I've been itching to blog about the Mumford & Sons concert, but it took a few days for all my thoughts to settle. At the end of the night, I honestly felt like I was a snow-globe that had just been shaken for the last three hours, complete with an aching back.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. This momentous event is getting two blog entries. One that is a strict review of the musical event, and the other a more in-depth analysis of my personal experience. These are my thoughts on the music/performances. The externals.
The first act was a-man called King Charles. I dislike his persona but quite enjoyed his sound. It's amazing what you can do with a guitar and a voice. His white pants were horribly scandalous and unattractively distracting (that video is not for the faint of heart, conservative and young readers). I'm mildly jealous of his hair, although I was annoyed when he flipped it in front of his face and sang behind it as if he were veiled.
"I paid money to be here tonight," I complained to my friend, "I want to see the musicians. Particularly their hands and faces." (I said something similar about the opening act for The Morning Benders, as they all turned inward and played for each other instead of their fans.)
Anyway, mad skills. Strange man. I suppose most geniuses are like that. Most notable songs were his cover of "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the encore piece with the whole gang...
Next up was Cadillac Sky. If you have any interest in bluegrass or folk, you need to give them a listen. Blew me away. And not just their beards. Yes. Fantastic group of men. The song that stood out to me? "Hangman." How do people move their fingers so fast over such teeny little strings!?!? Floored me and energized me. And apparently, inspired Mumford & Sons to become a band...
Which brings us to the main event.
My friend Steph memorizes the set list for every concert she attends; I had to write it into my handy phone, but I kept track.
1. Sigh No More
2. Roll Away Your Stone
3. Winter Winds
4. White Blank Page
5. Timshel
6.Gave You All
7. Litte Lion Man
8. ??? (A new song, but I googled it and think I found it.)
9. Thistles & Weeds
10. Broken Crown (also new)
11. After The Storm
12. Awake My Soul (with Cadillac Sky)
13. Dust Bowl Dance
Encore:
14. (with King Charles and Cadillac Sky)
15. The Cave - what other place to end, but this?
Most notable about the band* was the way each man has their own style of playing and interacting; the keyboarder (Ben Lovett) is the "natural leader." He spoke the most with the audience, and seemed to soak in the energy the crazed fans emitted. The bassist (Ted Dwayne) usually looked like he was alone in a room, plucking out the painful past on his strings. I almost felt like I was intruding. Banjo/dobro-playing Country Winston was back and forth between bandmates, playing side-by-side with one or the other. I almost didn't notice him, and yet he was everywhere. He's a rocker, a staple, the steady one.
Which leaves Marcus Mumford to be the genius. It's undeniable. I was floored.
I cannot believe that he is only 23 years old, although Wikipedia would not lie to me. His voice and his lyrics are so full of angst and ache that I find it hard to believe that he is embracing both wisdom and brokenness so fully at a young age.
Each song he sings is intimate and personal and gripping. I don't understand how he can possibly play the drums while singing lead vocals (particularly for this song). And his bashful persona...I buy it. I bet you any money he truly is an introvert.
In conclusion: Musically, worth every penny I spent ($33 for the ticket & $15 for parking). I only wish that I could have seen more of the stage without standing on tip-toe and leaning on the person in front of me. And that I had had a little more elbow room (or brain space). But I will expand on that in the next entry...
*most notable...in their live performance, so this excludes all the other things I noticed from their album. Like the fact that they make angry banjo music believable. Or how they make manly music (half the audience on Saturday was male, which is surprising for a concert).
But I'm getting ahead of myself. This momentous event is getting two blog entries. One that is a strict review of the musical event, and the other a more in-depth analysis of my personal experience. These are my thoughts on the music/performances. The externals.
The first act was a-man called King Charles. I dislike his persona but quite enjoyed his sound. It's amazing what you can do with a guitar and a voice. His white pants were horribly scandalous and unattractively distracting (that video is not for the faint of heart, conservative and young readers). I'm mildly jealous of his hair, although I was annoyed when he flipped it in front of his face and sang behind it as if he were veiled.
"I paid money to be here tonight," I complained to my friend, "I want to see the musicians. Particularly their hands and faces." (I said something similar about the opening act for The Morning Benders, as they all turned inward and played for each other instead of their fans.)
Anyway, mad skills. Strange man. I suppose most geniuses are like that. Most notable songs were his cover of "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the encore piece with the whole gang...
Next up was Cadillac Sky. If you have any interest in bluegrass or folk, you need to give them a listen. Blew me away. And not just their beards. Yes. Fantastic group of men. The song that stood out to me? "Hangman." How do people move their fingers so fast over such teeny little strings!?!? Floored me and energized me. And apparently, inspired Mumford & Sons to become a band...
Which brings us to the main event.
My friend Steph memorizes the set list for every concert she attends; I had to write it into my handy phone, but I kept track.
1. Sigh No More
2. Roll Away Your Stone
3. Winter Winds
4. White Blank Page
5. Timshel
6.Gave You All
7. Litte Lion Man
8. ??? (A new song, but I googled it and think I found it.)
9. Thistles & Weeds
10. Broken Crown (also new)
11. After The Storm
12. Awake My Soul (with Cadillac Sky)
13. Dust Bowl Dance
Encore:
14. (with King Charles and Cadillac Sky)
15. The Cave - what other place to end, but this?
Most notable about the band* was the way each man has their own style of playing and interacting; the keyboarder (Ben Lovett) is the "natural leader." He spoke the most with the audience, and seemed to soak in the energy the crazed fans emitted. The bassist (Ted Dwayne) usually looked like he was alone in a room, plucking out the painful past on his strings. I almost felt like I was intruding. Banjo/dobro-playing Country Winston was back and forth between bandmates, playing side-by-side with one or the other. I almost didn't notice him, and yet he was everywhere. He's a rocker, a staple, the steady one.
Which leaves Marcus Mumford to be the genius. It's undeniable. I was floored.
I cannot believe that he is only 23 years old, although Wikipedia would not lie to me. His voice and his lyrics are so full of angst and ache that I find it hard to believe that he is embracing both wisdom and brokenness so fully at a young age.
Each song he sings is intimate and personal and gripping. I don't understand how he can possibly play the drums while singing lead vocals (particularly for this song). And his bashful persona...I buy it. I bet you any money he truly is an introvert.
In conclusion: Musically, worth every penny I spent ($33 for the ticket & $15 for parking). I only wish that I could have seen more of the stage without standing on tip-toe and leaning on the person in front of me. And that I had had a little more elbow room (or brain space). But I will expand on that in the next entry...
*most notable...in their live performance, so this excludes all the other things I noticed from their album. Like the fact that they make angry banjo music believable. Or how they make manly music (half the audience on Saturday was male, which is surprising for a concert).
Just so you know, you've got some weird configuration issues on this page. Your song list is spread out on my browser. Just wanted you to know.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for your next entry about this concert. I am still curious to know what you were processing so deeply... but maybe that is not for a public forum.
On another note, that man's pants are terrifying. Truly truly disturbing.
And lastly, thanks for the information regarding the lead singer. It gives me some insight into their music, although makes me slightly sad to think he might have experienced that much pain by such a young age. Though who am I kidding... there is a reason people are drawn to his music. We all experience pain - more than I usually am willing to admit or give credit to.
I wrote this close to midnight so I apologize if some of this is grammatically incorrect or completely unintelligible.
Keri H.
i want to see mumford and sons live so much!
ReplyDeletekeri- I know the youtube vids are off... but changes are afoot!
ReplyDeletesteph- you would l.o.v.e. it.
Beth. I am so incredibly jealous of you right now.
ReplyDelete