Mumford & Sons @ Klipsch Music Center, Indianapolis on June 29th, 2013
The British are coming, and for the people of Indiana, we wouldn’t have it any other way. On this Labor Day, Mumford and Sons came to Klipsch Music Center as part of their latest U.S. tour. Of course, they didn’t come here alone. They also brought along the likes of The Vaccines and Bear’s Den.
It’s been a very busy past few days (see WARMfest), and I can’t think of a better way to cap off an eventful Labor Day weekend. Despite not applying for an invite – the show was by invitation only – I was invited by a friend with an extra ticket. Of course, I just couldn’t pass up a chance to see a band I admire and respect. So after finding a place to park, tailgating, enjoying a beer with a few other like-minded concertgoers, and of course paying her back for the ticket, it’s time to head in. Let’s go find a seat….
…maybe.
Having a lawn ticket during a sold out show can prove to be a challenge in and of itself when it comes to finding a spot. The first act is about to go on, and many have already parked it in the grass. Since we all know the best seats (also the cheapest) are in the lawn, you can imagine that the entire place is packed. There are people as far as the eye can see, and once you get past the visual aesthetic, you realize it’s kind of a pain to find a space for you and the group you’re with. After a period of wandering amongst the walkways, we stake out a spot in the top left corner. No, you can’t really see anything, not even on KMC’s conveniently located big screens outside the pavilion, but hey, I’m here to report on the live concert experience, and this is part of it. Not the best seats I’ve ever had, but I’ll deal. Besides, being amongst great company is all you need sometimes.
Unlike the bar shows and small clubs that I’ve been accustomed to, this one starts right on time, with Bear’s Den taking to the stage first. I’ve never heard of them prior to this night, so let’s take a listen:
In terms of their sound, it’s about on par with our headliners, and not just because they hail from the UK. It’s a very familiar, folk-inspired sound not unlike what some of today’s most popular bands are trying to emulate. Maybe not the most unique or creative band in the world, but their sound is very tight and they appear to be in-tune with what they’re doing, from what I can barely see from the back of the lawn. They even draw some light applause from a crowd that still looks like they’re trying to find their seats. Overall, nothing spectacular, but a nice way to kick things off, if even to set the tone for the evening.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a show like this at Klipsch Music Center. While the roadies strike the set and prepare for our next performers, this capacity crowd – nearly 25,000 in all – is starting to get anxious about what’s to come, and why not? Mumford hasn’t done many amphitheater shows like this before, and who knows when they’ll come back. Believe me when I say, there’s no greater sight than the one I’m seeing from the top. Of course, I might change my mind about this by the end of the night when I must return to reality (and the parking lot), but I digress.
The Vaccines are the next band to take the stage. They also hail from the UK, and that’s about where all of the similarities end. Unlike the more folk-ish sound our other two performers employ, The Vaccines rely on a more rock n’ roll, almost more punk-ish sound not unlike what you would hear on a Strokes record, or even The Ramones. It’s louder, it’s much more energetic, and unless you were familiar with them beforehand (I was not), this was a pleasant surprise. They have a decent stage presence, and they have a reasonable response from the crowd. Okay, so I’m getting an anxious “is it time yet?” vibe from those around me, but for what it’s worth, The Vaccines caught my attention, and they left a nice impression. Might be worth checking out later on.
The sun has started to set on Noblesville, and I’m happy that I at least remember to bring along my jacket. By now, everyone is in their seats, and in being in a place where there aren’t any physical seats, the lawn feels a lot like being packed in a sardine can, if that also involved the occasional awkward conversation with a several slightly intoxicated individuals who might not remember this meeting by morning.
The evening has actually been moving pretty fast, but now it feels like a crawl. Then almost without warning, the lights go out and this capacity crowd is treated to the opening bars of “Lovers’ Eyes.” Now the fun starts…
Actually, it stays dark for more than half of the song, with only a few stage lights and the glow of several thousand phones to light the way while Marcus Mumford continues to serenade the crowd.
Touring in support of Babel, their set consists mostly of songs off said record, with a few other familiar favorites such as “Little Lion Man” or “Roll Away Your Stone.” It doesn’t seem like anyone as too upset by this, as the dancing and singing from the lawn and beyond never cease, even if timing was a little off at times (envision a slightly more echo-y version of the line “I really f@#ked it up this time”). Of course, there was the occasional case of people getting a little too into it, but to be fair, every show has those people who party a little too hard. Anyway, let’s move on.
As for their performance, while maybe not something to write home about in terms of visuals (although the LEDs and the Christmas lights adorning the pavilion are a nice touch), they’re definitely a band that lets their music do the talking, and in the end, sometimes that’s the most important part.
Sadly, it can’t last forever. They close with “Dust Bowl Dance,” and without warning, they exit the stage, leaving everyone here eager for more, including those who are trying to leave early to beat the inevitable madhouse the parking lot will turn into.
It’s an encore we want, and they’re more than happy to oblige. For their first number, they invite The Vaccines back to the stage to performing a song by “that other British band.” Translation: it’s a cover of “Come Together” (yes, THE “Come Together”). Afterward, it’s one last sing along moment as they go right into “The Cave” to close out the evening before bidding farewell to the city of Noblesville and sending us on our way.
It’s time to exit, and foot traffic is a bit of a nightmare, but nothing like what’s going on outside. I bid farewell to my group and I join the masses on a virtual crawl. I do eventually get back to my car, where I proceed to sit for about 45 minutes before being able to move. Good thing my iPod works up here, and this does give me ample time to compose my thoughts into some kind of article…
Final verdict?
It’s been a busy weekend, and maybe I am running on fumes by this point, but for what it’s worth, sometimes all you need to rejuvenate and recharge is a cold beer, great company and a show that more than lived up to expectations.
The Good: Each band sounded great. Neither relies too heavily on production or gimmicks, choosing to let the music speak for itself, a very welcome rarity in 2013. Each band sounded great and seemed to mesh with each other very well, despite Bear’s Den sounding a little too much like a more stripped down version of Mumford and Sons.
The Bad: Mostly anything bad I had to say dealt with traffic and the occasional antics of a few less-than-sober attendees. However, this comes with the territory sometimes, and the only thing you can do is deal with it. Also, note to self: if you’re sitting in the lawn, trying finding one closer to one of the big screens.