Sound Seekers by Fateema Sayani is published weekly at OttawaMagazine.com. Read Fateema Sayani’s culture column in Ottawa Magazine and follow her on Twitter @fateemasayani

Rishi Dhir can do a wild number on the sitar. He’s the main man behind the Montreal band Elephant Stone, which spins out tunes both dirgey and Desi and brings to mind Brit bands such as Kula Shaker and The Stone Roses.

Elephant Stone dispatches hippie wisdom in tunes with names like “Heavy Moon” and “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin,” while showing a raucous appreciation for their mod-rock roots. Dhir’s previous bands included The High Dials and The Datsons and he’s recorded with Soundtrack of Our Lives. Elephant Stone recently signed to Hidden Pony Records (Danko Jones, Rah Rah, Said the Whale), who will release their forthcoming second full-length album. The band’s debut, Seven Seas, was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize.

Elephant Stone plays Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St., Wednesday, November 28, 8 p.m., $8. (more…)