Concrete Playground

The reinvention of one's persona is a pop tradition; Bowie had the Thin White Duke and Ziggy Stardust, Madonna has made a career out of it and Prince renamed himself so many times we weren't sure what to call him. Alex Ebert was down and out after his band, Probot, split — he was in rehab, his girlfriend left him — so he decided a reinvention was in order. He created Edward Sharpe, a freewheeling, love-filled, messianic troubadour, who would lead his band of minstrels, the Magnetic Zeros.

The band exists as a throwback to the 60s with their hippie aesthetic and way of life, but their sound is a pastiche of Ennio Morricone–style cowboy atmospheres, whistle solos and big anthemic singalongs, all taking root in grand stories of their love and adventures. Home became a staple on FBi radio before becoming a full blown hit on Triple J, making it to 15 on the Hottest 100. Their album Up From Below is full of reverb-soaked folky pop tunes, which are good, but I imagine they will translate better live. Their stuff on YouTube looks like a cross between a hoedown and a love-in. Put on your beads and hemp shirts, maybe some feathers, and get on down to their Factory Theatre show — but make it snappy as the Metro date has already sold out.