The Lumineers

I am absolutely obsessed with the Lumineers. This band officially formed in 2010 in Denver, Colorado. It was not long until they released their first single in 2011, “Ho Hey”. They released their first album entitled “The Lumineers” in 2012. I started to become a fan in 2013.

Then they went cold.

It was not until 2016 that they would release their next album entitled “Cleopatra”. By the time it was released I knew every song that was on their first album by heart, had them as my alarms and ringtones and scourged the internet for every bit of information I could know by them. Other kids my age were listening to pop music- the top 40 type of stuff. I did too. But as soon as “Cleopatra” came out I slid hard down the alternative-indie music scene. I listened to the entire album on repeat, never getting sick of any of it. I invested so much time watching the music videos, reading up on the backgrounds of the story, and becoming a superfan in the process. They opened me up to the world of singer-songwriters. I started to invest more in what I was listening to. I wanted what I graced my ears with to have a soul. To have meaning. To tell a story. Cleopatra did that for me.

March 28, 2017, I finally got to see them in concert. I drove an hour and a half to Winnipeg, Manitoba from my hometown. And it was absolutely amazing. They played all my favorite songs (even though they left my favorite song at the time for the encore, which had me freaking out) and had a mix of their two albums. My seat was on the floor and I got within 10 feet of these people whom I had loved for years now. I cried. I laughed. I sang at the top of my longs. I screamed praises. It was absolutely pure bliss

Time passed and I patiently waited for another album. I fell in love over and over again with all of their songs, never getting sick of them. Their music helped me with joys, disappointments, heartbreaks, growing, and more. I got a tattoo with the headdress of Cleopatra (their album cover for the second album) in March of 2019. This band became my go too for anything that I needed and a constant reminder of how to not second guess what happened in my past. I was yearning for more of their wonderful storytelling, their talent needed to grace my ears soon.

I finally got my wish granted when they released their third album, called “III”. They did this to not only signal that this is their third album, but also that the album is made up of three stories of three main characters. This is another reason why I love this band so much. They put so much effort and time into their music. The lyrics, the melodies, and harmonies, the music videos- it all tells a story. It really is a beautiful thing to be able to place yourself within the music and within the story. By doing that I feel like I found myself. They released this third album while I have been here in Rome and every time, they would release a song, I would be up waiting. Right away I would watch the music video and soak in every last note. And then listen over and over again. Quickly I found myself knowing every lyric to every song and being able to play the music video in my head while listening.

November 29, 2019, I saw the Lumineers again. This time? Dublin, Ireland. When they announced that they would be doing a European tour while I was abroad, I just knew I had to go. I finally decided that their last date on this part of the tour would be the one that I would go too. I had an interest in experiencing Dublin too, so it was a double win. The whole airplane ride to Dublin, I was shaking with excitement. I played all three of their albums on repeat and just glowing with excitement. I could not believe that I was seeing my favorite band yet again in a different country than my own yet again while I was studying abroad. Still, it completely blows my mind that I had this opportunity.

The concert? Completely breathtaking. They played a mixture of songs from all three albums and did not stop at all. I cried. I sang to the top of my lungs. I screamed praises. I danced my heart out. I was so fully immersed at that moment that it felt like my life had been culminating at this moment. They are equally if not better live than the recorded version which is so impressive for any singer. It is getting harder and harder to find real talent that does not cake on autotune or create unrealistic sounds. Their music is just stripped down to pure talent, both vocally and instrumentality. They have a full band that plays a variety of instruments, creating a completely immersive experience. The Lumineers never cease to amaze me. Every time I listen to their songs, I get something new out of it. Their music is truly an art that I doubt I will ever get sick of.

I will always have a home with the Lumineers. In their music, I find love, hope, mourning, knowledge, and progression. All these things that I know will be and have already been a part of my life. They remind me that these things are needed and that this thing we call life is truly beautiful and our stories are so important.

Do you think I could really choose one line from the Lumineers to leave you with? Never. So, here are a few of my favorites…

“And when she stood, she stood tall. She’ll make a fool of you all”

“It’s better to feel pain than nothing at all. The opposite of love is indifference”

“Heaven help a fool who falls in love”

“It’s not the words you say, but how you say it”