The Lumineers Bring Stomp and Holler to Grand Rapids
Show Review★ Kenzie Gay★ @kenzwrites★ 3 Minutes
13 years ago, I was 8 years old and all of my music taste consisted of Billy Joel (keep in mind for later), Laurie Berkner, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Adele, and whatever was playing on the radio during car rides with my parents. The biggest artist back then that I quickly picked up as a radio-favorite was none other than The Lumineers, a folk-inspired duo from New Jersey that was topping the charts for their debut Summer single Ho Hey. Composed of Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz, The Lumineers remained on my radar over the years so when I saw they were coming to my home turf here in 2025, I knew I wanted (had) to cover the show.
On October 1st, a regular ol’ Wednesday to outsiders who were none the wiser, The Lumineers took the stage of Grand Rapids’ esteemed Van Andel Arena to play for thousands of eager fans - myself amongst them.
Wesley and Jeremiah of The Lumineers on tour via Rachel Deeb
After an invigorating opening set from singer/songwriter Chance Peña, The Lumineers and their plentiful backing band took the stage around 9:30 P.M. Composed of Wesley and Jeremiah themselves alongside Stelth Ulvang (keys, accordion, percussion, backing vox, etc.), Byron Isaacs (bass, backing vox), Lauren Jacobson (violin, backing vox, keys, etc.), and Brandon Miller (guitar, percussion, backing vox, etc.) The group opened with Same Old Song off of Automatic and it was an uphill celebration of music, life, love, and community moving forward.
Whether it be Stelth going hard on the accordion or the keys or Wesley’s importantly humble speech on egos and their place (or lack thereof) in the band or the group’s rendition of Charlie Boy that brought out Chance Peña, the whole night was warm and brought just the right kind of energy. There were slower, relaxed moments as well as ones with high energy and rock n’ roll behaviors. One of the highest points of the night was during the band’s performance of their iconic debut hit, Ho Hey. Wesley humorously expressed that it is often used as a first dance songs for couples’ weddings across the country despite the fact that it was written after a breakup. The whole performance of Ho Hey really brought everybody in the Van Andel together because of its recognizability and the simple happy, rejoiceful nature of the music itself.
Another thing I was impressed by was the fact that The Lumineers and their backing band really sound the same live as they do in studio - an admirable trait on its own - but with the added magic of live performance, it really elevates every aspect of their sound. Gloria was uplifting and heartwarming as was Big Parade, which had a special touch since it gave every live band member a chance to sing front and center. Hell, even when Wesley went into the crowd to take an exciting stroll around the entire floor and up into one lower bowl section per side of the arena, his vocals never faltered despite the chaos of eager fans and phones in his face.
It wasn’t all happy-go-lucky, though, and I think that’s worth noting because it showcases the diverse skill and ability the band brings to the table when it comes to live shows. Near the end of their set, Wesley expressed that his little brother, whom he referred to as Sammy, passed away at the start of the Summer. He discussed grief and honoring his brother through music so he dedicated a cover of Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind to him. This tugged at my heartstrings, as I grew up listening to Billy Joel with my father who coincidentally also passed at the start of the Summer, and it really earned Wesley and the rest of the band some serious respect in my book for the raw vulnerability they didn’t shy away from.
After closing out their performance with some more classic hitters such as Cleopatra and Stubborn Love, Wesley and Jeremiah thanked the crowd profusely with bows and waves before heading off with the rest of the band in search of the next city: Nashville, Tennessee.
After The Lumineers’ show in Grand Rapids last week, the band has plenty more performances listeners can catch in global cities such as Fort Worth, Auckland, Sydney, Tokyo, Cape Town and more including a set at Dreamy Draw Festival in Scottsdale and Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Okeechobee, Florida. If you’re unable to catch a show, you can give the band’s newest album, Automatic, a listen anywhere you find music.
