REVAMP Riffs: Mumford & Sons @ Patriot Center (2/14/2013)

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Just as Marcus Mumford croons in "I Will Wait", Washington "fell heavy into [his] arms" on Thursday night, as English folk rockers Mumford & Sons played the final of two sold-out shows at George Mason University's Patriot Center.

The Valentine's Day performance capped what surely must have been a whirlwind week for the band, with the foursome picking up the coveted 'Album of the Year' win at Sunday's GRAMMY Awards and seeing a corresponding 50% bump in sales for their latest album, Babel.

Fellow Brit Ben Howard served as the night's opening act and handily got the crowd into a melodic mood for a roughly 40 minute set. Joining the surfer-turned-singer/songwriter on-stage were a handful of collaborators who each graciously had their chance to shine on whatever instrument they were playing, be it guitar or viola.

Indeed, with lead act Mumford & Sons a decent-sized group, the entire night was very much about the sum of its parts rather than any one musician. And when the headliners finally took the stage just after 10:00 p.m., such camaraderie easily bled into the audience who roared their approval.

Over the next hour or so, the chart toppers from London tore through their portfolio of both acoustic and jam tracks alike. And the audience happily drank the lyrical Kool-Aid, with the requisite aisle dancing a good indicator of the energy of the venue.

Much like Helen of Troy was the face that launched 1,000 ships, Mumford & Sons seems to be the band that re-launched the global folk rock movement. Groups like The Lumineers, while boasting their own unique sounds, still nevertheless have benefitted from the rising folk tide.

Indeed, fans have proven that they happily "will wait."