sometimes live music can save your life. there is a new band on the l.a. circuit, and if you missed their first show at hotel cafe this past saturday, you should cry yourself to sleep for at least a week. edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes managed to erase a week of art auctions, stress and crying on the floor with a single song. they will play again soon. don't miss them.
above, front man, edward sharpe, a.k.a. alex ebert of the also fabulous ima robot rocks out at house of blues.
image: pinkbelt via flickr.
i have been going out a lot in the evenings lately, with music and shows and whatnot. it has been a good drain from the anxiety and insecurity and brain implosion of learning a new job. it has been a boot camp of the art world, to say the least.
but going out is a way to remember why i wanted to go through all of this in the first place. i want to work with art and artists and make that the driving force in my life. and being out around people making work and music has been amazing to see. this past week alone, i have had the pleasure of seeing writtenhouse play at red dragon on highland in hollywood. you will remember interview with lead singer, letts thompson, from a few months ago. he also has made some huge jumps this week by performing new solo material at hotel cafe as well as playing guitars and vocals with the new edward sharpe group. jai latimer guitarist for written house is also a co-member of writtenhouse and the magnetic zeroes. it shows that they have all worked together before in various smaller posses before making this gang.
and a gang it is. the show was an explosion of campfire texarcana rock complete with edward sharpe in the biggest and fuzziest white poncho and bolo tie with the rest of the band in all black western gear and red bandanas. onstange at various points they played two guitars, piano, trumpet, maracas, pulled an audience member in on tambourine, and had a full drum set-up in the back.
while letts was a bit nervous beforehand- he said to me at the bar an hour or so before they went up, "i think the entire band has rehearsed all together for a total of FOUR minutes," he had no reason to worry. their opening number was a blast and immediately rock-out engaging with such a feeling of vitality and excitement, that both tim and i thought later that we were witnessing one of those historic shows people say "wow" about when you tell them you were there years later.
the tex feeling really worked well when they pulled jade, their sassy lady vocalist, up onstage for the song, "home," it felt like watching a los angeles version of june carter and johnny cash just getting going.
this show was a beautiful alive d.i.y. home-cooked musical meal. and whereas some bands need the technical watch precision to make their plan work, i think the slightly soft and spontaneous pulse of this show was part of its beauty. in months to come, these musicians will stew together and the flavors will mix and get more and more delicious, there is no question of that. but if you are in the l.a. area, put this one on your radar and make sure you see them while they are still a little afraid they're going to fuck up, and ballsy enough to say just that on-stage.
it is a great reminder that sometimes you just need to go out and do something before it is perfectly ready. this group's willingness to be brave this way is the greatest gift i have received in a long time.
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