SnowStalk Night 2: Magic Beans with The Runaway Grooms, DJ Hachey

When the pandemic hit, Magic Beans had dozens of shows cancelled, so they hopped into their studio in Denver, CO and started recording songs. Produced by Magic Beans - and Mastered by David Glasser (The Grateful Dead’s long time Mastering engineer) - Funk, soul, live electronica, and even bluegrass music find their way into this songbook from 4 band members that each bring their own flavor to the project. The different feels in the double record coexist harmoniously as the listener is slowly ramped up throughout the record. By the time you hit the second vinyl, the organic sounds of B3 organ and acoustic guitar give way to synths and drum sampling almost as if you’re descending into night.

The inspiration for the title “Slice of Life” is just that. A random and unplanned snapshot of the band in this time and place, a self portrait done unknowingly. “Throughout our days as a traveling band, we’ve encountered many a situation that is unexplainably surreal in its abnormality, but at the same time indicative of the location, culture, and context we find ourselves. "A person partaking in an activity you didn’t know existed wearing an outfit you’ve only seen in a dream, or a collision of occurrences just rare and unusual enough that you think you’re living in a simulation just to be in that place, sounds of B3 organ and acoustic guitar give way to synths and drum sampling almost as if you’re descending into night.

The band’s rule was to have fun making music and the record reflects that. Even the home-made and hand-cut collages for the album artwork were created by the Beans' tour manager and collaborator, Austin Koontz. What you got here with “Slice of Life” is a good time and a reflection of Magic Beans love for creating art. As the world returns to some semblance of normal, and Magic Beans hop back onto the road these songs will feature prominently in the sets from night to night, but until then this album will serve as a small Slice of of the last year in the Life of Magic Beans.