Marcus Mumford has one of the more interesting voices in music right now. It's rough and creaky and weary beyond his years, but it fits the band's brand of folk music. From the very first song, all the way through their encore of "Whispers in the Dark", the band wowed the crowd with their intensity, sheer joy of playing, and, yes, even their dry British wit.

While I'm finishing my show writeup (spoiler alert: AWESOME), have this clip of Mumford & Sons performing "The Cave" at Chicago's WXRT.

From the opening strains of “Crutch & Cane”, it’s easy to see that Peter Wolf Crier, the Minneapolis-based group consisting of Peter Pisano (vocals, guitar) and Brian Moen (percussion, vocals), is on to something special.

This week might as well be known as the Week of Great Shows that I Can't Go to Because I Have to Prepare for People to Come Install New Carpet. Home ownership is not always worth it, let me tell you.

Recently, Regina Spektor released a very beautiful, yet minimalist, cover of Radiohead's "No Surprises", with all proceeds from its sale on iTunes to go to Doctors Without Borders.

There's something creepy about this song. I don't know, I think it's the haunted-looking video.

Bird's newer subject material isn't radically different from his more recent work. He's still playing with ideas and concepts related to natural disasters, and he still relates the macro to the micro, the impersonal to the personal. The word that I think best describes his newer work is apocalyptic, but I can't decide whether it's pre-, post-, or still happening.

Why hello there, quiet week.

I almost titled this May in Review, that's how behind and confused I am. I actually started the mix at the end of the month, and then, well, life happened.But anyhow. Here, have a little mix of songs I've been loving or rediscovering this past month.

Karin and Linford aren't on the road promoting any particular album; their most recent album of new material is 2007's The Trumpet Child. They're on the road because they love making music.

This Week in Great Music: 5/10 - 5/16

There are few things that amuse me more than hilarious covers. A capella choirs, groups with strange instrumentation, whatever. Do a cover well and make me laugh and you've already won.With that in mind, check out this thoroughly amusing Lady Gaga medley.