Up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea who Durand Jones & The Indications were. An amazing thing, given how much music I try to listen to and the number of emails I receive every day offering up new bands. Even more amazing that the group started in Bloomington, Indiana (at Indiana University) where I often visit my mother and brother. How they passed me by I have no idea, but I’m so glad they’ve burst into my life.

Seeing this band live is about as close to a religious experience I can hope to have. The music flows from them so freely that it permeates the whole room with enough soul to catapult you straight to Heaven. Jones exudes cool on stage. His vocals soar between silky smooth and a growling wail that drips with emotion. When he’s not singing you have drummer Aaron Frazer pulling double duty and sounding like Frankie Valli and Robin Gibb’s love child. It doesn’t match the power of Jones, but his tone is impressive.

The set pulled evenly from the band’s first two albums, all played with incredible gusto. The crowd couldn’t keep from dancing if they tried. And the covers they chose were both fantastic: a beautiful rendition of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and a staggeringly brilliant version of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down.”

This evening was one of the best nights of live music I’ve seen this year. I absolutely recommend seeking them out to catch a show. They’re touring through August, with some European dates at the end of the tour. Find all the dates here.