Concert Review: Magic City Hippies in Washington, D.C.
Review & Photos by Sally Watanabe
It was at least two years since I’d seen Magic City Hippies live and I made my way from a midweek slump to the legendary 9:30 Club in D.C. on a Wednesday. I eagerly anticipated the warmth I knew the band from Miami, FL would bring to our frigid nation’s capital.
The trio of Robby Hunter, Pat Howard and John Coughlin have had plenty of experience letting loose together, as they’ve been playing for the past decade under the moniker Magic City Hippies. With the limelight illuminating their letters ‘MCH,’ celebrations for the recent release of their latest studio album Enemies quickly lifted the crowd’s spirits.
Each song they played had a unique feeling to it, ranging from anthems like “BRNT” that got the crowd jumping to heartfelt tunes like “Little Bit of Love,” giving an air of sensuality to the evening. They also infused their signature flair of sultry cheekiness to songs such as a cover of “My Pony” by Ginuwine, which had fans grooving.
They also pleased the crowd with well known tunes “Limestone” and “Fanfare” while mixing in songs off of their new album, which was well received by fans. The whole night unfolded in a wave of tropical psychedelic beach vibes, with dripping reverb, phasers and distortion creating a world of sonic bliss that was welcoming to escape into.
Additional band members played around on different instruments, with Jake Pinto switching from keys to guitar, and even bringing out a keytar! The drummer used a shaker while he played his kit, and the trumpet player added a special flare of playfulness and novelty. Not only were they sonically engaging with hypnotic solos and jams, but their movements on stage and interactions with one another made it clear that they indeed had the best jobs out there.
MCH played with a variety of emotions and textures throughout the set, taking a pause to do a stripped back acoustic version of “Ghost on the Mend” into “Water Your Garden.” The lights dimmed and the stage went blue as Robby’s voice pierced through a crowd that was completely locked into the moment. They contrasted that with a cover of “Reptilia” by the Strokes, which took the crowd by surprise and had fans singing along with infectious energy.
The 6-piece band delivered a show that felt like a late-night beach party under neon skies. Riding the waves between genres and moods, each moment felt spontaneous yet perfectly in harmony. Just when it seemed the energy couldn’t go any higher, the encore proved otherwise.
Returning to the stage, Magic City Hippies unleashed a thrilling cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” blending their psychedelic surf-rock atmosphere with a retro-futuristic essence. The crowd’s collective energy soared, culminating in "Hush," with many fans rapping the verse word for word just to show how dedicated they are.
By the end of the evening, it was clear that Magic City Hippies doesn’t just play shows—they create experiences and memories that uplift and connect people to each other. From their playful interactions on stage and moments of instrumental improvisation, the energy of the set from start to finish was immaculate. Closing out the set with an elongated drum solo that had
The crowd roaring, it’s evident that MCH is only beginning to build the energy that will carry them through their winter tour in North America.
