It's Elemental!

Magic Missile Writes Songs About Space, DNA And The Periodic Table

originally published November 15, 2006

Question: What do you get when you combine a passion for science fact and science fiction with some of Athens' most talented musicians?

Answer: The humorous, informative, euphonious science-geek sound of Magic Missile.

Magic Missile's beginnings originate from the misfortune of singer Jake Mosely, formerly of Johnny Carcinogen. In 1994, the self-proclaimed lifelong geek lost his Governors Honors scholarship at the University of Georgia, where he was majoring in physics and astronomy. Mosely was indifferent, but his parents were nonplussed at the trajectory his career took him: more than a decade of living the Athens life, cooking in restaurants, living with other musicians and playing lots of rock and roll.

In 2003, Mosely bumped into a former bistro coworker Peter Keane (Quiet Men, Side of Fries) and the two concocted a plan to record the ultimate science geek band. They roped Keanes collaborator since junior high, Brian Smith (Fabulous Bird, Ordinary Germans Like Yourselves, King of Prussia, etc.), into the project on keys, adding an orchestral element to the impressive effects eked out by Keane on guitar. Keane, it should be noted, also is responsible for most of the production on the band's recorded material.

Soon, local native Meghann Jordan (ex-Cafeteria) came aboard, adding a powerful femme dynamic with her husky, sweet and at-times plaintive voice and her ever-reliable rhythm guitar. The Missile crew was further bolstered by the addition of bassist Wyatt Nicholson, who deejays locally under the name DJ Other Voices Other Rooms.

For a while, the Missile was bummed at the exile of Keane to Ithaca, NY, but the band's disappointment turned to elation when local legend Creston Spiers (Producto, Harvey Milk) joined on percussion, replacing interim beat provider Big Red (a drum machine). According to Mosely, Spiers inclusion adds a more dynamic, more rocking element to the band's sound, one that, according to Jordan, is more complex.

Elements are a passion for this band that has the ambitious, Sufjan-esque goal to record a song for each element of the periodic table. Magic Missile is off to a promising start with the deceptively bouncy gem "Chlorine," sung in a sweet duet between Jordan and Mosely: Take a swim / remember to pour some chlorine in / If you want to kill something / kill it with chlorine. Other elements that have been addressed so far include hydrogen, helium, carbon, fluorine and beryllium; some of the tracks are available on the band's MySpace page, www.myspace.com/magicmissile23.

Currently, only eight elements have their own songs, but seeing as how, depending on which periodic table one refers to, there could be more than 100 elements left to tackle, Mosely is open for collaboration. He encourages interested parties to contact him via jakemosely@gmail.com if they are interested in collaborating on songs.

Magic Missile addresses other science topics (both fact and fiction) besides the periodic table; comets, space rockets and DNA have all found their way into songs. Though the members say they're all interested in a diverse variety of bands, and claim not to be trying to emulate any particular sound, there is an obvious Flaming Lips influence, at least on the recorded material, though this influence is less noticeable in the live setting. With its new line-up coming together, the group's in a fine and interesting position to evolve.

For now though, take comfort in the fact that while listening to Magic Missile's music, you can be both entertained and edified with treasures like "Oxygen." Breathe it in, breathe it out," sings Mosely. "Oxygen can be your friend, but in the end, oxidation wears things out.

Please note this is an early show that starts at 7 p.m.

Deirdre Sayre

WHAT: Magic Missile, Blank Faces
WHERE: Caledonia Lounge
WHEN: Wednesday, November 15, 7 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $5