Disclaimer: This review received free tickets
I was meekly circling outside the Utilita arena when I reluctantly asked for help finding which entrance I needed to go through. I hadn’t been to the venue before, or even any gig space that big, so after I found my place in line I was much more at ease.
After reaching my seat I watched the floor fill with people. Couples in flannel shirts and flowing dresses found spaces where they could, meanwhile it was becoming increasingly clear that the concert was sold out. There was a brimming anticipation in the crowd. Sound checks elicited unwarranted excitement from an audience hoping the main event was beginning – something that wouldn’t begin for another hour of waiting.
The speculative whispers of when the band may come on stage were shortly interrupted. The opening act, clad in suspenders and fedoras, had appeared on stage. Fronted by a delightfully glittering singer, their music sounded to me like a meeting of CMAT’s voice with a country spirit. Her name was Sierra Ferrell. Going into this experience having heard so few country songs, I found myself in admiration of their stage presence. With each song the band woke up a crowd who were still acclimating to the space. And to be honest, I think it would’ve been difficult to find a person in the room who wasn’t impressed by the technical skills of their banjo playing.
Following Sierra Ferrell’s musings on dreams, americana and bittersweet heartaches came an intermission filled with excitement. Despite the masses of people eagerly waiting for Mumford and Sons to take the stage, lead singer Marcus Mumford managed to sneak in out of nowhere.
One thing I definitely was not prepared for when seeing Mumford and Sons was a highly energetic and unpredictable feeling constantly looming over their performance.
Marcus Mumford gave the crowd everything he had. He bounced between playing drums to the guitar while singing – all in a way which was incredulously effortless. It seemed to come so easy for him. Alongside this dexterity came the surprise of getting to hear new songs like ‘Rubber Band Man,’ which felt like a gift to the floods of fans dancing before them.
I would like to emphasize the intimacy of the concert. It’s a testament that in a vast arena filled with strangers, Mumford and Sons were able to make the crowd feel so included. The minute they got on stage it was like everyone woke up. In the lead up to the gig, I was expecting the sort of half-hearted somewhat cheesy shout-out to their fans that a lot of big bands tend to do.
Again, I was proven wrong.
In my eyes the band proved their appreciation to be genuine from their interactions with the people there to support them. Accompanying some of the most tender crescendos in their songs were close ups of fans embracing in the audience. The moments were put on the big screen behind the band, creating a moment of closeness between performer and fan. When Mumford and Sons themselves were broadcasted on the screen, the videos had a black and white grainy filter. It felt like witnessing a classic as it was unfolding.
Throughout the concert, it became clear to me why the band have endured.
They have a clear sense of identity, and they commit wholeheartedly to it. Their music takes you through moments universal to the human experience; love, life, distance and longing. But these themes are not limited – the band just seems to relish in making people happy.
The adoration of the audience was exhibited through relentless shushing during the slower songs. I believe it was this mutual respect between the band and the crowd which allowed the show to continue in its intimacy.
The instruments were being played with vociferous passion. You could say this about a lot of bands, but watching their lead singer seem to attack his guitar whilst strumming is something I had only witnessed at punk shows. I certainly didn’t think I would see it from the folksy resolve of Mumford and Sons.
Watching them play felt like they were putting every ounce of their energy into giving the crowd a great night. The band members joked in between songs with the audience and inspired an eruption of joy when they finally played ‘I Will Wait.’ The arena became a choir of impassioned fans who got to see the band they love sing the songs they cherish.
The gig reminded me to go out of my comfort zone every once in a while and not write-off bands that I think aren’t my thing. They make music that brings out the emotional side of people, and though I was reluctant, it worked on me too.
Words by Ruby Davis
Image courtesy of Austin Edwards on Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image.
