Article and Photos by: LAM 

Making their first subterranean debut, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros brought a dose of whimsy and wonder 333 feet down under to Cumberland Caverns in McMinnville, Tennessee.

We entered the mouth of the cave and descended down the dirt paths, past stalagmites, and then by a crystal clear water pond illuminated by light. Eventually, you spot a gigantic chandelier and head down the last hill to the open room. Everyone stood and socialized while they waited for show time.

The 10 piece ensemble headed to the stage and the crowd was already giddy like kids with a grade school crush. The fly by the seat concert was spontaneous and lead singer Alex Ebert asked for requests from the audience a few times. They played a mix of old and new songs that included “This Love,” “I Don’t Want to Pray,” “Carries On, Truth,” “The Love Project,” and “40 Day Dream” with a Love Boat theme twist. When the band played their hit, “Home,” the crowd sang a duet with the singer.

Alex made the crowd feel they were apart of the band through the whole show. There was a lot of audience participation. He spent several minutes in the crowd dancing with everyone, and invited fans to sing with him. A dancing girl in a tie die shirt with tambourine got a temporary spot in the band for a song. One fan got to serenade the crowd on stage with the band and there was even a marriage proposal with a happy outcome.  By the end of the show, it almost felt like we were all one big family.

The band closed the show with the “Ballad of Yaya,” and everyone came to terms that the show was over; everyone left cheerful and content. A show 333 feet underground is already magical, but when you add Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, it is otherworldly.