Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

Peter E.

December 11, 2009 - 10:35 AM

The best concert I've been to in a while hands down. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros rocked WOW Hall so hard that my ears are still ringing the morning after. Rolling Stone named Edward Sharpe one of its "Artists to Watch 2009," and their psychedelic folk rock mixes, as Rolling Stone suggests, "Arcade Fire with The Mamas and the Papas." The ten piece band pumped out a rich and elaborate sound with guitars, bass, piano, trumpet, tambourine, drum set, bongos, and accordion.

The sell out crowd was really into the concert (of which all my roommates were in attendance), and we danced and sang along all concert. The band responded to the crowd's energy to put on a raucous, energetic show. The band ended their set with a calming, beautiful song "Om Nashi Me," which put me in a state of mind more resonant of a Eugene that existed 40 years ago. After we called them back to the stage for the encore, they invited us all on stage for their last song. Everyone on stage and the remaining fans in the audience all sat cross-legged as Alex Ebert, the lead singer, crooned the final tune. It was awesome to sit between the trumpeter and the guitar player, and I shook hands their hands and thanked them for a great performance as we walked offstage together. It was a rare experience and fantastic way to end a wonderful concert.

After the show I approached Alex Ebert and asked him how he like Los Angeles, where the band is from and currently located, because their music seems so apart from the mainstream Los Angeles scene. He joked, "I don't like the air. There are some good people there though."

I asked him if he saw himself in the longterm. He responded, "I want to go to New Orleans for awhile. It just seems like a cool place." I am excited to see if they make the move and what inspiration they draw from a rich cultural and musical city-could be a good thing for Edward Sharpe fans.