Concert Review: Magic City Hippies at Paradise Rock Club

Joanna Gleason
16 hours ago
3 min read

I had photographed Magic City Hippies before and I was very excited to photograph them again and write a review on the Saturday night show at Paradise Rock Club. Despite the large amount of snow and the cold weather, I knew this show would be fantastic. Knowing that, I was able to brave the elements. It was a freezing cold night. The temperature dropped to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. To my surprise, I was not the only crazy music fan to show up at the venue. It was much closer to being a sold-out show.

The opening act was Supertaste is recognized for their lively performances and catchy rhythms, opening Magic City Hippies, as part of the headliner’s Winter Tour 2026. A rising band that has gained a reputation for their dynamic stage presence, the group was terrific. The electronic band formed by Zach Britt (known for Hundreds Thousands) and Lucas Feigenbaum (known as Slug Father), described their music in 3 words: energetic, dance music, and emotional songs.

An indie dance band from Brooklyn, NY, the trio specializes in their live performance, instrumentation, and nods to intergenerational funk, disco, and dance music influences. For Zach Britt, the frontman of Supertaste: “The music is an exploration of life’s little moments: a carefree late night at a club, the relaxed energy of spending time with close friends, and finding the sound that hits just right at the perfect moment.”

At 9:30 p.m. Magic City Hippies came on stage. The band began as a one-man band playing for the co-ed party scene on the streets of Miami to become one of the most popular Jam bands in the in the East coast. The audience was impressed with their performance. The effect produced by the music was contagious. We can see the joy on the faces of everyone who was at the venue. People were dancing, singing, and laughing to each other. It was a chilly evening filled with great music.

On January 25, 2025, I shot pictures of Magic City Hippies’ performance at Citizens House of Blues in Boston. But it was the first time that I had the chance to enjoy their live show in front of an audience repeating every word coming from the lyrics of their new album "Enemies out Now."

Formerly known as the Robby Hunter Band, Magic City Hippies specialize in a breezy blend of Hip Hop, funk pop, and beach-bun soul that has drawn comparisons to the likes of G Love & Special Sauce, Maroon 5, and Jack Johnson. The band is composed of a list of talented musicians such as Pat Howard, Robby Hunter, and John Coughlin.

During the one and one half of live music show, the group played a series of songs released the next few years from several albums, including 2016's "Heart Wants" and 2018's "Franny," the latter of which appeared on their debut long-player, 2019's Modern Animal. A string of singles appeared in 2021, including "Queen" and "High Beams," ahead of the release of the band's sophomore effort, 2022's "Water Your Garden".

Magic City Hippies played different songs from their recent album "Enemies." It was a really pleasant surprise for the audience when Robby Hunter, the lead singer, left the stage and commanded the floor with his presence. The room was enthusiastic and in high spirits, and the band was on fire.

It was an exceptional night of music, an outstanding show. The audience is likely to remember and talk about it for a long time. From the beginning to the end, looking at their performance, there is no doubt that Magic City Hippies is one of the best rock bands from the East Coast.