Amber Hollingsworth

Going to an Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros concert is probably as close as we’ll get to being disciples of Christ. As soon as we met Alex Ebert (yes we met him—he asked us our names), a modern spirituality poured over the heads of the sold-out crowd, making us forgive the trespasses of our neighbors and not want to covet stuff. It was so powerful, we didn’t even mind when Ebert invited us to stick our thumbs up our butts like we did when we were two.

With the evangelical flailing of arms and stomping of feet, plus the whole shirtless, long-hair-and-beard thing going on, there were moments where I wondered if we weren’t actually being converted to Magnetic Zeroism. Not that I would mind—those 13 or 14 band members (hard to count with all the twirling) are a pure experience-loving group. Playing a full impromptu set of jangly clap-along music, ES & the MZs treated us to an evening of on-stage kisses, a surprise marriage proposal, and a new song in development called “Intimate Soldier” or “Intuit Shoulder”—it doesn’t matter. That’s an issue for the mortal realm to sort out.

If Jesus had a girlfriend, she would totally be Jade Castrinos, Ebert’s co-singer and the earthy angel voice in the song “Home.” Between the two of them, there’s an energy that you’d be foolish not to follow, at least as a fan. And just like Jesus, even though you know there’s something real special about this entity they call Edward Sharpe, he made everyone in the room feel like an old friend. Come join us next time. You’ll see.

—Amber Hollingsworth