Mumford and Sons
Riverstage 17.10.12
Ladies and gentlemen, you have been warned. Mumford and Sons will hit you like an indie-folk freight-train. Stay captivated and relish every second because an experience of such pure talent is rare.
On October 17th, myself and a few (thousand) lucky patrons had the absolute privilege of watching this foursome smash out some of the songs which no doubt will become iconic in folk history as the sun set upon the Brisbane Riverstage.
Willy Mason crooned through a delightful country/classic rock inspired set. Simply him, his guitar, a suit and a mature voice that exuded wisdom and experience, he created a sound reminiscent of the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. His style, appearance and persona put us squarely in rugged America, and created a worldly presence far beyond his 27 years.
And then, for something completely different. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, an eclectic troupe (troupe – their numbers filled the stage) led by brilliant showman Alex Ebert got the crowd pumping with their ridiculously catchy indie-folk tunes. As securities worst nightmare, Ebert became one with his fans, danced like no-one was watching and, alongside his band, made the Magnetic Zeros own the Riverstage.
After a quick changeover, the lights dim as the chaps from Mumford and Sons stride on stage, pick up their instruments and take their places – four apiece in a line across the front. They softly serenade us with the opening to ‘Lover’s Eyes’, gracing our ears with the beautiful harmonies and twangs that made them such a success.
And then the lights burst on, the sound amplifies, a powerful chord is slammed and we begin to realise the hell of a show we’re in for. Surrounded by lights emanating silhouettes, they weaved their magic through sounds, sights and their incredible talent.
Babel is the bands second album, coming three years after their debut Sigh No More experienced copious international success. Their October tour sees them travelling Australia-wide, performing tracks from both albums – a true must-see for any devoted Mumford and Sons fan or lover of folk music.
Continuing with a mix of Babel and Sigh No More favourites, (Roll Away Your Stone, Holland Road), the band demonstrated an extraordinary energy and passion for their music – attacking their instruments with such vigour that it’s a miracle no strings were snapped or keys were broken in the making of this concert. An almighty roar erupted when the opening chords of the band’s first single from Babel ‘I Will Wait’ were played, with the pit of jumping, shouting fans bathed in the yellow glow of the stage a real sight to behold. An instant folk anthem for the love-struck.
After that marathon they slowed the pace down a little with ‘White Blank Page’, ‘Below My Feet’ and ‘Timshel’ which saw front man Marcus Mumford swap strumming for drumming (whilst still providing extraordinary vocals). The crowd sang along devoted, and the roar of the crowd amplified again with their performance of arguably their biggest hit, ‘Little Lion Man’.
One of the most intimate moments was their heartfelt rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Boxer’, a cover that captivated the audience. When all four members sing harmonies at once, it is truly a serene experience.
There wasn’t much chatter from the band (other than “god, there are an awful lot of you), as they slayed song after song with phenomenal energy, other than to inform us they’d been the target of thieves in Perth (its ok, they threw the banjo in a bush) and your usual hellos and goodbyes. No explanations of the songs, no little tales about how they were written – Mumford and Sons were here to play music, and that they did.
After farewelling the audience and leaving just enough time to make me doubt an encore (sneaky), they emerged again for three more songs, seeing us out with another one of their most popular songs, ‘The Cave’. With every light flashing, Marcus belting out the lyrics, the crowd screaming and instruments being furiously played, we were reminded once again of the spectacle we’d had the privilege to witness, with an energy almost impossible to rival. Passion for their craft emanated with every song, and Mumford and Sons established themselves as one of the greatest live acts Australia had the privilege to witness in 2012.
Danielle Muir
