It was a brisk 55 degrees and windy.

The drizzling that started earlier turned into a pretty steady rain. For Magdalena Bay fans, though, none of that mattered – the Los Angeles-based duo took the stage at Kilby Block Party.

Listeners spilled out from the stage area, while some in VIP started a conga line. Two fans in the front row appeared on the screen absolutely soaked but proudly sporting Tenenbaum’s iconic blue makeup.

At one point, a fan dressed in a yellow bunny costume got on their friend’s shoulders for a better look at the stage.

Through it all, this pop duo brought plenty of costume changes and iconic moments that made dancing in the freezing rain not only bearable but so freaking fun.

Magdalena Bay © Nico Beauchamp at Kilby Block Party 2026

What makes the band so exciting is they’re DIY by choice. The 2024 release Imaginal Disk was written and produced in full by the band’s Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin, subsequently earning praise as one of the best albums of the year.

My hands, your hands
I’ll hold forever
No way, I’ll break hold
No, not ever
Yeah, I give and you give
‘til it’s all that we have
You know nothing is fair
in death and romance

– “Death and Romance,” Magdalena Bay

That creative freedom translates to a sound that’s equal parts futuristic and retro – and so uniquely Magdalena Bay. It also gives Tenenbaum wiggle room during live performances to be as silly and weird as she wants.

During “Vampire in the Corner,” she appears as a flower that grows and wilts because of her unrequited love. For the end of “Tunnel Vision,” the singer dawned a somewhat unsettling frowny mask.

The funky bass line in “That’s My Floor” had everyone bopping their heads while Tenenbaum skipped around the stage. By the end of the performance, the vocalist transforms into an angel with wings and a flowy skirt.

It was clear that the crowd was already familiar with the band and songs like “Death & Romance” and “Cry For Me,” which honestly came as a surprise.

I wouldn’t say Magdalena Bay’s growth is the same skyrocket to stardom that Chappell Roan experienced, but it definitely feels like they crossed the threshold from “niche indie band” to “cool indie band.”

They even recently announced their Imaginal Desk movie is coming to theaters this summer, with tickets in New York almost instantly selling out. It feels well deserved, definitely, especially considering how long they’ve been making music and steadily fine tuning their sound. I could see them going viral on TikTok and absolutely blowing up.

If you haven’t listened to Magdalena Bay yet, you will – and you’ll want to listen again and again.

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