Category: Molly McCoy

First up was Tom Odell, who is an English singer-songwriter and performed his set seated at a piano. Due to a car accident down the street from the venue, I missed the opportunity to take pictures as I got into the venue at the end of the third song. However, I was able to listen to the rest of his set and was smitten with how intimate he could make his performance feel despite being at the biggest venue in Utah. His voice is not to be overshadowed as it’s powerful and yet still soft and tender. I hope he makes his way back to Utah soon so I can watch his set from start to finish.

The time had finally come for the Lumineers to take the stage, in case you were looking at your phone or simply not looking at the stage. As soon as the first member took to the stage, the crowd erupted, not just in a normal clap and cheer sort of way, they were so loud I wasn’t fully confident that my earplugs were in. They opened the show with “Same Old Song,” the first single off their new record. Quickly followed by “Flowers in Your Hair” and “Angela.”

The Lumineers always nail their setlists; they are always able to balance it with big hits, new songs, and some deeper cuts. My personal favorite of the night was “Keys on the Table” and “Plastacine” from their new album, and then Donna and Leader of the Landslide from some of their previous albums. “Big Parade” is another standout in their setlist; for this song, each member of the band took turns at the microphone. It was fun to see the band work together and to finally hear the great Jeremiah Fraites sing.

Not only do the Lumineers nail their setlists, but they also extend the platform so that it extends into the pit. This lets the crowd and band connect a little more throughout the show; lead singer Wesley Schultz made sure to use every inch of the stage. At one point, he even left the stage to weave through the crowd. Starting at the pit and going all the way up into the lawn to the back fence. Giving everyone an opportunity to have a great view.

The night took an emotional turn when Wesley spoke on the passing of his brother a month earlier. He explained the effect his sudden death had on him and how each night they dedicate a song to him. The cover of the night for Utah was of Justin Bieber’s “Ghost.” Now I am
not a crier; in fact, it takes quite a bit for me to even tear up. However, listening to the band play this song almost pushed me over; it took everything I had in me not to start bawling. Sitting there listening to the most moving cover of a song ever is hard to put into words; you could almost hear a pin drop with the silence from the audience as we all felt the grief and love that was
emanating from the stage.

The night continued on and ultimately had to come to an end. Tom Odell came back on stage to sing “Salt and The Sea” and played the piano portion with Jeremiah in a beautiful duet. They closed with some of their fan Favorites Cleopatra” and “Stubborn Love”. From a strictly visual standpoint, they hit a nice balance of having creative and new visuals but not necessarily being overproduced or relying on the production. This show was a testament to why the Lumineers continue to be one of the most captivating live acts. I saw them for
the first time about three years ago, and I think about that show at least once a month. They are some of the few that have the ability to turn even the biggest venues into ones that feel intimate and to play honest, real music that concertgoers and music lovers will never forget.