LIVE REVIEW: Magic City Hippies at Launchpad in Albuquerque, NM on February 23, 2022
Photographer and Reviewer: Jennifer Coelho
Artist: Magic City Hippies
Location: Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM
Date: February 23, 2022
Self-described “good times party band” meets high energy rock show. Last Wednesday the Launchpad saw Magic City Hippies roll through Albuquerque on their Water Your Garden tour. With Bay Ledges as opener, the night started off strongly. When the band walked out on stage, lead guitarist John Coughlin drew the crowd’s attention to singer/guitarist Robby Hunter’s attire – a black t-shirt (a stark change from Hunter’s usual button-down shirts).
Musically, the band opened their set with Diamond (off the Water Your Garden album) and continued their hour and a half set playing a wide variety of songs off their discography including such numbers as: Que Paso, Limestone and High Beams.
Each song throughout their set gave an opportunity for the musicians on stage to shine as well thanks to both Hunter’s vocals & guitar solos, Coughlin’s killer guitar licks and the extended instrumental outros and epic solos. With the help of touring musicians Jake Pinto on keys (and guitar), Guillermo Belisario on bass and Johnathan Hulett on drums, every note played had additional life brought to it which continued to charge up an already hyped crowd.
While this tour may be over, their latest release, Water Your Garden, is currently available on all streaming platforms or to purchase on their website (Vinyl preorder) and Bandcamp.
