From the moment Joy Williams and John Paul White of The Civil Wars walked out onto the stage, they meant business.

Dressed in their usual formal wear, she in a black dress and he in a suit (at one point he admitted that he was “definitely re-thinking wardrobe” due to the heat), The Civil Wars put on a beautifully simple set.

These two artists were born to sing together; their voices blend so perfectly well to create a part-country, part-folk sound.

On stage, the duo is mostly composed, but every once in a while Williams starts to really feel the lyrics. She looks like the words are bursting out of her, as if she is experiencing the emotions that inspired the lyrics for the first time again.

The silky, mellow sound of The Civil Wars does not allow for much dancing, but rather a slow sway back and forth.

The ACL crowd was very fortunate to have these extremely talented musicians stop here during their world tour.