Concert Review: The Lumineers at State Farm Arena

Touring in support of their new album, BRIGHTSIDE, which was released earlier this year, The Lumineers are on the tail-end of the North American leg of their tour. With north of 11,000 fans packed into the arena, this show was bound to be exciting.

Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (vocals, percussion, multi-instrumentalist) make up the core of The Lumineers. 2022 celebrates the duo's 17th year together and the 10 year anniversary of their debut album, The Lumineers.

English musician James Bay opened up the night to much fanfare. Made popular by his breakthrough single "Let It Go" in 2014, James has had quite a rise over the past few years. Combining blues, pop, and rock into a concoction unique to him, James took on the arena stage with ease. A tight performance and impressive vocal ability were able to shine through the noise. 

I always try and be objective in these concert reviews. I'm not what someone would call a Lumineers fan, I really only know their singles. That said, their performance was fantastic. Their energy, musical ability, and production were all on point. Their fans were given a top notch show and one that is sure to stick with them for years to come.

The Lumineer's stage featured a large catwalk which the band often performed from (complete with an additional drum kit that would rise up from underneath). From here the band would get up close and personal with fans, with Schultz even taking a crowd walk. Paired with large projector screens and videos walls, there really was not a bad seat in the house.

Sonically you could not have asked for more. Seamless instrument changes (of which there were many) gave way to incredible performances. From mandolin to upright bass and fiddle, there was everything a folk-rocker could need. Rolling and rowdy piano riffs paired with slick guitar playing and some plucky bass kept thee sound nice and warm. All six members of the band were in sync and played off each other like the pros they are.

Some notable performances included "Charlie Boy," "HAPPY BIRTHDAY," and "Gale Song." "Charlie Boy" was performed acoustic, featuring guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and upright bass. Not only was the music uplifting, but the song was also dedicated to military families. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" was the exact opposite. Loud, rambunctious, and ready to get the crowd rumbling, this song had fans fuming. A drum breakdown midway through the song peaked with confetti launching into the crowd. Then there was "Gale Song," which featured opener James Bay on guitar and vocals. This one was simple but moving, a special performance that left me wanting more collaborations between the two artists.

Twenty six songs in just over a hour and forty-five minutes was sure to give the crowd what they wanted. Now with four albums under their belt, The Lumineers had a ton of ground to cover. Their setlist is below.

          1. BRIGHTSIDE

          2. Cleopatra

          3. Ho Hey

          4. Angela

          5. A.M. RADIO

          6. Dead Sea

          7. Flowers in Your Hair

          8. WHERE WE ARE

          9. My Cell

          10. Slow It Down

          11. Charlie Boy (acoustic)

          12. NEVER REALLY MINE

          13. Gloria

          14. Sleep on the Floor

          15. Ophelia

          16. Big Parade

          17. BIRTHDAY

          18. ROLLERCOASTER

          19. Gale Song (ft. James Bay)

          20. Leader of the Landslide -> You Can't Always Get What You Want (The Rolling Stones cover)

          -

          21. Donna

          22. Submarines

          23. REMINGTON -> REPRISE

          24. Stubborn Love

While only eight North American dates left for the year, the group still has a ton on their plate. With stops in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and South African on the horizon, the "BRIGHTSIDE World Tour" is far from stopping.

          8/27 Charlotte, NC — Spectrum Center*

          8/28 Columbus, OH — WonderBus Music and Arts Festival

          8/31 Louisville, KY — KFC Yum! Center*

          9/01 Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena*

          9/03 Chicago, IL — Wrigley Field^*

          9/16 Redondo Beach, CA — BeachLife Ranch Festival

          9/24 Bridgeport, CT — Sound On Sound Music Festival

          10/01 Ocean City, MD — Oceans Calling Festival

          11/11 Auckland, NZ — Powerstation (SOLD OUT)

          11/13 Brisbane, AU — Riverstage

          11/15 Sydney, AU — ICC Sydney

          11/18 Melbourne, AU — Margaret Court Arena

          11/19 Adelaide, AU — Harvest Rock

          11/22 Tokyo, JP — The Garden Hall

          11/29 Cape Town, ZA — Grand Arena at Grand West

          11/30 Cape Town, ZA — Grand Arena at Grand West

          12/02 Pretoria, ZA — SunBet Arena at Time Square Casino (SOLD OUT)  

          * with James Bay

          ^ with Caamp

In short, The Lumineers are stellar live. I would recommend any fan, or even anyone who only knows the singles like me, to see them live at least once. There's a reason they're selling out arenas 10 years after their debut.