The Magic Magicians

Though consisting solely of two members, this Seattle outfit generates an expansive sonic presence. Drawing from '70s rock touchstones that range from Big Star's power pop to T-Rex's glam guitar textures, John Atkins of 764-HERO and Joe Plummer of the Black Heart Procession shape catchy yet emotionally direct tracks centered on love and hate. The pair came together in 2000, with Atkins handling vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboards while Plummer supplied a propulsive, forward-leaning rhythm, allowing the Magic Magicians to merge their divergent musical backgrounds into a cohesive whole. The outcome evokes the Black Heart Procession opting instead for buoyant, uplifting rock & roll. Their energetic first album, Girls, arrived in 2001 and marked the inaugural full-length release on Seattle's Suicide Squeeze Records. Two years afterward came a self-titled release.