Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

The Green at Shelburne Museum - Shelburne, VT - 7/13/16

Video Credit: Higher Ground Music

Euphoria

BY: JESS HAITZ

I have been to a lot of concerts covering a wide range of genres, from Glass Animals to Boston, Kendrick Lamar to Shakey Graves, alt-J to the 2006 American Idol tour where I wore a hand-painted T-shirt emblazoned with my favorite singer’s name, Elliot Yamin, on the back as if he were a professional athlete.

That said, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (ESMZ) provided me with a sense of euphoria I had never before felt at any concert or any point in my life. This experience led me to believe that music, especially live music, is capable of providing every person with a life highlight.

We got to the venue as the sun was beginning to set, the trees behind the stage creating shadows on us in the crowd, allowing the sweaty faces in lawn chairs and on blankets to eventually relax their squinted eyes. We made our way to the dedicated group standing in front of the stage, claiming an area of ample size that would allow us to swing our bodies freely. The grass-covered lawn slowly filled, more and more bodies encroaching on the stage and our buffered zone. 

ESMZ walked on stage to a roar from the lungs of mine and those around me, and started the concert with songs off their new album, PersonA, released in April 2016. “Somewhere” was the opener, and the familiar clapping rhythm immediately created unified excitement among the crowd. These fresh, semi-unfamiliar tunes set a happy, chill vibe. The band replaced the sun’s fading energy, and the mood intensified as they began to play “Better Days” and “Up From Below,” two of their classics. The bouncing amped up, arms of new fans and old elevated, mouths opened to reveal never-before heard singing voices, and we all forgot everything else in our lives, every responsibility, all of the stress, drama, and unrest. During “40 Day Dream”, the repetitive “ooo, ahh, ahh, ahh” went on for what felt like forever, and I hoped it would never end. While singing, bandleader Alex Ebert entered the fanatic crowd, skipping and jumping with small groups of people, their faces mind blown that he had chosen to dance with them. I couldn’t believe it when he appeared in front of me, and our five-second shared experience of eye contact and head bobbing felt miraculous.

I felt so connected with Ebert and the rest of the band, forever bonded in those moments of liberation and beauty. We were so present, not giving a damn about anything but the vibes. I lifted my friend off the ground. We held onto each other as every part of our bodies moved in a carefree motion to the tempo of the music. God, what an amazing feeling.

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The encore ended and people started coming off their highs, exhaustion setting in as everyone headed to the exit. As I turned to leave, a man behind us exclaimed, “Seeing how much fun you guys were having made this concert so much more enjoyable for me. You guys are awesome.” Perhaps the best compliment I have ever received in my life, it exemplified the sense of communal enjoyment amongst everyone present. I was recognized as an awesome person while being my vulnerable, bare-chested, true self. It felt really good.

On the car ride back to Burlington, I began to reflect.  Yes, hearing Jade Castrinos’ quintessential lines replaced by instrumentals and other voices stung, but the modifications added a fresh zest to the familiar tunes. It didn’t take away from the show one bit. I turned to my friend and proclaimed, “I am the happiest version of myself when I listen to ESMZ.” I hope and believe that every person can find the band or artist that enables them to experience pure happiness, if only for a three minute song or for a couple of hours at a concert.