"There’s an expansive earnestness in their sound…,’" wrote new convert Whitney Pastorek, "and something about the heart in tunes like Awake My Soul makes me want to put my arms around the smelly people next to me…"

With all the effusive cooing and universal love they're inspiring, it pains me that I missed these nice chaps when they played Chicago last month. And proving how kind they are, the band appointed Marshall Country Winston to answer 10 questions via email. Here goes:

Q. On your website you say the band writes "about what is real, and we sing and play our instruments more passionately cos we feel like we need to. We love honest music." So, what're your thoughts on Lady Gaga?

A. I'm not too familiar with her work although I've been told she has a fantastic stage show.

Q.This is your second tour in the US. Pick 10 words to describe what you see.

A. Sound. Engineers. Beard. Phone. Charger. Dirty. Socks. Drawn. Beige. Curtains.

Q. You arrived in the U.S. just as American Idol was wrapping up. Lee DeWyze or Crystal Bowersox?

A. I’m afraid I know neither. When I was growing up my favourite Saturday night TV show was Blind Date with Cilla Black. But that’s stopped running and it's hard to keep up on tour with the latest.

Q. Of the five following starlets, if you had to choose one with whom to get stuck on a deserted island, which would it be and why? Scarlett Johannson, Megan Fox, Kristen Stewart, Emma Watson or Brooklyn Decker?

A. Scarlet and Emma are the only ones I’ve heard of so either of them cos then we might have a little bit more to talk about. Although I wouldn’t mind an insight into working with Woody Allen, so perhaps Scarlett.

Q. BP, which stands for British Petroleum, is both our faults. What do we do about it?

A. I’m not qualified to answer this, I’m a banjo player.

Q. On your blog you wrote that you tipped someone $10 for a Coke. Between the four of you, who’s the biggest tipper?

A. We don't spend any time together off stage. We certainly don't eat or drink together so I don't think any of us would know. It's not easy being on the road. It's very hard to know about tipping in the USA. Sometimes some of the service you get really doesn't merit a tip but its not cool if you don't tip them. Sometimes it's great service and you haven't got enough money to tip and you feel guilty. Tough one.

Q. Hey I’m from Philly and you dissed the cheesesteak! Whose did you have -- Genos or Pats?

A. I really quite enjoyed the cheesesteak and I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it really isn’t anything to write home about. Not enough greens out here. See, even in a kebab you get salad, onions, tomatoes -- at least to give you a clearer conscience about the experience. We really worry about you guys!

Q. Your blog says “the real aim of this tour is to get to a frat party. You know, one of those Kappa Dappa Pappa things that serve Sigma pie and where the jocks beat you up in front of girls." Any luck yet?

A. None yet. We are going to go home very disappointed! Not really – it's been the most amazing tour ever. I went to a Harvard frat party on our first US tour and was greeted at the door with a bottle of bourbon and a pizza. Very nice that, but I think I'm all fratted out for life.

Q. An Ohio reviewer wrote that your band "mines language, melodies, rhythms and folklore hundreds of years old" but that ultimately "Mumford sounds most like itself." Can you elaborate?

A. Basically, we are all music lovers and between the four of us have very wide-ranging tastes. There is nothing too calculated about the music we make. We play what ever comes to us and whatever serves the song. Rhythms and folklore.

Q. Groupies -- are you for them or against?

A. Each to their own.

Mumford & Sons is performing at sold-out shows in Kansas City, Mo. on Wednesday and Telluride, Co. on Friday before finishing up their tour's U.S. leg Sunday at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. (They’ll be back in Chicago in August for Lollapalooza.)