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As the instrumental bridge in “Cry For Me” came to an end, Magdalena Bay’s lead singer Mica Tenenbaum re-emerged from backstage, wrapped in a translucent rainbow cloak. The crowd erupted in applause as she sprinted toward them, triumphantly mounting her pedestal and seamlessly transitioning into the song’s next verse.

On Oct. 24, Magdalena Bay — alternative pop duo consisting of Tenenbaum and guitarist Matthew Lewin — performed at MGM Music Hall as part of their “Imaginal Mystery Tour.” Not only did they bring their upbeat music and infectious energy, they also transported the audience to each song’s realm with portal-like LED screens. For example, during “Top Dog,” images of dogs appeared in a most humorous fashion.

Loud beat drops and white flashes of light signaled the opening of the concert. For a second, it felt like the entire hall was going through a system reset. Just as the audience could no longer take the incessant blinking of lights, they transitioned to a cool tone, revealing Tenenbaum and Lewin in whimsical blue and red two-piece suits, respectively. They kicked off the show in high spirits with “She Looked Like Me!” and “Killing Time,” the first two tracks on their touring album “Imaginal Disk.” Without losing momentum, Tenenbaum launched into the soliloquy-styled “True Blue Interlude,” setting the scene for the album’s futuristic backstory: “Say hello, it’s you, the purest you / The next stage, the next phase is here (True blue).”

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Throughout the show, Magdalena Bay explored the philosophical themes of “Imaginal Disk,” such as existence and metamorphosis. Tenenbaum changed her outfit twice in under two hours and often carried out new props to help the album’s protagonist, True Blue, find her personal identity. For instance, at the beginning of “Vampire in the Corner,” the singer put on a sunflower headdress and spun up towards a ray of golden “sunlight,” manufactured by the vivid lighting. However, midway through the song, she flung off the headdress and returned to True Blue’s default state, as if rejecting the temporary identity. The album’s aesthetics were no doubt iconic — many audience members colored the top half of their faces blue to cosplay True Blue, mirroring Tenenbaum on stage.

Surprisingly, the most impactful moment of the show was quiet and pensive rather than explosive. The audience let out a collective gasp as Tenenbaum slowly put on True Blue’s angel wings and waved her arms up and down at the center of the stage. The soft piano notes of “Angel on a Satellite” flowed as Tenenbaum bathed in silver light — the metamorphosis was finally complete.

One of Magdalena Bay’s main strengths was their ability to quickly switch from one mood to another. The audience barely had time to breathe before Lewin played the next song’s intro on his guitar. The duo was not afraid to test the visual and auditory limits of the venue. At one point in the concert, Tenenbaum released a blood-curdling death-metal scream that lasted up to one complete minute. The shocking sound was coupled with swirling, otherworldly synths that tickled the audience’s eardrums. Even older releases like “Chaeri,” which didn’t fit in the album’s storyline, were executed with an immense attention to detail.

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As performers, Tenenbaum and Lewin were always perfectly in sync. Yet, their stage presence was slightly unbalanced. Tenenbaum had a theatrical and bold performance style — she occasionally let out yelps, tossed her head back and forth, and took up the entire space as she twirled. On the other hand, Lewin seemed to be hiding in his partner’s shadow. His solos showcased refined technique but often did not last very long. Despite their differing approaches, both proved to be an integral part of the concert.

Upon completing the main set, Magdalena Bay jumped straight into the encore. The audience chanted for the duo’s new single “Second Sleep” and their wish was granted. Ironically, the concert’s last song was “The Beginning,” which belonged to their debut album “Mercurial World.” This created a full circle moment and, ending with a feeling of nostalgia as well as hopes for new music and consequent tours.

Overall, Magdalena Bay brought True Blue’s world to life through their impressive stage design and live vocal and audio effects. The duo blended their dreamlike aesthetics with pure fun, providing audience members with a sensory feast.