Wonderful Spells

By JOE BERNARDI

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I'm not normally a fan of generalizations, but it seems pretty self-evident that innovation for innovation's sake is running rampant in the musical underground. As strange as it is to admit it, then, it's a breath of fresh air to hear a band like Wonderful Spells who take traditional pop instruments, write traditional pop songs and doesn't come off like a guy who's trying to hit on your girlfriend and failing miserably. When a group is influenced by McCartney, Bolan, and Nuggets, they may seem oddly out of place in a field of would-be Nations of Ulysses and Gangs of Four.

Although they might be in the stylistic minority, Wonderful Spells see Boston as home and aren't looking to go anywhere anytime soon. "I dig Boston," says drummer Josh Carrasco. "There's a real collective kind of feeling."

"Sometimes I get bummed out," says guitarist/vocalist Bo Moore, "because I think that people see Boston as just a training camp for New York. You want more, sometimes, and New York is just so close. Everyone just kind of goes there."

With the recent departure of rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Nick Moon (that's probably not his real last name, but what can you do?), Wonderful Spells have been soldiering on as a three-piece. "We used to be a four-piece, now we're not, no big deal," says Bo. "We've played a couple shows as a three-piece, but personally, I think we'd all prefer to be a four-piece again. We could carry on, but it's a little more raw, a little more elemental. It's not so much that we're looking for a fourth member as much as we're waiting to bump into someone who feels like the right person."

Aside from a potential new member, the future of Wonderful Spells apparently holds a follow-up to last year's The Prophecy of Smarmulous Rex EP. "We're going to have an album hopefully sometime in 2008," says Bo, "and hopefully a tour, as well."

Wonderful Spells seem like they're sticking around for the time being, remaining a tight, sensible contrast to the music that upsets your parents.

[Wonderful Spells are playing the Harpoon Summerfest 6.7. Keep up with them at myspace.com/wonderfulspells]