American folk-rock band, The Lumineers, headlined at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan. If you are unfamiliar with The Lumineers, you might be familiar with some of their hit songs Ophelia and Ho Hey. The band originated in Denver, Colorado back in 2005 and has since gained 9 million listeners. They have emerged as one of the most popular folk-rock groups, traveling the world selling out almost every show they perform at.
The band has a unique and remarkable sound using strictly instruments. Different from that of other bands, The Lumineers play every instrument with no background music whatsoever. Between the vocals, violin solos, tambourines, and accordions, their music is just that much more authentic. From the raspiness of their voices to the intriguing sound of their instruments, this is what sets them apart from all the rest. They have two main members in the group: Wesley Schultz, and Jeremiah Fraites. The group has since added new members to produce different sounds, while still taking pride in the music that helped them rise to fame. It isn’t just another show for them to play, it is their passion to bring people together to all enjoy the same show.
The Lumineers produce such honest and profound music. I personally have loved them since the release of their first song Ho Hey (a fan favorite). It is the type of song you listen to while driving around or just sitting in a coffee shop. This was my first time seeing The Lumineers play and let me tell you, they certainly did not disappoint. They are one of my top favorite artists, as seen in how they display such emotion and grace on stage. They had a unique stage set up, quite different from anything I’ve seen in the past. Their warm and cool colors on stage bring to light the feelings meant behind each song.
Despite having multiple members on stage playing, they all had their moments to shine. One of my personal favorites was the violin and guitar solo halfway through a song. Everyone in the room could tell they were having the time of their lives playing on LCA’s stage. The group tells so many different stories between all their songs. In particular, their song Ophelia is about love between an addict and her family. To some, it’s just another upbeat song but to others, they may see the true story behind it. Their lyrics “Honey I love you, that’s all she wrote” shows it’s hard to love with an addiction no matter how hard you try. Not many people can take addiction and make it a happy song, showing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
One of their newest releases Life In The City has such an interesting vibe to it. It’s about seeing the big city for the first time and how much anxiety it can bring. The Lumineers bring to light challenges that some people don’t like to talk about and show it from a better perspective. I can relate to the band on a personal level because of some things I have seen in my lifetime, such hurt, pain, and even happiness. It can be difficult to talk to someone who hasn’t seen what you have, but listening to their music helps to show that I am not alone and that other people may be dealing with similar hardships.
I would absolutely recommend this band. I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us the next few years to come. The more they tour and the more they see, will bring to light many more hardships and challenges they have overcome.
