Representative Albums: "A Child But in Life Yet a Doctor in Love," "Spaceland and Part Time Punks Present: The Magic Bullets," "Lives for Romance"
Biography
Formed in 2004, six-piece San Francisco band Magic Bullets draw from a shared love of post-punk/1980s alt-rock bands such as Orange Juice, the Sound, the Feelies, and Talking Heads. Prior to joining Magic Bullets, the bandmembers had spent most of their previous time playing in various punk bands. Vocalist Philip Benson and guitarist/primary songwriter Corey Cunningham first met in 2000 and were members of the Cosmos. A few years later, the two recruited Colin Dobrin (drums), Matthew Kallman (keyboard), Nathan Sweatt (bass), and another member of the Cosmos, guitarist Ryan Lynch. As Magic Bullets, their shows included dates with the Walkmen, Elf Power, Voxtrot, and Cold War Kids. A Child But in Life Yet a Doctor in Love was released by Words on Music in May 2007. ~ Kenyon Hopkin, All Music Guide
Magic Bullets formed in San Francisco, California in 2004 with musicians primarily hailing from the Bay area who had spent most of their musically formative years playing with or alongside one another in various punk rock outfits. Vocalist Philip Benson and guitarist and primary songwriter Cunningham first met in 2000 and later played together in The Cosmos[1] (a musical project of Cunningham's which released a split 7" on England's Becalmed Records[2] with soon-to-be Words On Music artist Lorna in 2001).
After a few years Cunningham and Benson called upon friends Colin Dobrin (drums), Matthew Kallman (keys) and Nathan Sweatt (bass guitar) to form a new band to play music inspired by their favorite artists — drawing from the likes of Orange Juice, The Sound, and The Feelies, to name a few.
After developing an agreeable repertoire, and with the welcome addition of long time friend and musical collaborator and guitarist Ryan Lynch (also a former member of The Cosmos), Magic Bullets set out to play scores of shows in the winter of 2004/2005. Magic Bullets played dozens of shows including those with The Walkmen, Perry Farrell, Voxtrot, and Cold War Kids. In 2008 the band performed with comedy group Human Giant at the Noise Pop Festival[3].
In October 2005 the sextet had their first recording session of material to be included on their debut at Atomic Garden in East Palo Alto, California[4]. In June 2006 Magic Bullets continued recorded six more songs at House of Faith in Oakland with Bart Thurber, with a few more songs recorded by Lev Perrey at The Emergency Room. Perrey mixed the album in Summer 2006.