Despite being a prominent player in the pop culture zeitgeist, there’s something remarkably uncool and antiquated about Mumford & Sons. The quintessential ‘marmite band’, you either love their brand of foot-stomping, tweed-wearing indie folk, or you loathe it. If you’re yet to make your mind up, their performance at Falconer Salen this Monday is the perfect place to do so.
Their rise to the top has not come without tremendous hard graft. Formed in West London back in late 2007, the four-piece were a core part of a burgeoning folk scene that also included the likes of Noah and the Whale and folk songstress Laura Marling (whom the frontman Marcus Mumford used to play drums for). It was a sonically ambitious and incestuous movement, which saw classically trained musicians hopping from band-to-band, and instrument-to-instrument, in a pursuit to find the right sound they were looking for. After supporting members came and went, and two independent EP releases on Chess Club Records, the band were snapped up by legendary British label Island Records in 2009 and were finally on the brink of the big-time.
Since then, they’ve turned from plucky hopefuls into a global success story thanks to their multi-million debut album, Sigh No More, from 2009 and highly-praised sophomore album Babel, which won Album of the Year at both the Grammys and Brits. While the masses have flocked to the band, they continue to stay true to their roots, producing their own idiosyncratic blend of bluegrass twanging, Fairport Convention-inspired folk, and foot-stomping anthemic rock. Imagine Kings of Leon with banjos, and you’re not too far off the mark.
Although they are often tarnished with a ‘middle of the road’ brush, Mumford & Sons are a riveting live act. They really set the bar high for music virtuosity. Behind the frontman’s gnarling voice and kick-drumming is Ben Lovett’s intrinsic, almost neo-classical keyboard compositions. Elsewhere, the introverted Winston Marshall gives the band a traditionalist edge with some impressive clawhammer banjo strumming, which is perfectly complemented by Ted Dwane’s sturdy double bass keeping everything at a rocking pace. All that, plus lots of extra musical ditties on kazoos, resonator guitars and, most surprisingly, the addition of synthesisers as the band start to try out new songs for their third album. It’s hardly ground-breaking stuff, but hardly the standard pop fodder you’d expect from a band of such stature.
If all that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, Mumford & Sons bring along two brilliant bands for support. Firstly, there’s Montreal’s Half Moon Run, with their delightful three-part harmonies. And sandwiched in-between are London’s Mystery Jets, who make the sort of retro guitar-pop that many lesser bands cower away from.
Originally billed to play at Vesterbro’s Store Vega, the concert had to be moved to the bigger Falconer Salen venue after tickets sold out like hot-cakes. As only their second-ever show on these shores, Mumford & Sons are out to impress. Slip on your finest waistcoat and head out for a night of folk-filled fun.
Mumford & Sons
Falconer Salen, Falkoner Alle 9, Frederiksberg, Mon 20:00
Tickets: 315kr; sold out, waiting list at www.billetnet.dk; otherwise, check internet forums for tickets
