Review and Photos – Magic City Hippies at The Pearl, Vancouver, Feb 22 2025
Few bands radiate pure, infectious energy quite like Magic City Hippies, the indie funk powerhouse from Miami. The moment they charged onto the stage to the pulsating beats of “I Can’t Let You Go”—a standout track from their 2025 album Enemies—the packed venue off Granville Street erupted into thunderous applause.
Originally known as Robby Hunter Band, the group first made waves in 2013 before unintentionally stumbling upon their true identity with the release of their first album Magic City Hippies. By 2015, they had fully embraced the name and refined their signature sound: a soulful, sun-soaked fusion of indie funk and psych-pop that is uniquely their own.
That essence was on full display when their trumpet player emerged from the shadows to belt out the opening notes of “BRNT” from Hippie Castle. The crowd went nuts, swept up in the euphoric realization that this wasn’t just a concert — it was a party. Seamlessly transitioning from one high-energy track to another, the band made it nearly impossible not to dance along to their signature grooves.
Between songs, they gave a shoutout to the electric Vancouver crowd at The Pearl on Granville, confessing they almost didn’t make it due to a minor border mishap. Allegedly, some forgotten paraphernalia on the tour bus had caused complications.
Along with many of their hits, new and old, fans were treated to a cover of The Strokes’, “Reptilia” and their own spin on Black Sabbath’s, “War Pigs”.
Midway through the set, Robbie Hunter took a break from the stage, allowing the spotlight to shift to electrifying guitar and drum solos, before the band toned things down with a chill, acoustic rendition of “Water Your Garden”, performed by the lead guitarist, John Coughlin who originally wrote the song.
The show’s final moments were a blur of pure, unfiltered energy, with the frontman diving into the crowd, partying shoulder to shoulder with fans, while the keyboardist wielded a keytar, sending the already sweaty venue into a full-blown frenzy. By the time the last note rang out, one thing was certain: we all shared an experience no one would soon forget.
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