Hearts in Space, February 16 at the hi-dive

Anyone who has been around the Denver underground scene for the past decade or so has run into Ezra Darnell cheering on bands with an open, unaffected enthusiasm. Now the guy has put together a band of his own, called Hearts in Space (due at the hi-dive on Wednesday, February 16). For this project, Darnell has teamed up with former Pacific Pride and Hawks of Paradise guitarist and singer Jordan Hubner, Jonny Lundock (who can be seen performing in Houses and Blue Million Miles) and bassist Billy Draper to write sparkly psychedelic rock with sweeping melodies akin to the more countrified end of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and vocals injected with a soulful flavor. Like Darnell himself, there’s nothing saccharine or insincere about Hearts in Space.