Formed in Atlanta, GA in 1989, Magnapop played a rock 'n' roll-infused pop punk sound that got them a moderate amount of MTV video play in the '90s. Their album Hotboxing (produced by Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü and Sugar fame) was their breakthrough into the larger alternative scene. Five Eight were conceived in Athens, GA, and have toured with R.E.M., Cheap Trick, Ramones, and other notable bands. After an extreme nervous breakdown after forming the band in 1988, singer-songwriter and guitarist Mike Mantione became a prolific songwriter. They have released ten albums to date. Don't let age fool you, both bands have maintained their energy, and are both very very loud. Magnapop played a mix of old and new, with covers of Big Star and Fugazi. Bassist Shannon Mulvaney banged his bass on the open garage door and kicked his monitor over. Singer Linda Hopper jumped around the stage and sang like she hasn't aged a year since Hotboxing. If you saw her outside of Magnapop, you think she'd be tending to her garden and baking cookies, with her grey hair, white button-up shirt, and mom jeans. However, this just made the show even better, because it shows that age doesn't always matter when you're in a rock band. I can just imagine it: Linda Hopper– gardener by day, rock singer by night. Man, I hope she has a good sense of humor. Now, I said both bands were very very loud, but let me add a third "very" for Five Eight. Those fuckers were loud. Their first song was full of energy and raw emotion, Mike driving the bulk of the show. He even left the band behind at some parts, playing songs others didn't know. You'd think it would fall apart at some point, but it never did– the perfect thrill. They jumped and thrashed around, and played songs from all over their discography, mixing their softer tracks with their louder, noisier tunes. While they did drag on for quite a while, I will say that they were a lot of fun, and I enjoyed their time on stage. Local legends Magnapop and Five Eight both formed in the late eighties and put on one hell of a show thirty years later. Magnapop released a new album this year, and Five Eight released their 2017 album Songs For St. Jude on vinyl this year. You can check out both bands on Spotify, but I recommend buying their physical releases, of course, for bands make more money off of physical sales than they do off of streams. Stay safe out there everyone, and remember, do it your fucking self!!
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March 2020
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