Mumford and Sons

Okay, so this show. I don't think I can accurately sum it up. It was spiritual, it was other-worldly. Mumford and Sons brought everything they had to that stage.
The first opener was a British Hipster named King Charles. In his strange mannerisms and odd appearance, there was a lot of assumption working against him. But, he was phenomenal. Armed with an electric guitar, a British accent, and a songwriting ability that rivals most, he laid out his art on the stage beautifully. And, though it only lasted for four songs, he walked off stage leaving us in the crowd desperate for more. I could have gone home after his short set satisfied, but there was more. Cadillac Sky took the stage next, and blew us all away. Bearing a striking audial resemblance to The Avett Brothers, the five band members took right to a performance that was chalk-full of banging on banjos, jumping all around the stage, and putting their entirety into their songs. It was fantastic. They were fantastic. Their unbridled energy broke the ice, the discomfort between an audience and "the opener." They made us all feel comfortable, like this night was ours to be a part of. We didn't have to simply nod our heads and be polite: they were going to have an on-stage party whether or not we wanted to join in. But, the happy ending to the dilema; we joined in.
When the lights finally went dim for the last time, Mumford took the stage. Their set was perfectly constructed. One of the beautiful things about them is that they are so well loved across the world despite only having ten recognizable songs. They played all of them, as well as three new ones. We ate it up. They were so committed to the show, in part because of the overwhelming appreciation that exuded from the crowd and part because of their beautiful talents and energy, that it seemed to create a cycle of music and love and music and love. It was a spiritual experience, and I couldn't help but feeling like I was part of something bigger, something more beautiful and important than simple songs and guitars and banjos. It was an unprecedented experience in my life. The realness of their craft, their soul-appealing songwriting, and their love for their musical expression of the depths of their beautiful souls contrasted a deep longing that we all have as fallen human beings. Sunday night at Buckhead Theatre, I felt okay. Like, the world is set in motion, and we're all a part of it. And, no matter how fragmented and marginalized all of our problems and struggles and fears leave us, there is a truth that cannot be explained, only experienced. There is a peace that fills our empty souls if we can let it. There is life and life and life. There is Jesus, as messy as our interaction with him is. Mumford and Sons know about it, and we all shared in it on Sunday. If that's not the point of music, then I don't know what it is. But, Sunday night, I remembered that I was alive.

here's a low-quality video of their first encore, featuring Cadillac Sky and King Charles: