- MAGIC SWORD w/ Dance With The Dead, Megan McDuffee
- 04/16/2026 - Majestic Theater - Madison WI
- ©Justin Nuoffer
The city of Madison was alive and full of zest after days of thunderstorms and rain keeping everyone inside. The patios outside were bustling, and the capitol building was bright and ever so present. The white of the building reflected the sun’s rays. The evening was gorgeous and a perfect night to be out and about. Just down King Street, the Majestic Theater stands proudly in the middle of a classic arcade-style block. The marquee and its vintage look stick out from above the glass doors. In bold red block lettering, it reads “Magic Sword,” and the line below it was anxiously awaiting its chance to get inside the building.
After entering the 120-year-old venue, straight ahead is the main room with the tour merchandise displayed all over the small cubby on the right. To the left, a bar full of various beverages and venue specials wraps itself around to a set of stairs leading to the main floor. The stage stands three feet off the ground and its hardwood boards are scuffed and stained from years of brilliant performances. The room was full of zest and nerdy spirit.
Megan McDuffee opened the evening with a performance that felt like stepping into a neon-lit cyberpunk dream. The Los Angeles-based composer, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist has spent years building a name for herself within the world of film scores, video games, and dark electronic music. Known for her work composing for indie games, trailers, and cinematic projects, McDuffee blends synthwave, industrial, dark pop, and cinematic sound design into something that feels both futuristic and deeply emotional. Her music carries the DNA of artists like Massive Attack, Portishead, and HEALTH while still maintaining a style entirely her own.
Standing center stage surrounded by synthesizers and production equipment, McDuffee commanded the room with an eerie confidence. Her voice floated through the Majestic Theatre with a haunting calmness as layers of synth textures pulsed underneath. Between hair flips and quick adjustments to her keyboards, she transitioned seamlessly through tracks like “Freak Like Me,” “Leviathan,” and “Erase Me.”
Check out the Megan McDuffee concert photo gallery here:
The room remained nearly silent throughout her set, locked into the hypnotic atmosphere she created. The best way to experience it was simply to close your eyes and let the music consume you. Her seven-song opening set was dark, cinematic, and the perfect gateway into the retro-futuristic world the rest of the night would become.
As direct support, Dance With The Dead had their chance to unleash their sound on the willing Madison crowd. Much like the headliners, the band has no vocals. However, that changed briefly later in the set when Brandon Saller of Atreyu joined them for a song as the rest of his band watched from the balcony. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, lead guitarist Tony Kim wasted no time jumping onto a small stand at the front edge of the stage, where he stayed for most of the performance. He made sure everyone had a clear view, and he delivered.
On the other side of the stage, Justin Pointer stood behind a massive keyboard and synth setup, with a huge skull covering the front of his stand. As he performed, he often ducked behind it but remained visible. At times, he grabbed a guitar and joined Kim at the front, layering riff upon riff. Behind them, touring drummer John Terry performed like a human metronome, perfectly synced with the backing tracks. Dance With The Dead are masters of mood. Their sound shifts constantly, rooted in horror film inspiration and reminiscent of classic film scores.
For this run, they stayed true to their core sound while incorporating four tracks from their latest release, Malombra. Songs like “Psycho Disco,” “Black Clouds,” “The Burial,” and “Chaos Theory” blended seamlessly with older material, and the fans clearly appreciated it.
Check out the Dance With The Dead concert photo gallery here:
The Madison crowd showed strong support, with their merchandise visible throughout the venue. Dance With The Dead is truly unique, and it is easy to imagine them commanding even bigger stages in the future.
The headliners from Boise, Idaho, Magic Sword, have been commanding stages across the country for years. Since forming in 2013, the trio has built a catalog of four full-length albums and two EPs, all tied to a central concept, a comic book-style adventure of immortal beings connected to a magic sword.
As the set began, the dark stage slowly lit up. A box containing the sword sat at the front next to The Keeper, clad in a red mask, who began playing on synthesizers and keys. To his left, The Seer, wearing a blue mask, rocked back and forth while shredding guitar riffs. On drums, The Weaver, wearing a yellow mask, sat elevated on a riser. He brought an unpredictable energy, often leaving his kit to run to the front of the stage and interact with fans waving light-up plastic swords. At one point, he even grabbed one himself to hype the crowd further.
The performance unfolded like a visual and sonic story, pulling from nearly every release in their catalog. With no vocals, the precision and synchronization were essential, and the band delivered. Each movement and musical shift aligned with the unfolding narrative, making the experience feel like flipping through the pages of a comic book. Opening with tracks like “Side Quest” and “One More Chance,” they established the tone early. Midset highlights included “The Way Home,” “Invincible,” “Uprising,” and “Reckoning,” building momentum toward the finale.
Closing with their most recognizable tracks, “Legend of the Keeper” and “In the Face of Evil,” the Madison crowd reached peak energy. The dark venue glowed with raised swords as fans danced and fully embraced the spectacle.
Check out the Magic Sword concert photo gallery here:
Magic Sword is more than a performance; it is an experience. Their atmosphere and stage presence are accessible and entertaining for all. After the final notes, the band exited together as the crowd erupted in applause. Near the exit, the merch line stretched along the wall as fans eagerly waited. Outside, the marquee still displayed the band’s name, drawing people in for photos and selfies. The smiles said it all. This was pure fun, and it is something everyone should experience at least once.
Catch Magic Sword on the Road…
