Concert Review: Dance With The Dead and Magic Sword featuring Megan McDuffee at Union Stage on May 2, 2026
About a year earlier, a group involving Virgil, Magic Sword, and Rivethead conjured a new Magic Sword into existence, a spectacle to behold at Union Stage on a recent Saturday night in The Wharf. Virgil, with a slight buzz, Rivethead sporting a Skinny Puppy hoodie, and me, brimming with unwarranted positivity, made their grand entrance into the venue together. As soon as you entered the venue, the merch booth greeted you with an array of items from Magic Sword. From shirts to flags, pins, stickers, a coloring book, signed posters, and the Magic Swords themselves, everything was there for sale. Dance With The Dead also had their share of merchandise, but Magic Sword clearly had the upper hand in terms of tour economics.
The night kicked off with Megan McDuffee, a solo electronic artist whose influences included KMFDM and Manson. The crowd, mostly donning NIN shirts, was captivated from the start with songs like “Army of Me” and “Freak Like Me.” By the time she reached “Every You Every Me,” the room was filling up in appreciation of her performance as an opener. Songs like “Are You Real?” and “Leviathan” showcased her versatility and darker musical side, likened to Röyksopp and Perturbator. Despite lacking a full visual rig, her set was engaging, with a highlight being “Your Demise,” a powerful and well-executed track.
After her set, Megan met with fans at the merch table, having sold out of most items on her first tour. Dance With The Dead had invited her along due to their shared fan base, with her music resonating well with the audience. Soon after, the stage was set for Magic Sword, complete with their mystique, laser masks, and captivating narration. With a real drummer and guitarist backing their synthetic sound, their performance was a sight to behold. Songs like “Side Quest,” “Rise,” and “The Way Home” showcased their unique blend of synthwave and heavy rhythms, paired with a theatrical aesthetic. The energy of the crowd and the band’s commitment to their mythos made for a memorable show, with the audience eagerly participating in their narrative.
Wrapping up with their iconic track “In the Face of Evil,” Magic Sword delivered an electrifying performance that left the crowd buzzing. Dance With The Dead then closed out the evening with a mix of White Zombie and Justice tunes, capping off a night that blurred the lines between metal and synthwave. Overall, the show was a testament to the power of live performances and the ability of music to transport listeners to otherworldly realms.