HEAVY ROCK, PSYCHEDELIC TONES: The Magpie, ARKN and Sonic Bloom play Reggie's

The knowledge and passion The Magpie’s lead singer Erik Sugg has for music is infectious. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Sugg in preparation for his upcoming show at Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern this Saturday, March 14, and uncovered his deep roots within the Wilmington heavy rock scene.

Sugg, much like an eager scholar who deeply knows and loves the material, quickly dives into music and music history that predates an algorithm of suggested music. 

“Back then, you didn’t have that explosion of information.  You just heard something you liked, you looked at album notes, you met with friends who said, ‘listen to this band,’ and then you’d read all the punk magazines…You just filled your head with stuff. It’s funny because if we had used that [knowledge] towards school, we probably would have been a more academic generation.”

Sugg got his musical start in Richmond, Virginia, in the ‘90s through the band Dragstrip Syndicate, which many Wilmington locals may recognize. He later moved on to form Demon Eye, garnering a local fanbase by playing in venues like Reggie’s. After an album release with an overseas record label and many tours, the band's life had consumed Erik. 

“One of the reasons I quit Demon Eye was because that band was my life,” he divulges.  “It was like a constant hustle. I was also playing in Lightning Born at that time as well… I hit a wall.”

 He took a step back from music in 2019 to reassess the direction he wanted to go in life. 

“I quit Demon Eye during the spring of 2019 and was like ok I need to live life not as a band guy for a while,” he explains. “My wife and I made some big decisions, like buying a house. I changed careers, and I also addressed some underlying health issues. It’s funny because then Covid came around and put an end to anything active with the band life.” 

Sugg cites the pandemic as a source for unconventional reflection.“One of the benefits of that strange time in everyone’s life is that you reassess, you know.” 

After some reflection, he was drawn back into the world of music. Sugg created the Magpie alongside his friend Biran Walsby (drums), who, along with the other members of the band, all share this appreciation for heavy rock. In 2023, the band released their self-titled debut album “The Magpie,” in 2023 and Erik has been regularly playing shows ever since.

The Magpie, which was originally a three-piece, now comprises Sugg on guitar and vocals, John Hitselberger on bass, Brian Walsby on drums, and Mike Deloch (formerly bass) on guitar.

Fun Facts: Deloch runs a business called Acid Guitar Electronics, where he makes guitar effects pedals and specializes in fuzz pedals. Walsby has roots in the old Southern California hardcore days of Black Flag. Sugg recalls, “I became friends with [Walsby] 20 years ago. It was later that I found out this is the Brian Walsby who did artwork for all those Melvins 7-inch records I have in my collection.”

The Magpie’s sound is a heavy rock with inspiration from psychedelic rock and ‘70s Australian punk. An admittedly niche and unique combination of sounds, including some funky time signatures. 

“There were other bands that were heavy in the sense that people are familiar with metal, but taking this knowledge of time signatures with it. Which wasn’t new. Prog rock bands in the ‘70s were doing that, but these bands did it with a more intense metal edge, and it rewrote the game for what heavy music could be.” 

The genre to which Sugg is referring is “math rock,” a branch of rock music known for unconventional time signatures. “That was a very big thing in Richmond back in the late ‘80s to early ‘90s. There was a band called Breadwinner that was sort of the go-to band for that genre [math rock]... Up until that point, a lot of heavy music was considered to be just traditional heavy metal.” 

During that same time period, Sugg continues, “we started to see so many creative takes on it. The most obvious, well-known facet was probably what was happening in the Pacific Northwest with bands like Nirvana, the Melvins, and Soundgarden. Nirvana in particular showed that you could add a sense of pop to heavy music, which is why people liked them so much.”

Nevertheless, despite the inspiration, Sugg does not see The Magpie as a math rock band. “I think of us as a band with some quirky time signatures…a lot of that comes from Brian’s skill as a drummer.” 

All of his bandmates share a similar passion for music history, and that is a key component in their sound. “That’s what happens when you get a group of friends who have mutual interests and spend most band practices talking about music and bands more than actually playing. You find all these little things you like that come into your music.”

It all comes together with Sugg’s vibrato vocals, which sets The Magpie apart from most heavy rock bands. “The fact that I am not singing like your average heavy rock band singer allows us to put all these other instruments in there,” Sugg explains. “We’re big fans of the ‘60s garage rock band The 13th Floor Elevators. The lead singer, who’s named Rocky… he sang in a really high-pitched style with a lot of vibrato, and I always loved it.”

Their self-titled album boasts tracks that are slower and more eerie, “The Sleepy Eye” and “The Lurker,” which make great use of Sugg’s vibrato. On the other hand, tracks like “Derailed” are packed full of chaotic energy. The two combine to create a rich and diverse heavy rock experience that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.

Sugg and company are also at home at Reggie’s 42nd, and happily reminisces about his history there and the relationships he has maintained. “It's amazing. The owners are buddies of mine. I've known them from going back to the Dragstrip Syndicate days, particularly Charles Krueger. He was in the band Thunderlip. 

Thunderlip was THE band of Wilmington for many years and is still thought of in the highest regard during the rare times when they get together and play.” Sugg continues. “[Krueger's] hilarious, fun guy. And you know it's just got this huge community of friends. I love them so, and he lets me play this place, too. You know that's a bonus.”

As Sugg dives deep back into the hard rock scene—frontmaning for The Magpie and his other band, Thee Old Knight—this self-proclaimed workaholic is also the owner of Firelight Records, an independent record label. It’s a hustle fueled by love for the artform.

This Saturday, March 14, The Magpie will play alongside Wilmington locals ARKN, and Sonic Blooms from Greensboro. The common link between the three is their uniqueness. Sonic Blooms, in particular, is a two-drummer band! 

“This particular bill is different—it’s not easy to find. All the bands have their own unique style, and all are a little bit different from their respective genres. Expect a lot of energy. Expect a very fun night.”