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The debut album of Denver-based folk/rock band The Lumineers is making waves across the indie and mainstream charts. The self-titled LP was released in April of this year through Dualtone Records, hitting the #45 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and a high #3 on the Independent chart. You can grab it for yourself on CD or vinyl.

 

The group is made up of Wesley Schultz, who handles guitar and lead vocals, Jeremiah Fraites (drums and vocals), and Neyla Pekarek, who plays the cello, mandolin, piano, and also joins in on vocals. They grew an audience by putting in years of performing at open mics and in dive bars. For live tours, the core group has other band members join in as well.  

 

Their folk sound is one that seems to be hitting home a lot lately; not as twangy as country but still retaining a sense of shared history and familiar experience. The emotional elements and twangy ballads they croon also come from very real emotional places; in fact, Wesley and Jeremiah initially came together to make music after Jeremiah’s brother (and Wesley’s close friend) passed away of a drug overdose. The boys turned to their budding band to heal and express themselves together, ultimately making something beautiful from an impossible situation. After they started writing songs, they soon knew that they needed to add something else. They left New York city in search of a new experience in Colorado and found Neyla to round out the band once they arrived there. How did they find her? Craigslist.

 

One of their first songs to get a lot of attention was “Ho Hey”, which appeared on an episode of the TV show "Hart of Dixie" and was also later used in a Bing commercial. It’s practically impossible not to tap your foot to this one as you slide into the mood of the music...

 

 

 

“So show me family (Hey) / All the blood that I would bleed (Ho) / I don’t know where I belong (Hey) / I don’t know where I went wrong (Ho) / But I can write a song (Hey) / (2,3) I belong with you, you belong with me / You’re my sweetheart...”

 

They have shows around the country through July and August, including a stop in Los Angeles at Paramount Studios on July 25. Tickets can be purchased through their Website.

 

 

- Kate Ferguson, YH Staff