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Story and photos by The Bon Bons As the familiar and friendly scent of one-hitters quickly filled one's nostrils out strolled a hipster band of new age merry music makers onto the Riverside Theater's stage last week. The nearly sold out venue welcomed SoCal natives Edward Shape & The Magnetic Zeros like conquering heroes returning as keynote speakers from a NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) convention.Frontman and in house prophet Alex Ebert shook and grasped nearly all of the hands of the faithful butted-up tightly against the stage. Barefoot (and sometimes in sandals) and looking ike an Indian messiah, Ebert donned white pants, a loose fitting white shirt that exposed his right shoulder, long unkempt hair and beard. It all seems more genuine than honing an image. He and the rest of the 12 member band make a tasty blend of music that is tripingly wild and dreamy happy that channels straight to your good karma cakes. Their music shifts effortlessly between rootsy gospel revival to hypnotic folk anthems. These troubadours of love are seemingly interconnected both spiritually and musically - with themselves and their most ardent fans. A massive color-changing orb floated over the band like a hovering spaceship ready to take their followers to better worlds. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros responded by taking us into otherworldly dimensions with "Up From Below," "Janglin'" and "40 Day Dream." Ebert commands the stage as if all the good vibes from Woodstock were channeled confidently though each fluid dance step and rainbow flavored chorus. During the middle of the show the band fell into the classic jam band mode with excessive noodling that for some drew a few yawns. While this sometime self-indulgent form of expression is important to many fans of the genre, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros are far more entertaining when they focus on their non repetitive dynamics. Everybody needs a yin to their yang or a June to their Johnny and that's exactly what singer Jade Castrinos is to Alex. Her beautiful voice and permanent smile bonded ever so sweetly with Ebert's beaming crescents of sincerity. As the two lovingly traded off their lines on the now epic "Home" Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa Not the way that I do love you, Holy Moley, Me-oh-My you're the apple of my eye Girl, I've never loved one like you... the entire stage quickly filled to capacity with joyful audience members dancing with the ones they love. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros in concert are indeed a habit forming carnival ride that's lasting side effect is and ear-to-ear grin - perhaps conjured by a combination of good vibes and your neighbor's smoking black bart. Siblings Rachel and Robert Kolar of He's My Brother, She's My Sister got the crowd eating out of their hands right out of the gate. Their music is not easy to define but has a film of dirt and grime that coats every note and lyric into something raw and exciting. |
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 He's My Brother, She's My Sister |
 He's My Brother, She's My Sister |
 He's My Brother, She's My Sister |