Mumford & Sons
O2 Academy 1, Liverpool
09/03/2010

Mumford & Sons had an uncommonly swift rise in popularity in 2009 with their calming folk laments, lyrics with depth and meaning and, of course, banjos. They brought a sound that even your mum would approve of, whilst being listed very highly in almost every end-of-year magazine list for their Top 10 debut album ‘Sigh No More’.  Pretty good for a folk band, especially when you consider the weight of dirge they had to compete with circa the release date (Cheryl Cole, Enrique Iglesias and Jordin Sparks to name but a few).

It’s clear none of this has gone to their heads as lead singer Marcus humbly recalls their last Liverpool show in the tiny Korova basement in front of 200 people, and how amazingly intimate that felt. Compare that to tonight, in front of 1,200 people, and Marcus can still register the intimacy. Even with a crowd this size, it still feels like an evening spent around the campfire. Clearly, there’s something quite special to be seen about Mumford & Sons when even the middle eight of ‘Roll Away Your Stone’ gets a round of applause. This isn’t exactly improvised jazz.

They pull out big sing-along choruses like it’s a party trick on ‘Little Lion Man’, blistering guitars that belie their placid folk reputation on ‘Dustbowl Dance’ and brotherhood emotions on ‘Thistle & Weeds’, which is great, but it’s the sort of sentiment that beer adverts like to appropriate at face value.

Fear not, as we’re given a bunch of new songs tonight ‘Whispers’, one untitled song and the subtly beautiful ‘Lovers’. If their quick rise to the top is doubted by anyone, these new songs are a perfect retort to anyone who doubts them.

Mike Doherty