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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos performing at Bonnaroo on June 16, 2013
Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos performing at Bonnaroo on June 16, 2013
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresIndie folk, indie rock, folk rock, gospel, roots rock, neo-psychedelia
Years active2007–present
LabelsRough Trade Records, Community Music
Websiteedwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are an American indie folk band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2007. Led by lead vocalist Alex Ebert, the group features a revolving lineup of up to 12 people. It began as a collaboration between Ebert and singer Jade Castrinos as part of a musical collective. Ebert's live persona and the band's name are based on the protagonist of a story he wrote, a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe. Drawing from roots rock, folk, gospel, and psychedelic music, the band's image and sound evoke the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The group's first show was played July 18, 2007 at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. Their first studio album, Up from Below, was released on July 7, 2009 on Community Records and featured the popular single "Home". Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros released their second full-length album, Here, on May 29, 2012. Their third album, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, was released on July 23, 2013.

History

Origin and first studio album

The group performing in a park in 2009

After years of the Los Angeles party lifestyle and subsequent drug addiction, Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert broke up with his then-girlfriend, moved out of his house, and spent time in rehab.[1] During this time, Ebert began to write a book about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe that was "sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind, but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Ebert adopted the Sharpe persona as his alter ego. He said, "I don't want to put too much weight on it, because in some ways it's just a name that I came up with. But I guess if I look deeper, I do feel like I had lost my identity in general. I really didn't know what was going on or who I was anymore. Adopting another name helped me open up an avenue to get back."[2]

After meeting singer Jade Castrinos outside a Los Angeles cafe,[3] Ebert and Castrinos started writing music together, and became a part of the art and music collective The Masses, which was partially started by some seed money from the late Heath Ledger.[4] While the two had a romantic relationship that did not last, their fledgling group eventually swelled to more than 10 members, some of whom had been Alex's friends since he was young. In mid 2009, Ebert, Castrinos, and a group of musicians toured the country by bus as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Their first show in 2009 was at the Marfa Film Festival in Marfa, Texas.[1] The band recorded their debut album, Up From Below, in Laurel Canyon. Produced by Aaron Older and Nico Aglietti, it was released on July 14, 2009.

The group performing at Lollapalooza Chile in 2011

On April 12, 2009, the band released "Desert Song", a music video and the first of a 12-part feature-length musical called SALVO!.[5] Part 2, "Kisses Over Babylon", was released November 24, 2009 through Spinner.com.[6] Part 3, "40 Day Dream", was uploaded to YouTube by the band on May 19, 2011.[7]

Big Easy Express and second studio album

In April 2011, the band joined Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show on the Railroad Revival Tour. According to American Songwriter, the tour stopped in six cities, playing alternative venues such as an Austin, Texas high school where Mumford & Sons taught the marching band how to play their hit "The Cave". The tour was also the subject of Grammy-nominated director Emmett Malloy's latest documentary Big Easy Express, which strove to capture "the pure joy of music" through Americana folk imagery.[8] The documentary went on to win in the category for Best Long Form Music Video at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The group's second album, Here, was released on May 29, 2012.

Members

File:Jade-Castrinos1011.jpg
Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos

As listed in the iTunes LP for the most recent album, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros:

  • Alex Ebert – vocals, guitar, percussion, piano
  • Jade Castrinos – vocals, guitar
  • Stewart Cole – trumpet, percussion, keyboards, tenor ukulele, vocals
  • Josh Collazo – drums, percussion, saxophone, vocals
  • Orpheo McCord – drums, percussion, marimba, vocals
  • Nora Kirkpatrick – accordion, vocals
  • Christian Letts – guitar, vocals
  • Seth Ford-Young – bass, vocals
  • Mark Noseworthy – guitar, vocals
  • Christopher "Crash" Richard– vocals, percussion

As of marketing on the band's Facebook page in 2013[9]:

  • Mitchell Yoshida – piano, clavinet, vocals

Additional, touring and/or recording personnel

As listed in the iTunes LP for the most recent album, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, 2013, or present tour:

  • Nico Aglietti– guitar and co-producer; previously synthesizer, keyboards, vocals, and a main band member
  • Aaron Arntz– piano; previously also clavinet, vocals as a main band member
  • Aaron Embry– piano, organs; previously keyboards, piano, vocals, harmonica as a main band member
  • Roger Joseph Manning Jr – piano
  • Nathaniel Markman– fiddler
  • Fred Bows – violin
  • Susie Bows – violin
  • Scott Ralston – tour manager
  • Bryan Ling – manager

Former personnel

In addition to Aglietti, Arntz and Embry:

  • Aaron Older – bass, vocals, banjo, percussion
  • Tay Strathairn – piano, harmonica, vocals
  • Michael Farfel – manager/announcer

Past touring/ additional personnel

  • Odessa Jorgensen – fiddle, vocals during 2012-2013 tour
  • Anna Bulbrook – viola, vocals
  • Tyler James – piano, vocals
  • Felix Bloxsom – drums
  • Adam Privitera – whistler
  • Ryan Richter – guitar, lap steel

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[10] 		AUS
[11][12]
Up from Below 76 86
Here 5 37
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros 14 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or have not been released in that region

EPs

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds) 		Album
AUS
[13] 		BEL
(Vl)
[14] 		FRA
[15] 		NED
[13] 		SPA
 SWE
[13] 		UK
[16] 		US
Alt.
[17]
2009 "40 Day Dream/Geez Louise" — — — — — — — — Up From Below
2010 "Home" 40 45 7 27 46 52 50 18
"Memory of a Free Festival" — — — — — — — —
"Chickens in Love" — — — — — — — —
2012 "That's What's Up" — — — — — — — — Here
"One Love to Another" — — — — — — — —
"Man on Fire" — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. ^ a b "Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: C'Mon Get Happy! :: Music :: Features :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. 2009-09-28. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  2. ^ McDonald, Scott (2009-11-06). "Edward Sharpe, aka Alex Ebert, finds himself with The Magnetic Zeros". Sdnn.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Marta Tarbel (24 November 2009). "Dynamic, Charismatic and Determined to Set the Soul Free". Telluridewatch.com. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  4. ^ Randall Roberts (2008-07-10). "Heath Ledger's Final Days Among the Masses - Page 1 - Film+TV - Los Angeles". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ “”. "Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - Desert Song". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-08-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, 'Kisses Over Babylon' - Video Premiere". Spinner. 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  7. ^ "Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, '40 Day Dream (extended version)". THE MASSES & Community Music. 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  8. ^ Moss, Marissa (27 April 2012). "Mumford & Co. Chase The American Dream In Big Easy Express". American Songwriter. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  9. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151664202604458&set=a.10150991535164458.489233.78895159457&type=1
  10. ^ ""Home" chart information". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  11. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 8 February 2010" (PDF) (1041). Pandora Archive. February 8, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ "australian-charts.com - Discography Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros". Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  13. ^ a b c "Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - Home - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  14. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  15. ^ Discographie Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-22.
  16. ^ "Chart log uk: new entries update". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  17. ^ "Up From Below chart information". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
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