In bohemian skirts and oxfords, the crowd at Gexa Energy Pavillion sways with joy to the lovely tunes. The Dallas sky is dark, but a few little stars break through the bright lights. Mumford & Sons captivate their audience on a cool September night. People in the audience get to their feet when they hear the first few chords of “Lovers’ Eyes” to kick off the show.

The concert venue was adorned with lights draped from the ceiling, and the incredible lighting effects during “Holland Road” lit up the faces of the crowd. The fog and lighting effects were not expected out of this folk band, but they were well designed and fit their sound very well. The stage was laid out to highlight each band member and musician, but was not overdone or tacky.

The four band members were joined by an extensive group of musicians including a full drum set, piano and horn section. Most musicians are not as good live as they are on their albums, but Mumford & Sons is not like most musicians. They pleasantly surprised their listeners with a full and richer sound than their recording tracks. Mumford & Sons is always a good listen, but nothing compares to hearing them live. The group’s harmonies and heart behind the music were much more prominent live. Dallas was one of the last stops on their tour, so the band moved a bit wearily, yet never lacked their British charm. Many of the audience members knew all the words to the songs and didn’t hesitate when the band asked them to single along to “Awake My Soul”.

The band brought the night to a close by gathering around a single microphone and playing a couple of their slower pieces together (“Where Are You Now?” and “Timshel”).  Marcus Mumford, not very politely, asked the audience to stop cheering, listen and appreciate the moment and the music. The night grew cool while the band reflected on how grateful they were for the people who made their success possible. They then brought their opening acts onstage, The Mystery Jets and Johnny Flynn, to play a cover of “Atlantic City” by Bruce Springsteen. The entire night was finished out with “The Cave” as the audience made their way out of the venue.

As they closed out their show, the audience was slow to leave their spots, hoping to get a peek of a weary band member. People filed out, chatting and humming their favorite tune of the night. The lights at Gexa were slowly dimming as the crew broke down the set, but the fans were still bubbling with the joy and energy from a very enchanting night.