Fan Review of Mumford & Sons’ Seattle and Portland Shows!

Submitted by mindsetsail:

I had the GREAT fortune to be able to attend both the Portland show and the Seattle show. The first time I’d seen the boys in concert was at the Oakland show of the RRT, and I had thought it would be the last time I could see them live until their new album came out. I was SO thankful that they did a short west coast tour, and that this blog let me know about the shows well enough in advance that I could get presale tickets to both…

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Mumford & Sons Portland Concert Review

mumfordmania:

Quote: “It’s really remarkable just how Mumford & Sons can turn an album full of depressing, hurting, and angry songs into a 15,000-strong sing-along. It was cathartic and exciting, empowering and inspiring. It was one of the more fun concerts I’ve seen in a long time, and — much like I felt after that first date — I can’t wait to see them again.”

Read the entire review…

[EDIT]: Be sure to read the one response below the review as well…

So good.  So true.  So accurate.  So worth reading.

M&S Fan Experience: December 6th (aka-The Best Day of My Life)

Submitted by Camille:

I’m going to make an attempt to sum up the incredible time I had at the Mumford & Sons concert last night at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, but really it can’t be put into words…

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A post about the Mumford & Sons show last night in Portland.

folkyeahmumfordandsons:

So we got there at like 1 pm and we were some of the first people in line, which was nice. But I am not going to lie, it was fucking freezing outside. The wait was painful at times, but the excitement managed to keep us warm.

Hours later once doors finally opened, all hell broke loose and people were going crazy. Imagine 10,000 people running up three flights of stairs. And yes, 10,000 people. Ben announced that this was the biggest show they have ever played in America, so yay Portland! Luckily though, I was in the very front stationed between Winston and Ted.

The set list was fucking perfect. Seriously, fucking perfect. I almost died from dancing/banjo stomping so hard. It had the perfect mix of new songs and songs from Sigh No More. But holy shit, when they played Ghosts, I started balling. So beautiful. 

One of the highlights of the show was when Marcus was talking about how this was their 4th time playing in Portland and they were glad to see old friends again and Ted pointed directly at me and smiled and winked. Winston even recognized me from the time I met them two years ago. That’s how fucking good their memory is. Gah, I love them so much. 

Marcus rambled on about how shocked he was to be playing in front of so many people. The boys were so humbled by it. Marcus also said the word “fuck” a good 50 times. I need to find footage of him talking because it was hilarious. Winston and Marcus had lots of cute moments too. Like there was a moment when Marcus went up to Winston and they were pretending to lick each other. It was classic. 

Seeing Mumford & Sons is a religious experience for me. To be completely honest, the past few months have been very dark for me. Seeing the boys last night reminded why I am alive and how much beauty there really is the world. This sounds cheesy and stupid, but to me, Mumford & Sons is happiness. I really needed to see them. I honestly feel like I have a reason to live again.  So I’d like to thank the boys for that.

Oh and I got to wish Winston a happy birthday.

Now let the post concert depression begin. 

Not cheesy or stupid.  Accurate for many, many Mumford & Sons fans.  Thank you for sharing. -M&SB

A fan review of the Mumford & Sons gig in Portland on December 6, 2011.

If you take the time to read anything today, read this.  Found on the Mumford & Sons Official Website Forum:

I have been in and around the music and radio business for the better part of the last 30 years. As an artist, radio programmer, concert promoter, and involved with Internet development for broadcasters, I have seen thousands of bands begin the assent to universal and crossover success. Most stumble after an album, or get confused by the corporate music world and lose their way.

In 1996, The Dave Matthews Band followed a similar trail of small clubs, and a critically acclaimed first release. Then, on the heels of their second album, they exploded. I was involved in producing two shows for DMB within months of one another. One at “Good Times Bar” to around 150 amazed newcomers to their music, and 7 months later, at the Cuthbert Amphitheatre, to a sold out show of 3500. The next time they came to the NW, they were doing arenas, and now regularly pack The Gorge.Last night, Marcus mentioned that they had played in Portland 3 times before, in venues ranging from “Lola’s” below the Crystal Ballroom, The Ballroom, and The Aladdin Theater. Last night, they came close to filling “the place where the Trailblazers play basketball.”  He went on to say, “sometimes you look out, and say…how the F*#K did we get here?” The answer is simple. These guys are amazing.  Last night, you saw it happen…a band recognizing its future, and being both awed and overjoyed, as more than 10,000 people from a huge range of backgrounds, ages, and music tastes, came to sing every along with them, and scream their appreciation for the gift Mumford and Sons brought.I, a soon to be 58-year-old grandpa, stood in line for 4 hours…in temperatures barely above freezing…then stood in front of the stage, with my wife and daughters…to witness history as close as I could get. There…just feet away from the stage, I could feel the joy emanating from the band, as song, after song, after song was received, loved, and shared in a moment that none of the participants will ever forget.Their music defies categorization. They are unique in their blend of folk, rock and deep spiritual, personal lyrics. They take their time writing new material, honing each song to full maturation, as evidenced by the amazingly full versions of new songs that had leaked their way onto YouTube over the past months. What is for certain…the next album will sell with or without radio support, and will be amazing.They told us they would come back next year. I will be one of the first in line again…wanting to experience this amazing band as up front and personal as possible.

We saw history last night… the next phase of their journey was born before our eyes, as 10,000 Mumford and Sons “family” watched, smiled, and loved…

-patricjmiller