The Lumineers at the Mann Center

This past Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to see the Lumineers perform at the Mann Center in Philly. Not only was I blown away by the performance, but the venue as well.

Having a capacity for nearly 14,000 people, the Mann Center is striking in appearance. During the encore, I turned around and stared into a seemingly endless sea of smiling faces and blinking flashlights during “Long Way From Home”. Live music produces a sort of irreplaceable magic but experiencing live music at an outdoor venue was truly something else.

If I could describe the band from Colorado in one word, it would be authentic. To give credit where credit is due, the lead singer for the Lumineers, Wesley Schultz, has one of the most infatuating voices I’ve ever heard. His voice pierced me that night and seemed to leave every member of the audience inspired. It was clear also that each member of the band was truly valued and had a unique role too. From Lauren Jacobson on the violin to Jeremiah Fraites on drums, the intersectionality of personality, talent and passion ignited the Mann Center stage.

Playing a plethora of songs from their first album “The Lumineers” (2012) to their last album “Brightside” (2022), there was not a dull moment during the nearly 90 minute set. I thoroughly enjoyed the setlist and thought the transitions between upbeat songs such as “Submarines” and slower, more emotional tunes such as “Gun Song” was simply a work of art. I nearly lost my mind of excitement too when they threw me a bone by playing “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones towards the end of the performance. For any older music lovers out there, they are also notorious for playing “The Weight” by The Band at their live concerts.

It was also such a treat to see James Bay, a singer-songwriter from across the pond, open for the Lumineers. I was only familiar with his hit song “Let it Go” before seeing him live, but came away from the set unable to get “Hold Back the River” out of my head. He brought the energy, emotion and playfulness that is imperative to a successful opening act.

Overall, I could not recommend my experience seeing the Lumineers perform live more to anyone. Their music is something that will stop you in your tracks and allow you to remember why live is so sweet. I am definitely looking forward to hearing their music live again in the near future.

MK Coolican / WXVU 89.1 The Roar / Music Director / Villanova University ’26