In just a year the explosion Mumford and Sons has had on the world has been something to admire. The band's mix of folk, bluegrass, country and Americana seems to be blairing off everyone's speakers and the band is on the tip of everyone's tongue. Much like the epic build ups in their songs, Mumford and Sons have been building up their success to now look at the fruits of their labor and smile with ease. The London quartet led by the charismatic Marcus Mumford have gone on to do something most bands do not do in this day and age- have an album go platinum. One of last years best, the bands debut, Sigh No More just recently sold over a million copies, much is to the success of their scene stealing performance with Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan at this years Grammys. As the band is about to embark on on their Railroad Revival Tour after Coachella this weekend, a tour that will take them around the southwestern US on a train, they made their way to New York City, a place some members of the band have called home for a little over a year. New York and Mumford and Sons have a special bond, the band would perform concerts in backyards in Brooklyn the summer before their debut was released, they have played their biggest headlining gigs at Terminal 5 - twice, and were in town to do a few publicity tapings, including one for Iheartradio.com.
As we gave away a pair of tickets to this invite only event, it was then when we realized the magnitude of how big this band has gotten. One would think that after what we witnessed with them at Lollapalooza last summer, where their stage was packed with spectators you had to climb trees to see them would be a good omen as to what would come of this band. The demand to get into one this show tonight seemed to be just as massive as the demand for one of LCD Soundsystem's farewell gigs just few weeks earlier. In such an intimate setting, a room that could only cram about 350 people, it will be the smallest stage Mumford and Sons will play for years to come. Opening with the title track of the album, the band sounded pitch perfect. Their crescendo intonation would have the packed room ready for a ho-down, New York style. In the short 40 minute set, the band would banter and rag on each other's habits, personalities and style, it just adds to the charisma and charm of the band. They seem to be a traveling band of brothers that looked like they just got off the farm and picked up their instruments after a long night of drinking. With each song getting more and more intense and the crowd savoring and hanging onto every word and moment as if their lives depended on it, the band even broke out a new song that had never been played live before. "We are working on new material," keyboardist Ben Lovett said, "we are currently calling this 'Lover's Eyes,' we don't know when you will hear it again." It is a song of pure Mumford emotion and raw power and that is what this band is all about, with those elements and their attitude, what they are witnessing is only the beginning of their success.
Mumford & Sons Playlist 4/13/11
"Sign No More"
"Awake My Soul"
"Roll Away Your Stone"
"Timshel"
"White Blank Page"
"Lover's Eyes"
"The Cave"
"Little Lion Man"
