"Marcus Mumford"

SmartLess

Marcus Mumford, frontman of Mumford & Sons, joins SmartLess for a lighthearted chat about music, family, and personal growth. The hosts share laughs over hair jokes, podcast quirks, and their shared love for Marcus’s new

Key takeaways

• Marcus values presence and gratitude in family life

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:00) Is everybody keeping cool today? It's really hot outside. Speaker 2 (0:09) Super hot. Sticking sweat. Yeah, it's really good. Speaker 4 (0:12) It's like, you just sweat looking at it. Speaker 1 (0:14) I'm just so hot right now. Speaker 2 (0:16) It's so gross. Is there a back end to your fucking joke? You should start a shot? Just want to say hi, it's hot outside? What kind of cold open is this? Speaker 4 (0:27) It's a hot open. Welcome to Smartless. Speaker 3 (0:30) Smart Speaker 1 (0:31) Lice J.B, I'm across the street from you. Speaker 2 (0:50) What do you mean? So wait, so you're up top, right? Speaker 1 (0:54) Yeah, I'm at the top. I'm at top. Did you ask? What was the question? Speaker 2 (0:57) Sorry. Yeah. Okay. So I think. I can see you. You can see me. I'm not in the window. Speaker 4 (1:05) Wait, are you being serious? Speaker 1 (1:06) Can you see the scaffolding? Speaker 2 (1:07) Yeah, what's going on up there? Speaker 1 (1:09) Are we doing some remod? Do you see like a black bag on the scaffolding that's blowing in the wind? Speaker 2 (1:14) No, because I'm on the south side of the building. South side of your building. Speaker 1 (1:19) Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So on the south side of the building way up there, there's like a little black bag. Speaker 2 (1:24) No, because the whole building is netted, so I don't see that. Speaker 1 (1:27) Oh, you don't see through the netting. Speaker 2 (1:28) No, I don't. Anywho, so we're neighbors. We've never lived closer to one another. I know. Actually, no, that when you lived in my house with me and my wife. Speaker 1 (1:37) That was so fun. Speaker 2 (1:39) Why does my youngest daughter look so much like you? Speaker 1 (1:41) This is before the kids and the, God, your floors are so creaky. And I was just always like, at night, just like, I didn't want to make a sound as I snuck around. Snuck around. Speaker 2 (1:50) Cigarettes. I was smoking back then, too, though, wasn't I? Speaker 1 (1:54) You sure were. Speaker 2 (1:55) Hey, why is your hair so cut? Speaker 1 (1:58) Yeah, it looks cool. I just had a little trimski. Speaker 2 (2:00) Is Eli with you right now? Speaker 1 (2:01) No, I didn't see Eli. I went to see my boy, my guy, Kevin Woon. Speaker 2 (2:06) Why? Are you in a fight with Eli? Speaker 1 (2:08) No, no, no. I just haven't seen Eli. And, uh... Speaker 2 (2:11) What happened to Eli and you? No. Speaker 1 (2:13) Well... I love Eli. You know, if you're like... Speaker 2 (2:16) So wait. Now, Sean, also has a personal hairdresser. Speaker 1 (2:19) Sean, who's your... You've got a new person. Who's your person? Speaker 4 (2:22) Yeah, his name is Markov. Speaker 2 (2:23) Hey, hashtag relatable. You both have personal hairdressers? Speaker 4 (2:27) No, it's the... No, it's not personal. Speaker 3 (2:28) No, it's like... Speaker 1 (2:29) full-time employment, you jerk. Speaker 4 (2:31) Kind of. The payroll. Speaker 1 (2:32) Who cuts your hair? Speaker 2 (2:34) Whoever is heading the hair department on whatever project I'm working. As a matter of fact, she just left the apartment. She is the key hairdresser on the... Oh, oh. Speaker 1 (2:45) And she came over to the house, huh? She did. You're not even in the cast this time. You're the director, so she had to come to the director's out. Speaker 2 (2:51) I am doing... Speaker 4 (2:53) That's so inky. Who's high pollutant? Speaker 2 (2:56) I'm doing one small scene. The director wanted me. Speaker 1 (3:00) His legs are broken, so he couldn't come to me. So I had to go to the director's apartment down in fancy part of Manhattan. Okay? Speaker 2 (3:10) So, Sean, you're enjoying your new hairdresser? Speaker 4 (3:13) I am. He's really, really good. Speaker 1 (3:14) Marcos, yeah. So much, though, that you won't take your hat off. Speaker 2 (3:17) Yeah, take your head off. Speaker 1 (3:18) Let's see what Marcos is doing to. Yeah. Speaker 4 (3:20) Well, it's just, you know, look like. Speaker 2 (3:22) Back on. Back on. Speaker 4 (3:23) Like Will said it looked like a page boy. Speaker 1 (3:25) I didn't say that. I just said it looked like your hair is attached. Speaker 4 (3:28) Saturday night, you said I looked like a page boy. Oh, on Saturday. And I said, were you going for, uh, what scientist? Mad scientist? Because your hair is. Speaker 1 (3:36) My hair was longer because it was sticking. It was all sticking out. And you said, did you say, did you just say to them give me the mad scientist? Yes. Speaker 2 (3:43) And so, Will, you've got a... Speaker 1 (3:44) That's why I caught my hair because Sean shamed me. Speaker 2 (3:46) Is that true? Or is it just like a summer sort of, or you, is it swim team? Speaker 4 (3:50) It looks good, short like that, Will. Speaker 2 (3:52) You know what? I can't believe? That you would habitually chew gum on a fucking podcast. Speaker 1 (3:56) I know. Speaker 2 (3:57) I mean, I'm nervous. Speaker 1 (3:58) It was just, he just, by the way, it's not loud the way I'm doing it. Speaker 2 (4:02) You've gotten better at that, but it still sneaks through. And I'll bet you all speak for Rob and Bennett right here. It's getting annoying having to mute your microphone every once in a while. Speaker 1 (4:09) Bennett and Rob, tell me, is it true? Speaker 2 (4:12) We tidy it up. Speaker 1 (4:15) You know what? Some people have nicotine addictions. I have a special relationship with Bennett, Robb. Speaker 2 (4:21) It may love me. And nicotine. Speaker 1 (4:23) You know what? Speaker 2 (4:24) Our coffee chat's real hyper today. It is. It is. Speaker 1 (4:28) I love it. I'm having one now, too. I'm having the rare 1 p.m. coffee. Speaker 2 (4:32) We're in a real Regis and Kathy Lee areas. Speaker 1 (4:35) We're lucky. Lucky to be associated. Speaker 2 (4:38) All right. Do you want to get on with it? Speaker 1 (4:41) Yeah. I mean, I don't know. Do you want to tee up your intro? Speaker 2 (4:44) Yeah. How about you guys? Let's have an official guess session here. Okay. Let's see if you guys can guess it. Let's do it. Speaker 1 (4:52) Okay. Great. Speaker 2 (4:54) Joining our nonsense today is a fellow who's not yet 40, but is already approaching the 20-year mark with his band. Okay? They are Grammy winners. They are known and loved worldwide. He was born in California but raised in England. He's got three children with his wife who has been a guest on this very podcast. Speaker 4 (5:13) I know who it is. Speaker 2 (5:15) Let's fucking hear it. Speaker 4 (5:16) It's Chris Martin. Speaker 1 (5:18) No. No. It's Marcus Mumford. Speaker 2 (5:20) Bingo. Get out. What about that? Speaker 1 (5:22) How about that for a guest guest? Speaker 4 (5:24) How did you know that? Speaker 2 (5:25) Because he's a smart person. Marcus, wait. I liked my hints. Can I get on with my hands? Speaker 1 (5:30) No, your hints were terrible. I didn't know he was born in California. Speaker 2 (5:33) Well, but his band sounds like a family law firm specializing your personal injury. Speaker 1 (5:38) You didn't even say it. Personal injury. It does sound like. It sounds like a plumbing company. Speaker 4 (5:42) It does. Speaker 2 (5:44) That was on purpose, right, Marcus? Speaker 1 (5:45) No, but Marcus, I knew I was just talking about I'm so excited for the doc. And I was just talking about you 10 minutes ago so excited to come and see it. Speaker 3 (5:54) Yeah. Are you going to come? Yeah, man. Are you going to come? Oh, switch. Speaker 2 (5:58) Just down the street. I might, I might, I might be working, but I might be able to make it. I think my wife will be there, which that's all anybody ever cares about. She's my date. Speaker 3 (6:08) Have you ever guessed a guest from their laugh before they've done the reveal? Because I was really, they freaked me out, man. Your guys freaked me out. They were like, don't breathe. Oh, really? Until the reveal. And I wanted to laugh because you were very funny. Speaker 2 (6:24) Did they make you think that we're like, that we're, that we're, that we're, that we're, we're prone to rage, like if we hear the guest. Speaker 3 (6:30) No, they just, no, they made me feel, you know, in a very polite way, like I would ruin the entire show if I squeak. Speaker 2 (6:38) The whole surprise thing is so, it's such a waste. It just saves us from doing homework. And the audience already knows who it is. We're the only two dicks that don't know who the guest is by the time the episode is up. Speaker 1 (6:49) I don't dare you refer to me as the dick. But listen, it's fun. We're having fun. Okay, Jason. Fun. Fun. Fun times. Okay. Marcus, welcome to SmartList. It's about time. Speaker 3 (7:00) I'm genuinely so on, I was early on SmartLis. I was very early. Speaker 1 (7:06) You came to the show in L.A. I remember you and I, we went to an early screening of Maestro together. We did, yeah. And you said, and it was right after our show, and you said, I came to the show, and I said, I was so surprised. Speaker 3 (7:23) It was the night you guys were filming, and it was really hectic. Speaker 2 (7:28) Wait, was it, you mean like the L.A. show? Oh, oh, oh, oh, in the dock? Speaker 3 (7:33) Yeah, yeah, yeah, the one downtown. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. At the theater, I can't remember what it's called. Orphan. And I didn't want to bother you because it was super hectic, but yes, I came to the show. And I've been, but I've been listed your show for a very long time. Speaker 2 (7:46) It's crazy. You're ready for notes. Do you have any notes? What would you do? You have got a few notes. Yeah. How would you change it? Speaker 1 (7:51) We're looking to improve. You know what? Speaker 3 (7:53) Well, the hair shit was a low point, I think. Speaker 1 (7:55) Yeah, it's all low points. What we do is we establish the bar low early, right? Just to make the guest seem for. Speaker 4 (8:05) The only way is up. Speaker 3 (8:06) I love it. It's just very cozy. I love it. Speaker 1 (8:09) I tell you something, Mark, what's interesting, you brought up something, and we're about to tap into a runner thematically, is that you told me that you were at the show, and I vaguely remember at the time sort of saying, I wish you had said hi, and then you just mentioned it was hectic and you didn't want to say hi. you came to our show and didn't come backstage and say hi and Jason has thoughts on this Speaker 3 (8:29) hold on hold on this is we're not talking Broadway theater yeah let's do it right I need your opinion on this it's adjacent I went to see do you know who I went to see last week in Exeter was Tim Key now do you know Tim Key he's one of my favorite comics of all time I think it's a genius and I went and watched his show and and was about to leave and thought to myself, now he knows I'm here, he helped with the tickets. It is rude to leave. Well, that's different. If someone has helped you with the ticket. Amen. Without saying, great show. Speaker 2 (9:04) So how about this, right? So you are a musician and you are in live venues and theaters. And so you, there are some famous people that come see your shows a lot. Here we go. Does the same rule apply there? Are you aware who's in there? Are you offended if they don't come back and say, hey, great show? Speaker 3 (9:23) No, culturally very different. in music. Very different. Very different. Speaker 2 (9:26) See, I'm more of a rock and roll guy at heart, guys. Speaker 3 (9:30) Wait, what's your position, Jason? Are you a no show? Are you a no show at the show? Speaker 2 (9:34) I think it's presumptuous for people in the audience who are famous or even pseudo-famous to think that, oh, they'll be welcome backstage just because you share fame to come say hi. It's just like, it's so arrogant. Like, just get to hell out. Speaker 3 (9:51) It's more like you probably want to see me because I'm really famous, so I'll bless you with my presence. Speaker 2 (9:56) Yeah, and let you know how great I think you were. Speaker 3 (9:58) Or not. Or talk about how great the program was, or the lighting, or find something polite to say. Speaker 4 (10:04) There's that famous clip from the Madonna documentary Truth or Dare when Kevin Costner comes backstage. Did you see that? And he goes, yeah, I thought, and she just spent three hours. She's drenched in sweat, you know, performing for 5,000 people. And he goes, he says, yeah, we thought it was really neat. and she turns to the camera she goes, anybody who calls my show neat has got to go Speaker 1 (10:28) right in front of him. Speaker 