Magic City Hippies
Magic City Hippies | |
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| Origin | Miami, FL |
| Genres | |
| Website | magiccityhippies |
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Magic City Hippies are an American indie funk band from Miami, Florida. The band consists of Robby Hunter (vocals, guitar), Pat Howard (drums, production, keyboards), and John Coughlin (guitar).[1][2] Known for their blend of funk, hip-hop, pop, and psychedelic music, the group has performed at major festivals including Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Lollapalooza, and has shared the stage with notable acts including Paul McCartney.[3] Described as "indie funk darlings" of Miami, the band has grown to over half a million monthly listeners with their top tracks garnering millions of streams worldwide.[3]
History
Formation and early years (2011–2014)
Magic City Hippies began with frontman Robby Hunter busking on the streets of Miami, including performances in front of Johnny Rockets in Coconut Grove. After months of street performances, Hunter was threatened with incarceration by local authorities if he did not "leave or play in a real bar."[4] Hunter subsequently found a regular gig at the nearby Barracuda Taphouse & Grill, where he performed with various musicians, initially cycling through music school undergraduates and local players before meeting Pat Howard and John Coughlin.[5][6] The trio came together in 2011 to form the Robby Hunter Band while attending the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, with Pat Howard on drums and John Coughlin initially on bass.[5][7]
The group initially performed under the name Robby Hunter Band and released their self-produced debut album Magic City Hippies in 2013. During their early years, the band toured extensively throughout South Florida, performing at dive bars in Brickell, college parties in Palmetto, and occasional weddings to build their local following.[8] The album included the song "Corazón," which reached #1 on Hype Machine, as well as tracks "Hard On Me" and "BUST." The singles "Corazón" and "Hard On Me" became internationally popular, with their music spreading to cities including Tokyo, Paris, London, New York, Chicago, Santiago, and Buenos Aires.[7] Songs from the album were featured on television shows including The CW's iZombie and Showtime's Ray Donovan.[1]
After establishing themselves as a trio, the band began releasing music under the Robby Hunter Band name.
Name change and breakthrough (2015–2016)
Following the positive reception of their debut album, the band decided to rebrand themselves as Magic City Hippies in 2015, taking the name from their debut album's title. Miami is commonly known as the "Magic City," and the band members lived in a house dubbed the "Hippie Castle" by friends during their time at the University of Miami.[1][2][5] The "Hippie Castle" was described as a "1970's era Florida bungalow where the boys live and record all their music," and the band was already known to their Miami fanbase as "Magic City Hippies" even while performing under the Robby Hunter Band name.[7][2][5]
In July 2015, Magic City Hippies released the Hippie Castle EP, named after their residence and recording space. The lead single "Fanfare" reached #1 on Spotify's Global Viral Top 50 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, and also topped Hype Machine's popular chart. The song has accumulated over 1.9 million streams.[1] The EP also included early singles "Prom Night" and "Bull Ride."[7]
Touring and festival success (2017–2019)
The band gained wider exposure after being selected as an opening act for Hippo Campus on a national tour in 2016, performing over 40 shows in more than 30 states over eight weeks. This exposure led to performances at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, Hulaween, Electric Forest, and Austin City Limits. The band had made multiple appearances at South by Southwest (SXSW) and also performed at the Solust music festival in South Carolina.[7]
In August 2019, Magic City Hippies released their debut full-length album Modern Animal. The album was recorded as a trio and reflected their experiences touring.
Recent work (2020–present)
The band released their second studio album Water Your Garden in 2022. In 2024, they continued releasing singles including "Givin' Up On Lovin'" and "I Can't Let You Go," leading up to their third studio album Enemies, which was released in 2025. As of 2024, the band is represented by Wasserman Music for exclusive booking.[9]
Musical style and influences
Magic City Hippies describe their sound as "indie funk," a term the band coined to define their "genre-inverting and highly infectious music."[7] Their sound incorporates elements of hip-hop, funk, pop, soul, and psychedelic music. The band has cited influences including Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and James Brown. Their music has been characterized as having a "breezy" and "vacation-heavy" aesthetic that reflects their Miami origins.[1] The band's approach differentiates them from the EDM and rap-focused sound prevalent among most South Florida artists, drawing instead from 1970s funk artists and incorporating elements reminiscent of John Mayer's style.[8]
The band takes a genre-fluid approach to songwriting. As frontman Robby Hunter explained, "We make music that we want to hear. We just hope the audience likes what we do. So we're all over the place. We don't pay attention to the genre. What we pay attention to is the groove."[2] The band operates independently, maintaining full creative and business control by handling everything from website design to payroll management to building their following.[1][3]
Critical reception
Magic City Hippies have generally received positive coverage from music publications, with their sound being praised for its diversity and their live performances noted for creating energetic party atmospheres. The Miami New Times described them as having "a rare blend of musical talent and touring tenacity," while The Hustle referred to them as "indie funk darlings" of Miami.[5][3]
However, the band has also received more critical analysis from reviewers. The Tech's review of their 2020 Boston performance praised their "ambitious and unique" multi-faceted approach but noted potential weaknesses in their genre-blending style. The reviewer observed that "it did feel like they might have gone a bit too far with genres they hadn't quite mastered yet," citing issues with "electronically-altered vocals" that "felt over the top" and rap sections that "felt a little tacky." The review also suggested that while the band succeeded in creating a party atmosphere, "some of the emotion and rawness" expected from musical artists were "lost in their constant effort to have a blast," with the band sometimes appearing to entertain "from a distance" rather than personally connecting with the audience.[10]
Band members
Core members:
- Robby Hunter – lead vocals, guitar
- Pat Howard – drums, keyboards, production
- John Coughlin – guitar, bass
As of 2023, Hunter splits his time between Miami and Bozeman, Montana, while Howard and Coughlin are based in Los Angeles.[5]
Additional touring members:
- Bellisario brothers – bass, keyboards
Music videos
Magic City Hippies have released numerous music videos for their songs, including "Let it Ring," "Lonely People," "Heavy Motion," "I Can't Let You Go," "Queen," "High Beams," "Ghost on the Mend," "Diamond," and "Water Your Garden" (feat. Maye), among others.[11]
Discography
Studio albums
- Modern Animal (2019)
- Water Your Garden (2022)
- Enemies (2025)
EPs
- Hippie Castle EP (2015)
- As Robby Hunter Band
- Magic City Hippies (2013)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Indie Funk Band Magic City Hippies Talk About Growing up in Miami and Their Winter Tour". WHUS Radio. January 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Day, Nicholas K. (February 8, 2024). "An amalgam of funk, soul, pop and hip-hop will be served up by the Magic City Hippies". The Spokesman-Review.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Banknotes: Magic City Hippies on building a brand". The Hustle. February 9, 2024.
- ↑ "The Story". Robby Hunter Band. Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Chulak, Haina (December 20, 2023). "Magic City Hippies Come Home for New Year's Eve Concert in Miami Beach". Miami New Times.
- ↑ "The Story". Robby Hunter Band. Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "The Story". Robby Hunter Band. Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Windley, Alexzandria (July 8, 2020). "South Florida Band Magic City Hippies Stands Out In The Crowd". The Reporter. Miami Dade College.
- ↑ "Magic City Hippies". Wasserman Music.
- ↑ "Here to party". The Tech. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. February 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Music". Magic City Hippies Official Website.
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