The Lumineers were formed by Wesley Shultz, Jeremiah Fraites and Neyla Pekarek. The three have been together for seven years, but it is only in the past year that they have become well-known.
It is safe to say it was well worth the wait.
The Lumineers are most commonly compared to bands like Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers and The Civil Wars. Like these bands, the Lumineers’ songs speak to your soul, yet encourage you to dance at the same time. With infusions of cello, piano, mandolin and percussion, your ears are in for a treat.
I first heard the Lumineers last December while watching a television show with my roommates. When their song “Ho Hey” started playing in the closing scene, it immediately caught my attention.
I tried to remember some of the lyrics in order to search them online. I was sold after listening to the song in its entirety, along with other songs of theirs. I discovered that they would be releasing an album in April, and I counted down the days.
The Lumineers quickly rose to fame through features in many television shows and commercials. The release of their self-titled album brought them to even greater heights, and they have not stopped touring since. The album is an instant favorite, with overwhelmingly feel-good singles like “Ho Hey” and “Submarines” that balance the more moving singles like “Dead Sea” and “Morning Song.” The album has hardly left the CD player in my car since its release.
This weekend I met band members Jeremiah and Wesley after their performance at the Southern Ground Music and Food Festival in Nashville, Tenn. Almost immediately, Jeremiah turned the conversation to learning more about my friend and me.
His genuineness was refreshing and made my appreciation for the band grow even stronger.
They put on an amazing show and engaged the crowd. When I did manage to break my fixation with the band and look at the audience of all ages around me, I rarely saw a person who wasn’t smiling.
I encourage anyone who has not heard of this band to check them out immediately – you won’t be disappointed.
