Material: There is an inherent novelty in two sisters wielding mean guitars, but the Magneatos are not content to rest on any ready-made laurels. This is a punk band with chops that demands serious attention. As vocalist Rifka Arslan sings about ugly breakups and enemies this town is just too small to hold, she and the rest of this trio radiate deep conviction.
Musicianship: Rifka packs an arsenal of tomboy-fast, three-chord guitar riffs and high-octane leads. She also has a powerful voice, so deep it occasionally blends with the low range of the bass and drums. During her best moments, however, Rifka busts out in a distinctive vibrato that galvanizes the room. Her sister, bassist Nicole Arslan, is comfortable with both surf and turf, her fretboard wanderings ranging from mellow to spacey to ominous. Drummer Max Waker keeps things loud and taut with his fine snare and cymbal-heavy drumming.
Performance: Dressed casually in shorts and high tops, Rifka immediately set a no-nonsense tone. She sang with snarling ferocity and leaned forward to squeeze the last drop of feedback from her Marshall amp. Rock-chick cool in glittery gold shorts and knee-high boots, Nicole's bass work complemented Rifka's guitar as only a sister could, while Waker grounded the sound with his explosive rythms. One of the band's best songs was a surf-rock gem called "Instumental". This intricate composition begged to be longer as it went over like tartar sauce at a fish fry. More songs like this could help the band anchor a surf-rock following.
Summary: The Magneatos are a very good band that could get even better. With more emphasis on getting the melodic most out of Rifka's powerful voice, and some creative instrumentals to balance out the group's pugnacious roar, this could be a band to watch for.
-Sarah Torribio-Bond, Music Connection
