Hoboken Shines During Mumford and Sons Rock Show
by Kevin Brady
British folk rockers Mumford & Sons kicked off a month-long American tour with an outdoor concert in Hoboken on August 1, 2012. Reviewer Kevin Brady shares his impressions here with Metro Moms.
Credit: Danielle Seubert
After someone graciously went to Tunes and purchased two tickets for my wife and me, we got excited about the Mumford and Sons concert on the Pier A Park in Hoboken.
Coming from Essex County, we decided the Harrison Path station was the best strategy for getting into Hoboken. Public parking there was $11, and the Path ride in was easy. As we got on the train, we heard clusters of people speculating on the setup, how long Mumford and Sons would play, and if, in fact, the 10 pm curfew would be enforced.
We got to Hoboken with ease, grabbed a quick bite from The Taco Truck, while noticing street closures and police and emergency personnel all on standby for the event. Everything seemed orderly and organized. Numerous concert staff personnel ensured people had tickets out, then directed them down the walkway to go north on the sidewalk to the entrance of the Pier A Park.
The evening was humid, but there was an occasional cool breeze. Marcus Mumford joked about New York and London often referred to as twins, but London “would never allow it to be this hot.”
Early in the show, after the band’s first song, there was a comment from the stage about getting lost in the sunset, which was behind the crowd and quite beautiful with its pink hues.
Mumford and Son played the favorites one would expect, and sprinkled in new tunes from their sophomore album. It was fun watching the ferries come in, with the passengers standing along the rail to catch a glimpse.
The band rocked the thick, humid air, and even pleaded with city authorities to allow them to add one song to the set list, though they were promptly rejected, as the fireworks had to go off on schedule.
I’m sure numerous folks enjoyed what they could of the show from Melting Pot and along the street. The venue was spectacular, and if Hoboken ended the night in the black, it would be inconceivable to not see many more of these shows in town.
Visitors from out of town seemed to be largely respectful. We even noted numerous people thanking the Hoboken police as they headed back to the Path to go home.
Hoboken shined on this cloudy night in virtually every way possible. I look forward to the next show.
Kevin Brady writes about urban and suburban living for Metro Moms Magazine. A 6-year resident of Hoboken, New Jersey, he now lives in West Orange with his wife and two young children and loves a good excuse to head into Hoboken. He says, “Even after being out of Hoboken for 2+ years now, I still love the Path train. In short, I’ll definitely consider utilizing the Harrison Path station more often for nights out in Hoboken, as it really was easy.” Connect with Kevin at [email protected].
