Photo: Alexia Arrizabalaga
The Lumineers stopped off at the O2 Academy Brixton last night, mid-way through their current tour, to treat London to their indie folk and singalongable sound. They hit the airwaves again recently with the release of ‘Cleopatra’, four years since their last album, and the room was buzzing with anticipation to hear it live.
An intro set from newcomer Andy Shauf with his mellow, easy listening sound warms us up as the crowds pile into the cavernous venue. And then, The Lumineers get to it, opening with ‘Sleep On The Floor’ and title song ‘Cleopatra’. They then move to material from their self-titled debut, including ‘Classy Girls’ and the mega-hit ‘Ho Hey’, the latter of which causing such animation from the crowd that when the song is over a fellow concert goer quips ‘shall we all just go home now?’.
But alas we do not, and the set that continues is raw and energising, oscillating between sombre, reminiscing classics like ‘Charlie Boy’ and ‘Slow It Down’, and upbeat, foot-tapping tunes like ‘Angela’ with the raspy vocals of lead singer Wesley Schultz.
As the end of the show draws near, the band exits the stage, all except for the pianist, who treats us to a haunting and beautiful solo piano interlude that's like a lullaby. The rest of the band momentously re-join the stage for 'Submarine' and 'Stubborn Love', saving two of their biggest and best songs until last.
Both of these songs – and the entire set itself really - is made by the incredible live musicianship. Neyla Pekarek on the cello is simply stunning, and the pianist makes the crowd come alive just as much from a gentle lullaby interlude, as he does from wildly banging tambourines on the piano and jumping barefoot onto the piano.
