The Lumineers brought their latest tour to the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio on the Ohio State University campus on Saturday 1/28/17. I attended with my wife Grace. We sat in section 104. Quirky fact: we noted that at least 6 Columbus Blue Jackets were in attendance and sitting very close to us. Cool!
Merch: The bands had a nice collection of t-shirts and CDs/LPs. Nice!
Arena: The Schott has held many of a fine concert over the years, and I have seen many of them! This was the biggest crowd on the tour, according to Wesley Schultz, lead singer of the Lumineers. If it was not a sell out, it was close.
Openers: I was unfamiliar with Margaret Glaspy. I enjoyed her set with her band.
Andrew Bird is someone I am familiar with from CD102.5, the terrific local independent radio station. I looked forward to catching his set. The band and Andrew did not disappoint: lots of atmospheric indie rock with interesting presentation. Happy I caught his set!
Headliners: My wife and I often say we haven't seen the Lumineers in concert, but we did hear them. At the 2013 Lollapalooza in Chicago, we were down in front at the nearby stage awaiting the Mumford and Sons when the Lumineers played their set across the field. We could hear some of the set, but had looked forward to seeing the band since then.
The show covered all of the bands top songs. The band was in prime form and Wesley Schultz was in prime voice. He shared some interesting, touching stories about quite a few of the songs. His discussion of his father's death touched me and made me think of my own father's death a year ago.
Mid-show the band came out to a small stage mid-arena that was close to our section. The "right in the audience" setting gave a small-venue feel to an arena show. Well done!
After finishing up on the small stage and returning to the main stage, the band completed their main set. A huge highlight for me was the encore when the band was joined by Andrew Bird. He and Wesley of the Lumineers traded vocals on a terrific cover of the Talking Heads' "This Must Be The Place". Awesome!
Overall, a very good show. The Lumineers show was all I hoped for and more. Very happy I attended this show.
Margaret Glaspy and band opening up the concert.
The indie rock favorite Andrew Bird had a terrific set.
Andrew Bird and band with some unique lighting.
Wesley and Jeremiah of the Lumineers.
The Lumineers bringing a smile to everyone's face!
The Lumineers of the small mid-arena stage.
Wesley Schultz of the Lumineers.
Wesley Schultz of the Lumineers.
The Lumineers
The Lumineers with confetti flying.
Andrew Bird joining the Lumineers during their encore for an awesome cover of the Talking Heads' "This Must Be The Place".
