Celebrating 5 years of the
Magik*Magik Orchestra with over 10 different artists taking turns to perform alongside them , it truly was a magical night last week at
The Fox Theater in Oakland!
Under a flood of calming indigo hues, the sea of extremely talented musicians from Magik*Magik Orchestra and
The Pacific Boychoir were picturesque within an elaborate custom built frame on stage.
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John Vanderslice, Maestro Michael Morgon and Minna Choi with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Artistic Director and Magik*Magik founder, Minna Choi humbly conducted the gala like concert between her piano performances while collaborative contributor
John Vanderslice hosted the evening.
Canadian born cellist and composer
Zoe Keating was the first of many featured artists of the night. She played a moving version of Tears For Fears' "Mad World" followed by aleatoric musical piece "In C". Next up was
The Dodos' front-man, Meric Long transforming "Black Night" and The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" with the harmonic Pacific Boychoir.
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John Vanderslice with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
The rest of the first set belonged to John Vaderslice who delivered beautiful renditions of a handful of songs including, "Mulholland Drive" and "Forrest Knolls".
His conversations with Choi and his playful banter between songs engaged the well behaved crowd and amplified the ambience of the whole show.
Rousing a flutter hushed laughter and surely easing some of the young performer's nerves, Vanderslice admitted that “there is a terror for an indie rock band to work with Magik*Magik Orchestra... we’re all talking about it offstage.”
Singing R&B diddy "Cold Nights" at the top of the second 45 minute set, Magik* alum How to Dress Well, carried a rather dramatic air. Rendering a range of emotions following "Suicide 1" was the subtlety haunting, beautiful tribute of Janet Jackson's "Again".
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How to Dress Well with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
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Geographer with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong
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Foreshadowing the next featured performers, Mina Choi took a moment to further connect with the audience.
Explaining that she and the Magik*Magik Orchestra had been wanting to do something like this for a long time but “never had the guts to pull the trigger. She went on to say "It’s really a celebration of the Bay Area and local bands from Oakland and San Francisco, including Geographer".
It was a pleasant surprise seeing Nathan Blaz set up behind a stand up cello rather than his usual electric cello as his two band mates made their way to the stage. The Magik*Magik Orchestra accentuated Geographer's dream pop tunes, "Lovers Game" and fan favorite "Verona".
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Geographer with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Picking up an acoustic guitar Demi told the crowd that he's been finding himself going back to what his parents listened to when he was young and it seem that the applauding audience found themselves doing the same.
With that said, he introduced "Helpless" by Neil Young. Whether you know Demi's family history or not, it was a touching cover which fit the mood to a tee and suited Geographer's genre well.
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Geographer with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Up next, Mexcian born San Franciscan Diana Gameros, brought some Latin flavor to the show. Singing two songs in Spanish her short yet sweet set ended with an unconventional lullaby her mom use to sing to her about living in a dark violent world but never losing hope for the light in life.
Her short lived performance added an elegant diverseness to the night.
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Diana Gameros with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Local indie-rock stars Rogue Wave were the last act of the second set playing "Your Eyes" followed by "Sight Eyes", a song vocalist Zack Rogue said the band seldom does live. The beginning and end of each of these songs garnered boisterous applause from fans.
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Rogue Wave with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Along with visibly have fun alongside Magik*Magik and choir members, the front-man shared a funny story about the song his 92 year old grandpa sung at his 2nd wedding. The song was Buddy Holly's, "Everyday" and Rogue Wave wrapped up the set with a slower tempoed cover of the classic.
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Rogue Wave with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
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Two Gallants with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Maybe to get up to use the bathroom, freshen up their refreshment or place a bid on one of the many silent auction items in the lobby, not many people got out of their seat between sets.
The change overs were quick and before long the third and final set was underway.
Two Gallants, The Lonely Forest and Nicki Blum and the Gramblers rounded out the night with somber piano ballads, a Peter Gabriel cover and a guitar filled California love vibe.
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Two Gallants with Magik*Magik
Orchestra and The Pacific Boychoir @ The Fox Theater 1/31/2014
Photo by: Marc Fong |
Here's to another 5 years of beautiful music from Magik*Magik Orchestra and Pacific Boychoir!
