"It’s a real pleasure to be asked back to open the Market Square... everyone can come along and have a listen."
The Magic Numbers are a dual brother/sister four-piece with two studio albums under their belts, otherwise known as Romeo (guitar and vocals) and Michele Stodart (bass and vocals) and Sean (drums) and Angela Gannon (melodica, percussion, glockenspiel and vocals). They’ve been booked as one of the main acts to open the brand new Market Square at the end of March, so we got on the blower with Angela for a chat…
How was your day today?
It’s been good. We’ve been walking around Munich, which has been cool. You might be able to hear Damien Rice soundchecking his distortion vocal mic in the background. We’re playing with him tonight at a venue called Herkulessaal, it’s a really nice old building that often hosts classical concerts.
So what’s it like being in a band of two brothers and sisters?
It’s quite easy for us in a way because when you know someone so well that you can automatically be yourself all the time, which is pretty cool.
So do you ever have Noel and Liam-style fall-outs with your brother?
Oh yeah, totally. Sean and I have huge fights day in day out. It’s pretty funny most of the time and when we become friends again we can always laugh about it.
How was the band formed?
Romeo went to school with mine and Sean’s older brother and he went to see Sean’s band play and thought he was a good drummer. They started a band and worked at it together for about ten years. Then they decided to get me and Michele in the band and since then it’s been the four of us. It’s pretty cool.
The internet says that that Romeo and Michelle’s mother is an opera singer with her own TV show in Trinidad. Is it true?
I think that whole thing has got a bit out of scale. She was an opera singer who appeared on a TV talent show and was asked back three weeks in a row. She’s never fully delved into the whole thing with us, but when anyone asks her about it she always plays the whole thing down.
Ever thought of getting her in for a track?
I dunno. I guess that’s down to Romeo and Michelle if they want to. It could be a fun idea…
So what’s your personal favourite of your own tracks?
From the first album it was This Love, I’m just really proud to be part of that song. On this album it’s between Goodnight and All I See. When I first heard Goodnight I told Romeo it’s the best song he’d ever written.
What are your favourite cities and venues?
The Barrowlands in Glasgow is definitely one we love. As soon as you walk into that building it has the most amazing feeling about it. Every gig we have done there has been amazing and the crowd always go mental.
You’ve supported quite a few big names like U2, The Flaming Lips, The Chemical Brothers and Brian Wilson. Any dirt to impart?
Not really. We’re usually quite well behaved I guess. The one thing about U2 was that we didn’t get to see or meet them much. The whole scale of the production was huge - I couldn’t quite believe how big the stage was. The Flaming Lips are possibly the nicest bunch of people you’ll ever meet and totally amazing to see live. We did that song (Close Your Eyes) with the Chemical Brothers and I remember walking up to the studio to record it. Michele and I were quite relaxed, but Romeo was getting really freaked out and couldn’t believe he was about to sing on one of their tracks.
Do you feel honoured to be opening Nottingham’s lovely new Market Square?
Oh yeah, definitely. Every gig we’ve ever played in Nottingham has been great, so we’re really honoured to be offered this chance. It’s a real pleasure to be asked back to open it up - and it’s all outside and free, isn’t it? We always love playing free gigs; it means everyone can get to come along and have a listen.
So what message would you send out to people coming to the gig?
Well, we want everyone to join in. They must sing along and clap when we clap. We just want people to go mad when we’re playing a loud one and to go with it when we’re playing a quiet one. Just let your hair down and go with it. Get yourself prepared for a right good night in Nottingham. Get drunk, let your hair down and enjoy yourself…
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