Magdalena Bay’s Cosmic Spectacle Was Endlessly Captivating

When Magdalena Bay performed at Tulips in Fort Worth last October, the small venue’s stage was more cramped than usual. An LED screen displayed a barrage of surreal images in the corner as vocalist Mica Tenenbaum glided and swayed a few feet to the left or right.

A year later, as the band had gained more momentum, they took the stage at the more spacious House of Blues in Dallas on Sunday. From the pounding euphoria of opener “She Looked Like Me!” to the groovy closing of the night with “The Beginning,” the bigger venue was a fitting space for their bombastic concepts.

Opener Oxis leaned into a stripped-down, acoustic-meets-electronic approach, giving the crowd a more relaxed vibe. Her set included a cover of Stromae’s “Papaoutai” and “Kids” by MGMT.

When Magdalena Bay took the stage, a larger version of the LED screen appeared, but that was just a small one compared to what they had in store this time. Otherworldly props lined the stage and stairs, and a makeshift living room leading to another dimension and an illuminous window adorned stage right.

The theatricality only enhanced the conceptual brilliance the band has shown so far. Magdalena Bay’s sophomore album, Imaginal Disk, gained critical acclaim last year for its futuristic synth pop, disco and progressive rock. The live setup truly encapsulated the grandiose experience of the record.

A vast majority of the set was dedicated to songs from the explorative Imaginal Disk. “Tunnel Vision” was a particular highlight as the band leaned into its prog rock beginnings with a droning guitar jam.

Tenenbaum is a captivating performer, constantly commanding the stage with her movements and personality. She ran around the stage with arms flowing and several costumes ranging from poofy, shiny pants to a leotard and skirt (also a sunflower headpiece because why not). Tenenbaum isn’t a powerhouse singer belting out vocal runs, but her softly sung melodies provided a simpler hook for the chord changes, keytar and warped synths that appeared throughout the set.

The over-the-top nature of the performance could easily become a novelty if it weren’t for the enduring allure of the music itself. As is also the case with their music videos, Magdalena Bay is one of those bands that know how to translate the mood and storytelling of their tracks into a live environment. It’s a little theater, a little sci-fi and a whole lot of fun.

See photos from Sunday’s show: