Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros were the main support act for the night, but you could have easily mistaken them for the headliners. Playing their impromptu and casual set, their cool vibes permeated through the audience and soon everyone was swaying to their tunes. They topped off their set with their most well-known hit, the catchy and upbeat ‘Home’. They were more than impressive, they were magical.
The rain came down on the outdoor venue just as Mumford and Sons were entering the stage but they didn’t seem to care. “It feels like home” they joked. Perth was the first stop on their Australian tour and it was evident they were pumped up and thrilled to be playing to their adoring Australian fans.
They began on a slow note, playing Sign No More and on to the more upbeat, Roll Away Your Stone, from their critically acclaimed first album Sign No More.
The show was taken up a notch when they delved into Little Lion Man. The stage exploded into a heavy foot stomping rhythm. and the mosh pit was alive as fairy lights draped above the audience shone and flickered to the beats. Playing this track earlier on was a good move, as it wasn’t left until the all too clique encore.
Mumford and Sons played a mix of old tracks and new tunes from their recent album, Babel. Their current hit, I Will Wait got the crowd going, and Mumford and Sons were clearly happy with the crowd’s reaction to them mentioning, “of course we knew tonight’s crowd would be better than last night”. They also played Below my Feet, Holland Road, and Lover of the Light; songs from their new album and Although they were lesser known, they were equally well received by the crowd.
Main man, Marcus Mumford took a moment to express how ‘Pissed’ he was that their dressing room was burgled the previous night and their sound gear was taken, along with a croquet set that he joked that he was very emotionally attached to. A slightly bad reflection on the people of Perth, but he insisted there were ‘no hard feelings’, they just wanted to see the very expensive gear returned.
One thing for sure is that Marcus Mumford plays the acoustic guitar like no other; his on stage energy is certainly conveyed in the music. Ben Lovett was equally as energetic on the Keyboard and Piano Accordion, jumping about the stage and cracking out dance moves at every opportunity.
As they exited the stage, the chanting for the encore began. They re-appeared to play; Whispers in the Dark and Lovers’ Eyes from their new album, and finished the night with The Cave, which pleasantly topped off a night of fantastic music at a perfect, intimate venue under the stars.
Mumford and Sons are a folk spectacular; the champions of modern folk music were slick and sharp, but at times felt slightly over rehearsed. Mumford and Sons defiantly know how to make folk music more appealing with their irresistible looks and British charm, along with undeniable musical talents – they really are the whole package. Although Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros slightly stole the show, the night as a whole was easily, I dare to say, one of the concerts of the year.