4 (10:30) No, he left and she goes, like that on camera. Speaker 3 (10:34) My favorite backstage moment like that when I was invited, very explicitly invited backstage, was after Kendrick Lamar played Bonneroo. And there was a sort of message that came down from on high that Kendrick would like to see you and when Kendrick calls you come, right? because he's the king. Speaker 2 (10:52) I learned that lesson the hard way. Speaker 3 (10:54) And it was like, you can go in now. And he took off almost all of his clothes as I walked in. Speaker 2 (11:03) It was amazing. Speaker 1 (11:04) It sounds more like boner rue. Speaker 2 (11:08) We'll be right back after these messages. Speaker 3 (11:12) It was amazing. And I thought like the gumption, you know, the gumption to be like, yeah, come on back after the show. And it'll be the very moment when I take all. all my clothes off and I'm just down to my undies. It's confident. We'll have a chat. I don't know. I kind of feel. Speaker 4 (11:26) But aren't you comfortable with that? Like even on a TV set or a film set or whatever, people knock on my trailer door. I'm like, come in. I'm dressing. I don't care. Speaker 2 (11:34) It is a dressing room. Yeah. Speaker 3 (11:36) Yeah. Speaker 1 (11:36) You know, Marcus, you bring up Tim Key, whom I also adore, and he did that incredible film with your wife. Did. The Ballad of Wallace Island, which I loved that film. Speaker 3 (11:47) I did see. Speaker 1 (11:48) Brilliant. Brilliant film, wasn't it? We're not going to get into Kerry's career, but it, I mean, Speaker 3 (11:53) good, because I haven't seen a lot of it, but that one I've seen three times. I love that one so much. Speaker 1 (12:00) So, me too. You guys, I urge anybody to see The Ballad of Wallace Island. It's such a beautiful little film. It's so funny and poignant and just amazing. Beautiful, beautiful film. Speaker 3 (12:09) Well, I got so into Tim's podcast. He's got like a radio four. It's not a podcast. It's a radio show in the UK on public radio. and I got so deeply into it in COVID that when he wrote to Kerry with a script I was like, you absolutely have to do this movie him and Tom Bazden together are phenomenal. Speaker 1 (12:29) Tom Baddison, amazing too. Speaker 3 (12:30) Yeah, amazing. Speaker 4 (12:31) And just for my sister, your wife is Carrie Mulligan. Just so for Tracy, my sister, in case she doesn't know. Speaker 3 (12:36) Hi, Tracy. Speaker 1 (12:37) Tracy almost crashed. She was trying to look at all. She was driving. Speaker 2 (12:44) Hey, Siri. Speaker 1 (12:46) She's pulling into Kohler, Wisconsin with her phone in her head. Speaker 2 (12:53) Wait, so Marcus, getting back to that for one quick second, she can't possibly see all your shows because you're playing almost every night. Speaker 3 (13:01) No, she actually broke a record. Speaker 2 (13:02) So are you allowed to not see all of hers? Speaker 3 (13:04) Yeah, yeah, she came on tour. I think she, in one year, maybe was at 48 shows and watched two. Not the whole thing. Speaker 2 (13:16) Top and tail Speaker 3 (13:18) Yeah She really She really She says she likes our band Our recorded music There's some caveats First time she saw our band play She thought we were quite shouty And to be fair I think she's right about that But then she's put up with it for a long time But then yeah She doesn't feel like if she's on the road She has to come to every show Speaker 1 (13:43) Wait Marcus did you guys meet at Summer Camp Am I right about that? Speaker 3 (13:46) Yeah, we met a Bible camp. Really? I was 10, she was 12. Speaker 1 (13:50) What? Nice. Ah, yeah, nice. Speaker 2 (13:53) So you guys were, now she started to tell some of the story, I think I remember when she was on. They were pen pals, right? Yeah. Speaker 3 (13:59) You guys were pen pals. Yeah, and she still has the journal entry from the day we met where I, my cousin was there, who was two years older, who was age appropriate for her, and he got her eight and a half out of 10. But I, who was definitely not underlined boyfriend material, Got a nine out of ten. Wow. Go figure. Speaker 2 (14:19) So then what made you not boy from Matera? Because you were just... Speaker 3 (14:23) I was two years younger and I was also a foot shorter. Speaker 2 (14:28) Oh, that was...