are among a waive of “new folk,” “americana” bands, whatever you may want to call them, that are taking influences of the past and creating something new and genuine, so next time there are in town go see them. In the mean time go see the other bands that our city is bringing in. Yonder Mountain String Band, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Wailers and Lotus are a few that I’ll be at, hope to see you there.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Thursday at Canalside 6/13
By Joe Janiak:
I didn’t know quite what to expect out of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros on Thursday night at their free Canalside concert. Previously I had only heard one or two of their songs and from the footage I had seen on the Railroad Revival Tour in 2011 with Mumford and Sons and Old Crow Medicine show, they looked like a group you would find at a heady, farming, hippy commune or something. All a little out there. Well I’m a little out there too I guess, and I was impressed with the full and powerful sound of the twelve??? piece band that I watched. Many times a band of that size seems cluttered and you question why there are so many instruments, but in this case it was a quality blend with each musician adding a hint of flavor.
Their performance was energetic and uplifting and the audience of mostly hipster type twenty-somethings, responded with just as much love and energy directed back at the stage. Throughout the night a consistent dialogue took place between the band and crowd. At one point, in the song “Home,” the mic was even given to audience members who told their stories. In my opinion, not the best part of the concert, but a nice gesture of the band reaching out and including its fans instead of just playing at them.
With a wet, gray day transforming to sunshine and blue skies, everyone seemed to be in a good state of mind at the Harbor. Smiles in every direction and groups of friends standing between the city and sunset. The Inner Harbor is a great place for a venue and being in that location only added to the mood of the evening. From the very beginning Alex Ebert, the lead singer, was very animated and talkative. Actually the whole show really flowed in story-like fashion with banter after every song and stories within each song. It started with acknowledgment of the beautiful day and a comment about having just woken up; living like a rock star. And it continued with asking the crowd what songs they wanted to hear – “Man on Fire” was definitely one of them which the band held off playing for a little bit to build the anticipation- and sitting on the monitors at stage front, overlooking the crowd, conversing with the fans up front.
I can’t really express the relaxing, communal, family-like vibe that these guys brought to the stage but it was a good musical experience. One that I might have written off in my younger years as being too main stream. At this point I don’t really know what’s on the radio so I couldn’t tell you if the music is in fact popular but it has a spiritual quality about it that is easy to connect with. Songs like, “Man on Fire” and “Home” are certainly all about the vocals and in the later, Jade Castrinos and Alex Ebert alternate lines, almost shouting in conversation.
The vocals backed by horns, keys, and many strings are arranged in a way that build and build to a powerful, almost chanting song. Add several thousand fans that know the lyrics singing along and you have something worthy of respect if nothing else. Other songs like, “Up From Here,” the title track from their first album, and “Brother” are more about story telling and facing deeper questions and difficult moments in life. They ended the show with “Brother,” a sad story, that anyone could relate to, about losing people too soon and a hope for re-uniteing some day. Lights were dimmed and the whole band sat in a row along the edge of the stage. Just one guitar and ten to twelve voices, making it almost campfire style to wind things down. Alex tried to get everyone to sit down in the mud but that one didn’t work out so well. Nice try anyways.
So, if you live in or around Buffalo and you don’t take advantage of the Canalside concerts you’re missing out. I’m not saying that every band is for everyone, but music is about spirit and the setting downtown is also about spirit. Go out and support live music, gather, socialize, forget everything else for a few hours. Support your city and be enlightened by the sound of voice and instrument. Maybe there are no longer bands like the greats of classic rock days, but there are plenty of bands out there still making unique, original music.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
are among a waive of “new folk,” “americana” bands, whatever you may want to call them, that are taking influences of the past and creating something new and genuine, so next time there are in town go see them. In the mean time go see the other bands that our city is bringing in. Yonder Mountain String Band, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Wailers and Lotus are a few that I’ll be at, hope to see you there.
are among a waive of “new folk,” “americana” bands, whatever you may want to call them, that are taking influences of the past and creating something new and genuine, so next time there are in town go see them. In the mean time go see the other bands that our city is bringing in. Yonder Mountain String Band, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Wailers and Lotus are a few that I’ll be at, hope to see you there.
Setlist
1. 40 Day Dream
2. That’s What’s Up
3. I don’t Wanna Play
4. Man On Fire
5. Janglin’
6. Jade
7. Child
8. Happy Birthday To You
9. Up From Below
10. Truth
11. This Life?
12. If You Wanna
13. Home (fan stories)
14. Brother (fans sitting down)