Every now and then a band comes along that brings with it an entire alternate universe, complete with custom colors, costumes, and a sound to sum it all up. Sufjan Stevens has his wide eyed world of transcendent banjos and fluffy clouds, Beirut is the ex-patriot, eastern euro-sylvania-Brooklyn-vagabond, and The Decembrists, well, they live on a pirate ship and challenge roustabouts to duels. Now enter the newest member of this elite club of musical explorers: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.

Edward Sharpe (aka Alex Ebert) and his gaggle of ten or so merry indie rock pranksters, the Magnetic Zeros, are an amalgamation of Magical Mystery Tour meets Hair with a forwarding address at 1967 Golden Gate Park. But these guys (and girls) aren't just a sounds of psychedelia cover band, there's an exuberant authenticity underneath all that incense smoke and colorful tapestries that makes them a really exciting band to watch.

The group just released their first full length this past July called Up From Below. The two singles off the album, "Home" and "40 Day Dream", are catchy communal sing-a-longs complete with hand clapping, tambourines, and jangley back and forth dialogue. They are also picking up quite a reputation for their dynamic, multihued live performances and have been selling out venues all over the place. Their music sounds like its recorded during an improptu drum circle, so I can imagine live it must be quite a performance.

So, come on, kick off your shoes, let down your hair, and get ready to be carried away to the patchouli doused world of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, the newest hot spot in indie escapist destinations. - amelia trask

Edward Sharpe and the Magentic Zeros

Nov 15 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
Nov 16 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
Nov 17 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
Nov 18 - Williamsburg Music Hall - Brooklyn, NY
Nov 21 - Pearl Street Downstairs - Northampton, MA
Nov 22 - Metronome - Burlington, VT
Nov 23 - Cafe Campus - Montreal, Quebec
Nov 24 - El Mocambo Club - Toronto, ONT
Nov 27 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
Nov 28 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
Nov 29 - The Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
Dec 1 - Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO
Dec 2 - Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO
Dec 4 - The Bell Tower - Pullman, Washington
Dec 5 - Neumos - Seattle, WA
Dec 8 - The Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, British Columbia
Dec 9 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
Dec 10 - WOW Hall - Eugene, OR
Dec 12 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, California
Dec 14 - The Mayan - Los Angeles, CA

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MP3: Edward Sharpe and the Magentic Zeros:: "Home" - from Up From Below
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros on Myspace