(1/30/17) By Jaclyn Arens – The Lumineers kicked off their Cleopatra tour in Omaha, NE on Jan. 17th. The Century Link Center was packed with fans that were on their feet from the opening song.
Andrew Bird was the opening performer, and he gave an enjoyable performance. He incorporates a lot of whistling into his songs and has a similar sound to the Lumineers. He was able to get the crowd pumped up even though it was obvious that no one really knew his songs.
The Lumineers started with “Submarines” and sang a lot of their biggest hits like “Ophelia” and “Ho Hey” early on. Hearing the big hits right away was unique and nice because it was easier to enjoy the lesser-known songs later in the show.
About half way through the concert, Wesley Schultz (vocals, guitar), Jeremiah Fraites (drums, piano), and Neyla Pekarek (cellist and backing vocals) went out to a smaller stage in the middle of floor, which made them seem more intimate.
Schultz spoke about many of his songs, and it was incredible to hear about the real people who inspired the lyrics. The song “Charlie Boy” was written about Schultz’s uncle who died in Vietnam, and “The Gun Song” was written about Schultz finding a gun in his father’s sock drawer after he passed away. I felt a deeper connection with the music when I realized they were real songs about real people.
The best aspect of the concert was how nonstop it was. Lead singer Wesley Schultz was on the stage the entire time singing or talking about the songs, and he even ran through the crowd and while continuing to sing. There were no uncomfortable breaks, and The Lumineers were on stage for about an hour and a half.
The concert was inspiringly authentic. There were no costume changes or backup dancers. It was just an incredibly talented band with their instruments on the stage, and I could tell that everyone in the crowd felt the joy of listening to live music.
The Lumineers are an American folk band from Denver, CO. Their first big hit was “Ho Hey” in 2012 from their self-titled album. With their first album, they made it to the Grammys, the presidential iPod, the top of the charts, and onto the Hunger Games. After a four-year break, the Lumineers are back with their second album titled Cleopatra.
They are currently on their Cleopatra tour and will be in the area again. Check them out in Des Moines, IA on Friday, March 24, at 7:00 pm in the Wells Fargo Arena.
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