The Lumineers at the Roundhouse

The third night of the iTunes Festival saw The Lumineers partly illuminate The Roundhouse. A one-minute countdown to the show was projected over a couple of screens, but after a very warm welcome, singer Wesley Schultz had his work cut out inciting the crowd. He even had to ask them a second time to sing along to Ain’t Nobody’s Problem, and it took a few rounds but in the end they were singing the chorus without having to be spurred on again.

Flowers in Her Hair was greeted with immediate enthusiasm, people clapping first and then letting the beat get inside them. Next came Ho Hey, which was a sure shot. The band got closer to the edge of the stage and their audience, giving them the privilege and responsibility of performing the track until the first chorus. Choosing to give this song away so soon could have two meanings: either The Lumineers didn’t want to be predictable by saving the best for last or they knew it would help keep the interest alive.

The general feeling was that the band mostly nailed it, particularly when their tracks gave in to a more upbeat rhythm. As the majority of the songs have a soft start that builds into a whirlwind of sound, it took a while before they kicked in, bursting with joy, and the crowd responded appropriately.

The Lumineers played their entire self-titled first record plus a couple of extras and a cover of Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues. Fans enjoyed the whole set, applauding heartily at the end of each song, but were particularly impressed by the execution of Darlene and Elouise. During these two tracks, the band descended onto a smaller platform amid the audience. It was fairly engaging, but Stelth Ulvang suggested that people put away their phones or cameras and simply enjoy the show. For Stubborn Love, fans sitting were invited to stand up. Morning Song finally saw a more lively reaction and the encore was similarly well-received.

The Lumineers gave an overall intense performance and after some suspense they gave way to an increasing irresistible pace, concluding with an energetic Big Parade.

Rita Vicinanza

For further information and future events visit The Lumineers’ website here.

Watch the video for Ho Hey here: