The Lumineers are one of those bands that we hold a little close to our hearts. Think of one of those bands that you saw when they were first starting out, only to see them soar in stature and see their fan base grow with every gig that they have played since then. For us, The Lumineers are one of those bands. They’ve come a very long way in the last year, since we saw them at their debut UK showcase at Shoreditch House and we have loved witnessing their rise to quickly become a force to be reckoned with, a band that have inspired several bands to forms, who have emerged of a similar ilk and you know what they say, that imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Since then, they have won numerous accolades. They are heard all over our TV sets, as their music is played on several high-profile commercial advertisements and they even found themselves playing at Glastonbury this summer, a great testament as to how far they have come in what seems a short time. The band seem to be going from strength to strength and everyone who has witnessed them live seem to be captivated by them, their verve and passion for music. Alexandra Palace is a rather special venue nestled in deepest North London and we were thrilled to be at the gig and to see how they would translate in such a large arena. True to form, the gig got going to a flying start from the moment they graced the stage, when they kicked off with their very catchy song, Classy Girls. The pink, purple and red lights that hovered around them during their set made for a great visual look and the acoustics sounded great.
Ain’t Nobody’s Problem got the crowd into a chilled out vibe, with people bouncing along gently to the song. The song that they are probably the most famous for so far in their career, is their incredible Ho Hey!, what’s not to love about it? It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but want to sing along to. It comes alive even more when you hear thousands singing along to it, to the point where you begin to have an inane grin and get lost in a few minutes of great music and get a chance to soak up the atmosphere. We love that they ordered everyone to put down their cell phones and enjoy the moment with them. There was an almost festival type feel to the show, with people on top of shoulders, plenty of beers being consumed and everyone just loving every moment.
Other highlights of the set included their song Stubborn Love, making the crowd alternate between singing along with them in a whisper, to getting slightly louder and louder by repeating the line “keep your head up, keep your love”, to then encouraging everyone to belt out the song at full volume all over the Ally Pally. Elouise had the entire crowd hugging and swaying along, with arms aloft and again a belting chorus of people singing along in unison. We also loved Submarine, which they sang with so much energy and enthusiasm.
The Lumineers are very much a band that you need to witness live to get a feel of what they are truly about. When they are on stage they truly come alive and their passion really sets them apart from their contemporaries. What was the difference between this gig and their debut at Shoreditch House a year ago? Back then, they were clambering over tables and chairs, banging on the roof and marching around the room, trying to get people to take note of them. This time around, their fans were clambering all over each other, trying to get to the front of the stage and closer to the band. The people in the audience had even copied their unique sense of style, with several men wearing hats and old school outfits. The Lumineers have come a long way and long may they continue.
