Mumford and Sons – Babel concert review

Much of my appreciation for music came from my dad. (Okay and 88.9.) My father exposed me to all types of music at an early age. We would cruise around in his Chevy Nova listening to Oldies 103.3 and he would give me background on the band, genre and random (but poignant for my little brain) facts. Like that it is not Paul McCartney whispering “quite rightly” in Donovan’s Mellow Yellow. And that The Beatles’ Norwegian Wood was originally going to be called Knowing She Would. That Mozart was five years old when he wrote his first piece. This was one of my favorite things to do.

He immersed me in bands like The Kinks, Buddy Holly, Warren Zevon, The Stones and of course the Beatles. He knew an unusual amount about music for someone who wasn’t necessarily a musician.

He once told me that John Phillips of Mamas and Papas fame called their harmony Harvey. That sometimes, there is a harmony so perfect that it could make you laugh and cry and possibly get pregnant. Wait, that was a different talk.

I would cut off your left nipple to be able to see them perform Twelve Thirty live. Just once.

Anyway…John Phillips was a genius. And aside from spawning Chynna and Bijou, the train wrecks that are what’s left of the Phillips legacy, he was kinda brilliant.

That Harvey talk stuck with me and last night, he was at TD Banknorth Garden in the shape of four gorgeous musicians. Mumford and Sons.

Setlist:

1.) Babel ~ The Gentlemen of the Road opened with Babel. And that’s when I knew it was going to be a good fucking awesome show. And it only got better from there.

2.) I Will Wait~ Please do.

3.) Winter Winds ~ This is my favorite M’ford song. And it was perfect. Better live than not live (dead?). This is about the time I decided to hide in Marcus Mumford’s  suitcase. He would never find me under his several hundred vests.

I will wait…under your vests.

4.) Below My Feet ~ …Are several hundy people and a sheer drop to my death. We had terrible seats. But I didn’t care. Cuz magic happened.

5.) White Blank Page ~ “Oh tell me now, where was my fault in loving you with my whole heart?” Said no man ever. Except for M2.

6.) Hopeless Wanderer ~ And then the DICKHEAD COUPLE in front of us started making out. I refer you all to this guide for concert etiquette. It’s entitled “Don’t make out at a fucking concert. You AssKnuckle.”

7.) Timshel ~ I think I would have cried if the obnoxious drunk girl of said dickhead couple wasn’t yelling at her boyfriend through this entire song. Yes, they made out and then started fighting. I wanted to punch her in the temple.

Anyway, It was like chocolate butter. The song. Not her temple. Like if songs had a taste, this song would taste like chocolate butter.

Hi, I’m Mumford and Sons’ harmony. Nom. Nom. Nom.

8.) Little Lion Man ~ This was the real money shot the real crowd pleaser. Marcus whipped off his headphones and let the sold out Garden holler our little heads off. Cause he’s a gentleman. Of the road.

 

9.) Lover of the Light ~ Marcus casually walked back to the drum set that had remained untouched for the show until this song. And then he was all “Oh I play the drums too. No big deal.” And then my husband looked at me deadly serious and told me that “No, we are not waiting outside of his tour bus after the show.” And I cried. So he went and bought me a t-shirt.

Almost the same as meeting the band.

10.) Thistle & Weeds ~ Thistle and I love you.

And then the Sad Song Trilogy began:

11.) Ghosts That We Knew ~ weep

12.) Holland Road ~ sob

13.) Roll Away Your Stone ~ enough!

14.) Whispers in the Dark ~ Um, yes please?

15.) Dust Bowl Dance ~ This was fan-effing-tastic. Such a fun song. Marc (we’re pretty tight now) got back on the drums. One of my new faves.

Then, they came to the back of the stadium where us morons who paid 300% mark-up for our tickets were, and sang two songs a capella for us. All four of them.

This is when I realized that God was really just fucking with me because I couldn’t have a beer and Drunky McCries-A-Lot was still yelling at her boyfriend. Face Palm.

The worst couple that ever was finally sat down and this was our view for the first encore.

Encore 1:

16.) Reminder ~ Yes

17.) Sister ~ Gorgeous!

Me: “They haven’t played The Cave.” Sadface.

Mumford and Sons: “Now we’re going to play The Cave.”

Me: “It’s like they can read my mind…”

Encore 2:

18.) The Cave ~ I am learning this song on the banjo. And by learning I mean the following:

Me: “Hey, Paul (banjo instructor)…when are you going to teach me The Cave?”

Paul: “When you can learn how to tune your own banjo…”

Me: “Harumph.”

I was a little surprised that Winston didn’t bust out his banjitar for this song, but it was still amazeballs.

The banjitar. Not to be confused with a Ganjo. Or a banjo that is shaped like a guitar.

Overall, the show was brilliant. I was impressed by these guys. They didn’t talk a lot, but when they did they were witty and sweet. Totally humble. Yet, they put on a gritty…sweaty…heartfelt performance with tireless transitions and a good cadence. Totally sounds like I know what I am talking about. Doesn’t it? Side-eye, Rolling Stone Magazine.

Seriously. This was one of the best shows I have been to since Donovan in 1998 and The Dead in…I never saw the Dead. That was a lie. Now, I’m sad. Thanks a lot.

Up next? The Wolfetones. And Pink. Shits about to get real.

Oh man is a giddy thing….