The Magic Beans have not only become a staple of the Colorado music scene, but have branched out nationally in becoming one of the major up-and-coming acts in the greater jam scene today. With a headlining show at Boulder’s The Fox Theatre for the venue’s month-long 25th Anniversary celebration coming up, along with a lengthy Spring tour with support from Yak Attack and Teddy Midnight, the Beans are getting ready to release a new EP, titled ‘Common Mind’ as well. We caught up with lead guitarist and singer Scott Hachey to catch up on all things Beans….

Live For Live Music: So tell us about this upcoming EP.

Scott Hachey: The name of the EP is Common Mind, which is also one of the tracks on the release. For the most part, its about human nature getting in the way of everyone coming together and connecting. I think its a suitable title for the EP because the music is at its best when the band comes together in a common mindset, like we did on these tracks.

L4LM: How has your sound evolved from your last couple of releases to now?

SH: I’d say the sound is constantly evolving. Our last full album, Sites & Sounds, was a couple years ago and we’ve changed a lot as a band since then. We’re all growing as people and musicians everyday cause thats kinda how life goes – you just keep changing and evolving. So the music keeps maturing and we keep trying to bring in new genres and influences that we get turned onto as we write new material. We’ve been touring A LOT too so that always helps push the music.

Our last release was an EP as well called The Foam, and it was a ton of fun to make. Thats definitely a more contemporary look at the current sound. We actually enjoyed the process so much, we did this new EP at the same studio and with the same team. So these two EPs will probably sound pretty congruent, like if you put them together they’d make a great full album. We’ve just been touring so much that its been hard to do a full album, so these EPs have let us get out fresh studio work to the people when we have time off from the road. They’ve also allowed us to give some road tested material the studio treatment, which is fun.

L4LM: Any backstory for the single that is being released, or the EP, in general?

SH: The single, “Always Cool“, is a laid back funky instrumental featuring the very featurable Nicholas Gerlach on sax as well as Matt and Mark Wilkolak on trumpet and trombone. It has a sweet hook, tight snare, and sizable bass solo near the end that is worth mentioning. It should make people feel good is our hope, and the lyrics have a positive message urging people to just listen to the music.

The EP features a lot of different stuff though. From some livetronica stuff to a New Orleans-esque tune called “Love Stank.” We like to keep it fresh and embrace a lot of feels in our music. It also features the masterful work of percussionist/drummer, Will Trask, from The Runnikine on almost every track. He’s actually our ex-drummer and one of my best guys.

Listen to “Always Cool” below, exclusively through Live For Live Music:

L4LM: You guys are based out of Nederland/Boulder area, right? There must be plenty of inspiration derived from such natural beauty all over….

SH: You know it. Colorado is full of that stuff. Our first few years as a band we strictly toured the state and lived together up in Nederland at 9000 feet. So we’re constantly wrapped up in the nature out here and its definitely inspirational. As a songwriter, I write a majority of my tunes in the outdoors. So, its natural for those themes to find their way into the lyrics and what not.

Another huge inspirational part about the state is the music scene itself. We’re kind of a cultural island out here where scenes mix together a lot. Because we’re not NYC or LA, theres only so many musicians. You have a lot of guys from the jam, funk, jazz, rock, indie, grass, edm, etc scenes coming together at gigs and shows. Lots of cross pollination going on of sorts and bands rubbing off on one another. Theres so much good music out here, we’re lucky to be a part of the community in Colorado.

L4LM: Being a Nederland/Boulder-based band, and being part of the The Fox Theatre’s 25th anniversary must be exciting. You have played the venue quite a bit in a short span of time.

SH: Yeah, we are honestly beside ourselves about it. The Fox is super special to us and we love it, so to have them ask us to be a part of the whole thing was an honor. Felt like we got the stamp of approval or something.

Our first show was actually at the Fox, 1st of 4 bands. I was working there at the time as an intern and begged the talent buyer to get us on a gig haha. We ended up bringing a good crowd and the rest is history. We’ve played there a bunch of times since and sold it out a few times as well. Celebrated our 100th and 300th shows there. Its definitely the defining venue of our band, and always will be.

L4LM: It’s impressive to be on a month-long calendar’s with such Colorado juggernauts as The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, The Motet, Big Gigantic, and more. How does that make you feel to be able to headline your own show amongst such heavyweights?

