Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Fillmore Auditorium - May 27, 2010
review by bwoah

Despite what the evil empire Ticketmaster/LiveNation.com would have you believe, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros did not put on a concert at The Fillmore. They staged a giant sing-along.

Normally, the idea of everyone at a concert singing as loud as they can to the words of the band you paid $50 to see would be grounds for a bad night. But if you know Edward Sharpe’s music, and everyone in attendance did, you can understand why crowd participation worked quite well.

From the moment Alex Ebert and the roughly eleven-piece band took the stage and played "40 Day Dream" there was a connection between the artist and crowd rarely seen at a medium-sized venue like The Fillmore. Ebert's alter ego - the Messianic, love-spreading dreamer Edward Sharpe – was on full display as he shook hands and sang into the eyes of the front row.

And although Ebert –err Sharpe was getting his fair share of love back, there was equal delight for his vocal companion and muse, the infectious Jade Castrinos. Although Ebert is a dominating presence onstage, the inclusion of the large band and the crowd makes their music feel genuine and ego-less.

The set list is not that important - after all, the band only has one full-length album. They played every song from it as well as some new tracks and a few covers including Bob Dylan's "All I Really Want to Do." The crowd's enthusiasm and energy never waned, even through the slower songs, probably because everyone knew they would get to belt out songs like "Home," the band's biggest hit.

After three songs during the encore, the band had given everything they could to the crowd, and we had given it right back. Happily exhausted, we were treated to the now-trademarked ending for an Edward Sharpe show. Ebert asked everyone at the Fillmore to sit down on the floor. And everyone did, skinny jeans be damned. Once seated the lights turned all-blue and the band played one of the best songs from their album, the sweet and nostalgic 'Brother.'

For one night those of us not present for the 1960's got a taste of what it might have been like. And then we went home.

Or did we?

The last thing Ebert said before departing the stage was that they might play some songs out on the street. After getting our complementary poster, we decided to wait and see if we would be treated to some musical dessert. Half an hour later, Alex, Jade and the rest of the band emerged with their instruments and a wheeling piano in tow.

We hurriedly followed them down Geary street, feeling a little bit like eager groupies, until they found some space to set up. About a hundred people gathered tightly around the piano and the rest of the band. Ebert jumped up on the piano and belted out the bands biggest hits as well as some improvised "gypsy music." Again we all sang along as loud as we could and there was a collective sense that this might have been the greatest moment on the sidewalks of Geary Street.

Check out this video of the after-show on Geary St.

http://vimeo.com/12439106

posted Jul 17, 2010
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