The Lumineers: BRIGHTSIDE Encore

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Garnering over twenty-two million monthly Spotify listeners and playing sold out worldwide tours consisting of nightly stops that amass crowds of more than ten thousand fans; The Lumineers are no stranger to the bright lights of stardom. However, the group was far from an overnight success.

The band, consisting of the duo of Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, began playing together in 2002, after the untimely passing of Jeremiah’s older brother Josh, who was a friend of Schultz’s.

After years of jam sessions at the Fraites family home in Ramsey, New Jersey, the duo decided to move to New York City in 2005, playing under names like Free Beer, Wesley Jeremiah, and 6Cheek.

It wasn’t until an emcee at a Jersey City club mistakenly introduced the duo as The Lumineers, as there was supposed to be a band playing at the club the following week with the name Lumineers, that the group found their name. It’s safe to say, the name stuck.

Both working multiple jobs just to stay afloat, they decided to move to Denver, Colorado in 2009, where they would eventually meet cellist Neyla Pekarek, who would go on to join the band after responding to an ad on Craigslist.

The groups debut self-titled album The Lumineers came out on April 3, 2012, via Dualtone Records and was received well by critics, while simultaneously creating a cult-following of fans with popular songs like “Ho Hey,” and “Stubborn Love.”

Since then, the group has gone on to release three additional critically acclaimed albums, Cleopatra (2016), III (2019), and BRIGHTSIDE (2022).

The group is currently touring North and South America on an encore run of the BRIGHTSIDE World Tour featuring James Bay. There are currently over 12 stops remaining, including a show tonight in Bonner, Montana at The Kettlehouse Amphitheater.

We happened to be lucky enough to be on-site on August 23, when the band stopped at the TD Pavilion at The Mann Center, in Philadelphia.

James Bay kicked off the evening, by playing a captivating eight song setlist, that concluded with a standing ovation after he closed out the night with his hit song, "Hold Back the River."

With over 14,000 fans at the sold-out Mann Center, The Lumineers took the stage and put on a show to remember. Getting fans out of their seats early by opening the show with three of their more popular songs in, “BRIGHTSIDE,” “Cleopatra,”, and “Ho Hey.”

Going on to play a 23 song setlist, that would span nearly two hours, and playing all their hits, The Lumineers proved why they are so loved. Night in and night out, they give the audience an energetic and engaging performance, that sounds near identical to their records.

If there’s a lesson to be taken away from The Lumineers’ story it’s that good things take time. In a day and age where success can be found overnight, it’s refreshing to see that there are still groups willing to put the time in for the love of the music, and The Lumineers’ love for the music is apparent when you listen to how properly executed and well thought out each one of their songs is.

If you get the opportunity to go see The Lumineers, go. You will not regret it.

For tickets to an upcoming show or more information on all things The Lumineers, you can check out their website, www.thelumineers.com, or follow them on Instagram @thelumineers.