SH: It’s very groovy and unreal. We’re humbled by the opportunity to represent the younger scene in Boulder. Looking at all the amazing Boulder bands that have come before us on the list and then seeing our name in there, its a life moment ya know? All those bands you listed and lots of the other ones are such big inspirations for us, and still are. Like I said earlier though, Colorado rolls as a crew and we’ve had the opportunity to work and hang with all these guys before in some regard. That’s what is great about the scene here, it’s all love and support. But seriously Big G > Motet > then Beans this weekend!?! We’re a little nervous and know we gotta bring it hard, haha.

L4LM: Beanstalk is looking to be a great time this year, with performances scheduled from Fruitioin, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, Theo Katzman (Vulfpeck), Tom Hamilton’s American Babies with Aron Magner, obviously multiple sets from the Beans, and more. Give us a little 4-1-1 to share with the masses.

SH: This year is going to be the best one yet without a doubt. We’re very pumped on the lineup, which features some of our favorite musicians right now. And we’re back at the original location for the festival which is ideal. Things tend to get a little crazy at Beanstalk and we love it. It’s a place where our whole fanbase, friend groups, and other Colorado bands get to hang together at one festival. I feel like everyone has their separate one or two big live music journeys of the year, and Beanstalk is a place where they know the whole crew will be at together.

Beanstalk Festival Announces Final Additions To 2017 Lineup

L4LM: And the venue is absolutely beautiful as well….

SH: Most definitely! The venue, Rancho Del Rio, is a gorgeous slice of land right on the Colorado River pretty far back in the Rockies. It has a wild west vibe with trains in the distance, red mountains, and no cell service. Very freeing. You can go rafting down the river, swimming, tubing, hiking, biking, cliff jumping, hit up some hot springs. It’s a good hang.

The vibe is loose and most everyone is connected in some way, shape, or form. There are always a lot of surprises as far as music goes; super groups, surprise sit-ins, guests, etc. One time Nick from Cage the Elephant showed up on Sunday before his Red Rocks gig the next day and sat in with Magic Brownies, which was a Biscuits/Beans super group with Marc Brownstein. He apparently used to live in the Biscuits rehearsal space back in the day and now he’s selling out the Rocks – so stuff like that happens and I think the loose atmosphere facilitates it.

It caps at 1000, so its small and everyone can come together for events like crawfish boils, capture the flag, and a game invented last year called Mud Gun. I won’t get into that one though. Definitely a unique experience, and much cheaper than most festivals. Folks should come if they like to have fun outside with good people.

SH: Well, thats my spiel… we’re starting a coast to coast tour next month so everyone check out our dates at www.magicbeansmusic.com. We’re touring with Teddy Midnight out East and Yak Attack out West on some select dates. See you all soon!

L4LM: Thanks Scott! We appreciate your time. Best of luck on the road the next few weeks.

Be sure to check The Magic Beans out on the road in a town near you. Full tour dates below. Beanstalk Music & Mountains Festival is scheduled for June 22nd-25th at Rancho Del Rio, CO. For more information on the festival, click here.

The Magic Beans Tour Dates
3/18 @ The Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO
3/20 @ Shakedown Street in Vail, CO
3/23 @ The Historic Brown in Breckenridge, CO
3/28 @ Reverb Lounge in Omaha, NE
3/29 @ Turf Club in St. Paul, MN
3/30 @ The Canopy Club in Urbana, IL
3/31 @ Martyr’s in Chicago, IL
4/01 @ The Stache at the Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI
4/02 @ Woodlands Tavern in Columbus, OH
4/04 @ Iron Works in Buffalo, NY *
4/06 @ Funk n Waffles in Syracuse, NY *
4/07 @ The Hollow in Albany, NY *
4/08 @ Nectar’s in Burlington, VT *
4/09 @ Port City Music Hall in Portland, ME *
4/11 @ The Outer Space in Hamden, CT *
4/12 @ Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ *
4/13 @ Silk City in Philadelphia, PA *
4/14 @ The Hall at MP in Brooklyn, NY
4/15 @ 8×10 in Baltimore, MD *
4/26 @ The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA **
4/27 @ Boom Boom Room in San Francisco, CA **
4/28 @ Crazy Horse Saloon in Nevada City, NV
4/29 @ Crystal Bay Casino in Crystal Bay, NV
5/03 @ Volcanic Theatre in Bend, OR
5/04 @ HiFi Music Hall in Eugene, OR **
5/07 @ The Sunset in Seattle, WA
6/22-6/25 @ Beanstalk Music & Mountains Festival in Bond, CO

* w/ Teddy Midnight
** w/ Yak Attack