Magdalena Bay’s first album tour in Australia, the Imaginal Mystery Tour, has affirmed that the alt-pop duo, Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, are here to change the live music game. The tour focused on their latest album, Imaginary Disk, which was released on the 23rd of August 2024 and has been critically acclaimed for its unique production and lyricism.
Ratbag, a rising musician from New Zealand, opened the show. She brought a unique blend of grunge, pop, and punk to the stage, complimenting the edgy set design. She had an electrifying stage presence and had the crowd grooving immediately — a perfect start to the vibe that Magdalena Bay was about to bring to the table.
From the moment they stepped on stage, Magdalena Bay transported the crowd into their neon-lit, surreal universe. The duo started off with an upbeat track to set the pace of the show, ‘She Looked Like Me!’, the first song off the Imaginary Disk album, and followed up with the crowd favourite ‘Killing Time’. I was immediately captivated, with light shows and intense beat drops transporting me to another world. Then, to break the fourth wall, the duo engaged with the crowd for ‘True Blue Interlude’, thanking us for being there and briefly introducing the tour. Seconds into the intro of ‘Imagine’, we were met with cheers and shrieks. ‘Imagine’ was definitely a cult classic and a personal favourite, with Mica twirling around the entire stage in her iconic monochrome blue outfit.
The duo continued to go through their discography, playing songs such as ‘Secrets (Your Fire)’, ‘You Lose!’, ‘Death & Romance’, ‘Fear, Sex’, ‘Vampire in the Corner’ and ‘Watching T.V.’. A brief moment of silence created an air of confusion as Mica vanished from the stage, appearing back promptly with an outfit change – identical to her previous outfit, but this time in red and embellished in planets. She picked up the pace again, playing hits like ‘Tunnel Vision’, ‘Love Is Everywhere’, ‘Feeling DiskInserted?’, ‘Chaeri’, ‘That’s My Floor’ and ‘Cry for Me’.
We didn’t get too much audience interaction until after this string, where Mica announced that she would now play ‘Killshot’, which was loudly met with screams and giddy dances from the crowd. The strobe lights aligned perfectly with the synths as the chorus played, until the pace completely shifted. The duo played a blend of the original version and the slow and reverbed version that gained traction through the infamous TikTok edits.
The duo continued down the tracklist, with ‘Dreamcatching’ and ‘Angel on a Satellite’, until they reached the last track, ‘The Ballad of Matt & Mica’. A fun and upbeat song to end the concert. Or so we thought… but the crowd cheered on and we were met with an encore, hearing ‘The Beginning’ as a truly euphoric closer.
As a venue, UNSW Roundhouse was an intimate space which created an entrancing experience. The smaller environment allowed for the intricate sound production to be truly immersive, without overpowering Mica’s vocals. Magdalena Bay is famous for the unique retro-futuristic aesthetics they bring to the table, with this show being no exception. The stage design featured glitchy VHS style visuals, surreal animations, and otherworldly projections – often featuring a video of a blinking eye. The lighting perfectly matched each track, shifting from intense reds and strobe lights during ‘Killshot’, to soft blues and purples for ‘Imagine’.
Magdalena Bay’s first Australian tour has proven that they are here to reshape the alt-pop music scene. From their surreal visuals to their alluring stage presence, every element of the show felt meticulously crafted and intentional, transporting us into the world of Matt and Mica.
