Photo: WENN.com
'The sound of Marks & Spencer made flesh,' wrote a Facebook acquaintance after posting a photo of last night's sold-out O2 arena, showing the venue jam packed with Mumford & Sons fans at the band's London homecoming show.
Like Coldplay, Mumford & Sons come under heavy criticism from many people, most of whom simply resent the enormous success each band has achieved. It's a very British thing to do. Fortunately those people were at home being bitter on their social networks while 20,000 fans (plenty of knitwear, scarves, beards and brown boots) came together for a spectacular, joyous show that had more festive spirit than a 'Jingle Bell Ball' could ever hope to muster.
It's quite something that the band can sell out two shows at London's O2 after just two albums, but the popularity of Mumford & Sons is something quite spectacular. From opening track 'Babel' the audience sings along with every word, feet are stomping and hands waving. It's part concert and part bonding session with the sheer good-naturedness of the thousands in the audience.
Mumford & Sons live last night at London's O2
With hundreds of lightbulbs draped across the audience and a stunning light show from the stage, Mumford & Sons put on more of show than many might expect, although their flawless performance (in particular Marcus Mumford's impeccable live vocals) make the show a spectacle on its own.
Rattling through tracks from Babel and Sigh No More, each track is treated like a favourite by fans as the band switch instruments across the backlit stage. Recent single 'I Will Wait' and earlier, acoustic track 'Timshel' are just two of the early highlights of the show, the band confident enough to perform standouts such as these in the first part of the gig.
After Mumford thanks the London crowd for making the band feel so welcome in their home and later revealing that the band take part in some very unlikely-sounding 'shirtless parties' backstage on tour, bandmate Ben Lovett speaks of the band's awe at the huge crowds they now perform for.
"We've been bricking it playing these massive rooms," he tells the audience. "Last time we were here we were watching Led Zeppelin. It's f**king unreal."
Watch Mumford & Sons perform 'The Cave' at London's O2 (11/12/2012)
After a stunning, 16-song show, the band then take to the mixing desk in the middle of the O2 for their first encore, causing frantic returns from those already departing the venue. Stood in the middle of thousands of fans, the band perform 'Reminder' and 'Sister' completely acoustic, requiring absolute silence from the packed venue. It is a haunting moment and truly magical. The band then rush through the crowd to finish up with 'The Cave' and Beatles' cover 'With A Little Help From My Friends'.
Mocking Mumford & Sons is so easy to do. They dress like farmers, marry nice girls and sing songs about love with loads of banjos on them. Most criminal of all - millions of people love them. Personally, we'd rather be stamping our feet to 'Lover Of The Light' or 'Little Lion Man' with thousands of fans than expressing our distate with other people's enjoyment on social networks.
Below: photos from Mumford & Sons Tour Of Two Halves
