One of the many reasons I love the band, Mumford & Sons, is their unwavering commitment to supporting charitable acts, using their fame to solicit for money and peoples' time commitments. Marcus Mumford, specifically, has been named a Global Ambassador for War Child, a charity assisting children impacted by war in their home countries. Just recently, Marcus also created a fundraiser soccer event, called Game for Grenfell, to raise the direly needed funds to support victims of the fire that destroyed London's Grenfell Tower building and took many lives, an event that Marcus witnessed personally as he lives close enough to see the fire from his home. He also performed one song, solo, to open the benefit concert for the victims of the tragic and senseless bombing in Manchester after an Arianna Grande show. What a huge heart, right? As part of the Global Citizen movement and with the support of Citibank and their Sound Vault concert series, it came as no surprise the band threw together a one night only show in NYC last September to benefit Children in Conflict, the U.S. sister non-profit to U.K.'s War Child. A one night special Mumford concert you say? To benefit something good you say? Of course I'll rearrange my travel plans to get there!
While the concert was a standard Mumford concert, no new songs yet still amazing, it was the venue really stole the show that night. Located in Washington Heights, United Palace is an old, grand movie theater, 1 of 5 Loew's NYC "Wonder Theatres" built in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The design details in the lobby and theater are pure golden insanity, almost too much to take in. So basically my friend and I, for 2+ hours that night, were both visually in awe of the event space itself and enthralled by our favorite four lads from London. Magic!
Here's photographic Instagram evidence of my friend and I having a blast....can you see us, at the end of the green arrow??
It's not a surprise that Mumford & Sons, who are often found hanging around NYC when not at their homes in England or on the road, invited some other famous friends to the stage. In the video below, the boys sang their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" with their friend, Gil Landry, from Old Crow Medicine Show.
They also sang two songs I've not seen live before: "When I Get My Hands On You," Marcus' song contribution to his independent Bob Dylan lyric project: The New Basement Tapes, and "Where Are You Now." Ok, technically I've seen the former song before when Marcus performed it with Chris Thile at a live taping of the "A Prairie Home Companion" radio show, but I haven't seen Marcus perform it with his band.
No Mumford & Sons concert is complete without their a capella "B-Stage" songs. This night, we were treated to "Sister" and "Cold Arms."
Here's the complete set list:
Finally, a Mumford & Sons concert post from me is not complete without some photos! They are such a photogenic band, after all! Until next concert....hopefully with a new album to promote!
