On Monday, NPR Music posted a video of The Lumineers performing on the popular “Tiny Desk Concert” video series. The six-piece treated the NPR Music staff and viewers at home to a variety of original songs, both new and old.
Lead by frontman Wesley Schultz (guitar/vocals), The Lumineers are comprised of members Jeremiah Fraites (drums/piano/vocals), Stelth Ulvang (piano/accordion/vocals), Lauren Jacobson (violin/piano/vocals), Byron Isaacs (bass/vocals), and Brandon Miller (percussion/guitar/vocals). The sextet kicked things off with “Gloria”, the lead single from their most recent LP, III, which the band supported with an extended world tour in 2019 and early 2020. Before the second song from the III LP, “Leader of the Landslide”, Schultz discussed the impetus for the record’s lyrics.
“My wife and I have tried to take care of this person for about 10 years,” he said, referring to an unnamed family member. “She’s an alcoholic and she’s struggled mightily with that ever since I’ve known her… It’s been humbling, to say the least, and a hard journey, but we shared this on this record through a lot of different songs, including this next one.”
Following an impassioned rendition of “Leader of the Landslide” was the instrumental “April”, which appeared on the band’s 2009 album, Jimmy Sparks, and slotted right before “Salt and Sea”. “Salt and Sea” is yet another III track and was originally written for an M. Night Shyamalan film that the director eventually scrapped from the end credits. Finally, the band took the energy up a notch with “Stubborn Love”, off the band’s 2012 self-titled, debut album. During this number, Ulvang danced atop Bob Boilen‘s famous Tiny Desk while the NPR staff sang along to the upbeat song.
Watch The Lumineers’ entire new “Tiny Desk” performance below.
The Lumineers – Tiny Desk Concert
[Video: NPR]
Like virtually every other band and musician, The Lumineers recently postponed several dates on the III world tour due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The band’s next scheduled performance is on June 12th at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. Head to The Lumineers’ website for the latest tour information.