SXSW 2012

Magic Wands are a two-piece from either Los Angeles, CA or Nashville, TN. They’re not really sure. Currently, however, they do know that they are drifting across the country bringing a “wall of white guitars” and “unapologetic cosmic pop” to all parts of the U.S. Taking cues from the likes of The Ravonettes (run through a galactic black hole), Morrissey and My Bloody Valentine, Artrocker describes them as “slick and sexy, glutinous and glimmering.” Magic Wands formed in 2007, after Chris Valentine, while living in Nashville, found a song on Myspace and listened to it incessantly. He discovered the song, 'Teenage Love,' was by Dexy. The summer of 2007, Chris and Dexy began talking on the phone until dawn, writing songs for each other, and mailing toy lions, old records, handwritten poems, and one glowing heart lamp to each other. Though 2000 miles apart, they decided they were destined to be together. Two weeks later, Chris was in Los Angeles helping Dexy pack up her old Mercedes for a trip across the country. Following that fateful journey, the duo found themselves playing their first-ever shows with The Raconteurs in Nashville, and then touring the UK with CSS and The Wombats, selling out their 7”, which featured 'Black Magic,' in the process. They have since criss-crossed the U.S. on tours supporting The Kills and The Horrors, as well as Black Kids and The Virgins. Their initial EP, Magic Love & Dreams, was recorded by John Hill (Santogold, Lykki Li, Nas) at his NYC studio and released by the SF Bay Area’s Bright Antenna. They have just finished recording their full length Aloha Moon in the Bay Area. It will also be released by Bright Antenna at the beginning of 2012.