced by Eric Klerks and Craig Bunch respectively. That festival itself was postponed till the following March but they still honoured the other UK & Ireland dates booked around it. They returned to play the rescheduled ATP and more UK gigs in March 2012, the new line-up being dubbed "The Best Batch Yet" by many a Beefheart song title referencing commentator. In 2013, a new drummer Andrew Niven was introduced, and the band once again have a UK and European tour based around an All Tomorrow's Parties. Their repertoire is
top songs
albums
Back To The Front
21st Century Mirror Men
The Magic Band Plays the Music of Captain Beefheart - Live in London 2013
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Sex Kaska (O Kurde Kaska)
Plays the Music of Captain Beefheart - Live in London 2013
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Unconditionally Live - Cowtown Ballroom, Kansas City, MI 22 April 1974 (Live FM Radio Concert Remastered In Superb Fidelity)
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All Tomorrow's Parties 3.1
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Bluejeans & Moonbeams
Oxford, UK June 6, 2005
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John Peel Festive Fifty 2004
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Amsterdam '80
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All Tomorrow's Parties, April 2003