Magic Man (band)

Magic Man
Magic Man performing at UCSD in April 2015.
Background information
Origin	Boston, Massachusetts
Genres	Electronic rock, synthpop
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Columbia
Website	magicmanmusic.com
Members	Alex Caplow Sam Vanderhoop Lee
Past members	Nolan Robert Will Radin Daniel Radin Justine Bowe Gabe Goodman Joey Sulkowski

Magic Man is a two-piece major label electronic rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 2010 by Alex Caplow (vocals) and Sam Lee (guitars and keyboard). They later added high school friend Gabe Goodman (bass) and college friends Justine Bowe (keyboards) and Joey Sulkowski (drums) to the roster, allowing the New England based group to become a full-fledged band. They released the EP You Are Here in September 2013, followed by their first major full-length release, Before the Waves, on July 8, 2014, under Columbia Records. On July 10, 2015, Magic Man announced the departure of Goodman, Bowe, and Sulkowski, returning to their original two-piece lineup as they begin the writing process of their third studio album.

During the summer following their freshman year in university, Alex Caplow and Sam Lee joined WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms) and traveled around France, trading labor for room and board on a series of French organic farms. When visiting a circus festival, they met a French boy close to their age, who claimed to be an amateur magician and called himself "Magic Man". He later became one of their first friends in France and the inspiration for the band's name. Alex and Sam used these experiences to influence the beginnings of Magic Man's music. As a laptop-based group, the duo favored dance-y synth-pop and began creating music. Under this lineup, Magic Man released their self-produced debut album, Real Life Color, on January 25, 2010.

With the changes to the lineup bringing Justine Bowe, Joey Sulkowski, and Daniel Radin to the band, Magic Man began to work on an EP. They released the EP, You Are Here, in September 2013. They then embarked on a U.S. tour supporting Walk the Moon, followed by an immediate mini-tour supporting Sir Sly.

In January 2014, Magic Man toured for a month with New Politics and Sleeper Agent for New Politics's headlining tour. Radin left in early 2014, to play with his other band, The Novel Ideas, and he was replaced by Gabe Goodman. In February 2014, the single "Paris" debuted at #39 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, eventually peaking at #33. The song was accompanied by a music video. In March 2014, the song hit #1 on Alt Nation's Alt 18 Countdown. That same month, the band performed at the South by Southwest music festival. Shortly thereafter, they embarked on a west coast U.S. tour as headliners, to be followed by appearances on The Gospel Tour in support of Walk the Moon and Panic! at the Disco.