The Magic Numbers at The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset (7.6 2025) with Michele Stodart of The Magic Numbers supporting.
I went through my bursting cupboard of CDs and looked for bands and artists still living and playing that I hadn’t seen live. There were two left: Catfish and the Bottlemen and The Magic Numbers. With the added attraction of a night out with friends and stop over in the quaint, not so near yet not so far seaside town of Lyme Regis, tickets were purchased.
I bought their 2005 eponymous debut album when it came out and while exploring some new material. It’s easy going folky rock. They sound and look almost American, even tonight seeing them but I was surprised to find these two pairs of brothers and sisters were ‘from Hanwell’, West London. Lead singer and bassist are related, as are the drummer and keyboard player.
On further digging I find that Romeo and Michele Stodart were born in Trinidad but left for New York after fleeing a military coup and ended up in London. No wonder they sound a bit American.
The Marine Theatre is one of those quirky English venues to cherish and make sure you visit at least once. I’ve only been once before, to see Paul Young’s Los Pacaminos in 2017. Just yards up from the square where the town meets the sea is the arch in a terrace of houses and old shops through which you find the Marine Theatre.
Adjacent to Lyme Bay, this little theatre has views out to The Cobb (as featured in The French Lieutenant’s Woman film) and along the Jurrassic Coast. Over 125 years old, the original building was a public baths fed by a spring before it became a drill hall and then started its life as a performance venue in 1920.
There’s a huge forecourt to stretch your legs or sit out on during an interval, once tagged with your wristband.
The standing capacity is around 400. It’s full tonight. There is an upstairs bar with views of the coast and the stage and there are two bars downstairs where service is swift. I think it’s had a reworking since my last visit but I had difficulty confirming this with staff. I remember furniture and a fireplace on the ceiling of the upstairs bar to give the look of an upside down room. Maybe I’d just had too much local cider.
When the support act came on there was quite a roar from the front and, not being familiar with anything except the first Magic Numbers’ album, I thought it may be a local artist – but no, it was Michele Stodart, bassist for The Magic Numbers who was the support slot tonight, with some of her own material – solo guitar and vocals.
Some intense listening and appreciation for the five or so songs and job done. Michele has played with a selection of other artists (including Natalie Imbruglia and Suede’s Bernard Butler) as well as playing her part in The Magic Numbers and having her solo career. Now time for a sit down outside – rest the legs. I need to.
It’s a very warm happy feel when The Magic Numbers come on stage. The band are all smiles – Romeo is beaming. He likes to talk to the audience as well in his soft and gentle voice. I can’t imagine he ever shouts at anyone.
The debut album, the most successful chart-wise of their five studio albums, dominates the set. It’s a robust folky rock sound and when they do a Neil Young cover (Harvest Moon) near the end I realise that’s what their sound is like – no wonder I was drawn to it. Romeo Stodart even talks slowly and hesitantly like Neil Young does, between the songs. And they’ve supported him on tour.
Angela Gannon on keyboards get a turn taking centre stage on vocal at one point, while Romeo takes over on keys. This underlines the depth of talent in this band. Although their albums have never reached the heights of the first one (number 7 in UK chart, and second one number 11) there are so many other projects these musicians have been involved in.
Aside from the more familiar, first album tracks, Sweet Divide is a big, big guitary number – a real epic. Also, Roy Orbison sticks in the mind as I reflect on the gig later.
There’s nowhere I can see to sit in here tonight so later in the set I treat my ailing knee and newly troubling ankle off to the left rear side for a well-earned ‘wall lean’. This allows me to get a video of one song which just happens to be their biggest hit, Love Me Like You (links to my YouTube channel).
As the set comes to a close, we move to the door, ready to return to our inn for the night before they lock the front door and we have to scale some spiral metal staircase. It’s from the door we have the treat of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon to watch and listen to. I can’t help thinking tonight has not only fuelled my enthusiasm for another trip here, but a late Neil Young ticket if I can get one. Perhaps Glastonbury on tv will have to do?
A highly enjoyable evening in a friendly place with a warm friendly band. Live music is such a pleasure and sometimes it is made so easy.
Gigs with Ivan 