I recently ventured to the 3 Arena to see the Lumineers, who visited Dublin as part of their Brightside tour. Earlier in the day, I was unsure if I wanted to travel from Galway to Dublin to see a band with which I was largely unfamiliar due to the stress and fatigue of recent months caused by my dad’s struggles with cancer.
I decided to overcome these fleeting obstacles and made the journey, and I was not disappointed.
The Lumineers put on a spectacular show that successfully converted me to their fandom. Over the years, their music had occupied a space in the periphery of my life, occasionally relieving the moments of doubt and existential anxiety that surfaced during times of trial. I appreciated their stripped-back sound and proficiency as musicians, which seems to be an increasingly rare attribute among musicians in recent years.
The concert was an affirmation of their talent and promise as musicians and as an ensemble that has the potential to retain their relevance as a musical act. They were emphatic in their heartfelt lyrics and musical delivery. Wesley Schultz, the lead singer, has a commanding stage presence and distinctive voice and vocal style. At times pleasingly rough and barking, Schultz's vocals define their musical style. The Lumineers aesthetic seems to be inspired by Americana and folk, complemented by the unpolished rawness of his singing. Schultz successfully delivers strong, concise vocals with his instrument. This somehow allows the band to achieve the transcendent effect of live music shows without relying on stadium anthems that manage to elevate and personalize performances by megabands such as U2 to achieve a collective emotional and spiritual catharsis.
The Lumineers’ musical repertoire focuses more on personal stories and love than the political. Their appeal lies in their strong percussion, simple but memorable melodies, distinctive percussion, and stripped-back, rustic aesthetic. However, their strongest appeal lies in their foot-thumping, earnest devotion to singing songs about intimacy and the frailty of life.
One of the best things about their concert was the atmosphere cultivated by the band and their stage design. The show began with the drummer emerging from a rising platform in the middle of the arena, which created a personal vibe lacking in other shows put on by international superstars, despite their best efforts. The show progressed to include the band coming out into the audience on a stage that allowed them to engage more with the audience, lending the feel of a band playing in a club or a trad session. Additionally, the artwork on the background screens included images of what appeared to be hand-drawn stars, landscapes, and mini-films of characters in their songs, such as Gloria.
Overall, my journey from Galway to the 3 Arena to see the Lumineers was a trip worth taking.
Parisa Zangeneh is a PhD student at NUI Galway.
