Standing in a small hallway surrounded by the members of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, I feel for a moment like we’re all skipping down the yellow brick road together (except instead of poppies, we’re in a field of something a little, shall we say, greener). They’re all just so damn happy.

I must admit, researching the band before their performance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, I was a little skeptical. First of all, the 11+ members tour in a converted school bus and lead singer Alex Ebert, with his bare feet, ripped white suit, long hair and soul-piercing eyes, looks like a cross between John Lennon and Jesus. Phrases like “hippie revival,” “art troupe” and “organic folk rock” are used so frequently to describe them, I feared I might be asked to drink some Kool Aide-esque concoction during the show.

After experiencing the ensemble’s exuberant, truly joyful performance and uniquely full, choral sound, however, I can now safely say: whatever they’re drinking, I want some. The Zeros emit such a contagious feeling of optimism, not only when they perform but also when they interact off stage, I literally could not stop smiling.

Formed by Ebert after becoming a self-professed “automaton” in his previous band, Ima Robot, the Zeros are named for what he describes as an imaginary “superman brought to earth to accomplish a lot of things, but who keeps falling in love instead.” The irony there is that Ebert and the rest of the gang draw their inspiration from love and community (they’ve even joked about starting their own town), and watching them, you’re reminded that being in love IS accomplishing something, that it’s quite possibly the most important thing we can hope to get done in life.

Look for the Zero’s debut album, out July 14th, and don’t miss them perform at LA’s Hammer Museum on July 23rd.

Words by Christine Spehar, photos by Parts Department