Check out my Mumford & Sons concert review on the Fashion Institute of Technology's student run newspaper, W27! Check it out and read all of the news right here!
Brooklyn was taken over Wednesday night by thousands of music junkies who made their way to the sold out Barclays Center arena to bask in the melodies of folk-rock fellas, Mumford & Sons. The night began as British singer-songwriter, Ben Howardserenaded the packed crowd with soft folk melodies on his acoustic guitar, and New York natives, The Felice Brothers (who are in fact all brothers) got the festivities started with a country/folk-rock set full of fierce violin solos and the distinct accordion melody that led the group through till the end. An hour after the opening acts performed, fans were becoming anxious to rock out as they awaited the arrival of the boys they came to see. It was finally time. The lights went dead and a faint drumming was heard tapping in perfect rhythm as the cobalt curtain went spinning into thin air—the show had begun.
The beat and screams grew strong as the masters-of-all-instruments Mumford & Sons, made up of lead vocalist Marcus Mumford, who also dabbles in the guitar, drums and mandolin, Ben Lovett (keyboard, accordion, drums), Winston Marshall (banjo, guitar, resonator guitar) and Ted Dwane (string bass, guitar, drums) lit up the stage with their sophomore album-titled hit, “Babel.” As the band belted out song after song, lead singer Mumford took the time mid-set to talk to the crowd, “you know last night we were in Boston…” and as the audience’s boos roared through the room, “let’s see if you all can one-up them tonight.” In that moment the room’s energy hit an all-time peak with chaotically synchronized jumping from the entire arena as the band stomped into the chart topper, “Little Lion Man.” The stage was illuminated by hanging rows of stringed light bulbs which lit up the faces of the band as they belted out genius lyric after perfectly played note, and the passion held in each of their individual voices carried the show forward.
The set slowed down as the band played their carefully perfected song, “Ghosts That We Knew,” and a close up of Mumford filled the big-screen above the stage. As a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead and the wrinkles there appeared and disappeared, the room was silenced as it listened to the beauty behind the carefully crafted lyrics.
The beat and screams grew strong as the masters-of-all-instruments Mumford & Sons, made up of lead vocalist Marcus Mumford, who also dabbles in the guitar, drums and mandolin, Ben Lovett (keyboard, accordion, drums), Winston Marshall (banjo, guitar, resonator guitar) and Ted Dwane (string bass, guitar, drums) lit up the stage with their sophomore album-titled hit, “Babel.” As the band belted out song after song, lead singer Mumford took the time mid-set to talk to the crowd, “you know last night we were in Boston…” and as the audience’s boos roared through the room, “let’s see if you all can one-up them tonight.” In that moment the room’s energy hit an all-time peak with chaotically synchronized jumping from the entire arena as the band stomped into the chart topper, “Little Lion Man.” The stage was illuminated by hanging rows of stringed light bulbs which lit up the faces of the band as they belted out genius lyric after perfectly played note, and the passion held in each of their individual voices carried the show forward.
The set slowed down as the band played their carefully perfected song, “Ghosts That We Knew,” and a close up of Mumford filled the big-screen above the stage. As a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead and the wrinkles there appeared and disappeared, the room was silenced as it listened to the beauty behind the carefully crafted lyrics.
Through the passion the band exerted throughout the night, the aura of the room was kept lighthearted and friendly as Mumford bantered on, “You know, I have one friend from New York.” As the crowd waited for the rest of the story, he continued, “and that’s really it” and segued into the next trumpet induced melody. By this point, fans from the floor all the way up to the nosebleeds were jumping atop their chairs, swaying their arms into everyone else’s personal space, and feeling the effects of a little too much to drink combined with dosey doe induced sing-alongs; it was clear that everyone in the room was having the time of their lives through the raw power of Mumford & Sons incredible performance.
The show came to an end with a surprise encore as the band appeared across the arena atop a small square platform and together with one microphone performed “Lovers’ Eyes” acapella in a near beautiful, absolutely silent few moments of pure perfection. The double encore began back on the main stage as the band moved in slow anticipation of the final song, “The Cave” off their first album, Sigh No More, but before the night ended on an incredible note, Marshall asked, “Do you all like Jay-Z?” and to his question came the clear answer, no one compares to the raw talent and sheer power that is Mumford & Sons.
Mumford & Sons will be performing a second show at the Barclays Center on Tuesday, February 12, at 8:00 pm.
I hope you enjoyed my review of the night, lovelies!
Do you like these new music posts? I wanted to include some concert reviews on my blog because as well as fashion, music is a huge part of my soul and journalism is a growing passion I hope to continue.
Want more of these posts? Let me know!
Mumford & Sons and Fun. are two of my favorite bands, and I have more music-filled posts to come this month including two more of my favorite groups right now, Various Cruelties and Imagine Dragons! I guess you can call February, the month of concerts because well, it is! Four and counting ain't bad, eh?
Till next time.
xxx
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