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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Find Themselves at Home |
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Written by and photos by MAX BLAU
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 |
For a band that has only been playing together for three years, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have become quite the force to be reckoned with. Arising from the ‘existential crisis’ of former Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert, Edward Sharpe emerged as his free-spirited alter ego, and the Magnetic Zeros the product of his artistic vision. Between their carefree sentiment and genuine tenderness, this group’s devoted following has spread like wildfire, mirroring the growth of the Magnetic Zeros over that same time.
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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
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Variety Playhouse
Atlanta, GA
July 10, 2010
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With Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse packed to the brim more so than I have ever seen before, the 11-piece organic psych-pop collective graced the stage in front a sold-out crowd, catering to a seemingly diverse fan base at this all ages show. Sharpe wasted no time demonstrating his showmanship, evocatively leading the Magnetic Zeros through the epically swooning “40 Day Dream” and the cheery spontaneity of “Janglin.” The ensemble reveled in their own irresistible grandeur, even if it came across as a hipster attempt at the hippie aesthetic (or an onslaught of Ford Fiestas).
Like clockwork, the combination of Sharpe and vocalist Jade Castrinos, resembling the American version of Amelie, playfully professed their comfortable love for each on “Home”—a song that easily resides within the recent canon of hipster indie rock while simultaneously seeming like a modern day version of Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe.” Despite stumbling through their lyrics and clearly displaying a distance between them, the song’s allure still managed to resonate amongst the crowd.
Despite playing all the fan favorites in the first half of the show, the group saved their most memorable moments for the latter part of the show. Their earnest mantra-driven “Om Nashi Me” prevailed as a repetitive demonstration of infectious brilliance, highlighting the band’s versatility and depth. The band concluded with an impressive encore, including a theatrical rendition of “Jade,” where Castrinos was ‘summoned’ onstage for the remainder of the encore by her namesake song via Sharpe’s onstage plea.
The show concluded with a show-stopping, head-turning performance of their final song of the evening. Sharpe made his way into the middle of the Variety Playhouse’s floor, taking a seat with the remainder of the surrounding crowd, before singing an extremely intimate version of “Brother.” This final showcase of enduring sincerity seemed to speak volumes about the group as whole in their over the top endearment. While many may see this as a contrived appearance, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros managed to overcome and win over its onlookers time and time again. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
