The Lumineers light up the Kia Forum in Los Angeles

Los Angeles doesn’t do quiet. But on August 9th, inside the Kia Forum, The Lumineers made 17,000 people feel like they were all part of the same thing. It was the second sold-out night in a row, and the energy was already high before the lights went down.

Opening the night was Tom Odell, playing eight songs with a beautiful mix of raw and romantic, including his latest release Ugly.

Wesley Schultz, from the Lumineers, surprised by how loud the arena was, lensed by Anna Muradás at the Kia Forum.

Then came 27 songs in a row. The Lumineers started with Same Old Song and quickly played Flowers in Your Hair, a favorite from their first album.
It was a night of big moments. Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites celebrated 20 years of making music together with a speech about ditching ego for something bigger. Cue You’re All I Got, and suddenly it wasn’t just a performance, it was a vow and it felt very personal.

Ho Hey, the song that catapulted them into every playlist in 2012, turned the arena into one giant, loud, smiling chorus. People were dancing in the aisles, jumping in the pit, belting every word like it was the only song they’d ever known. Everyone was sharing the same happy energy.

And then there was BRIGHTSIDE. Wesley ditched the stage entirely, walking through the pit and somehow going all the way up to the nosebleeds, making sure even the last rows could lock eyes with him and have a little interaction. He sang to everyone, literally.

Midway through, Tom Odell reappeared for Salt and the Sea. Two voices, perfect harmonies, the kind of duet that makes you forget to breathe.

When Ophelia hit, Wesley and Jeremiah turned into kids again, tossing a tambourine back and forth like they were kids playing in the backyard. The crowd went as loud as possible when screaming the chorus, and it was truly beautiful.

Big Parade was a chance to introduce the whole band: Stelth Ulvang on piano, Byron Isaacs on bass, Lauren Jacobson on violin, Brandon Miller on guitar, Derek Brown on drums, plus Wesley and Jeremiah. Each one sang a part of the song, which made the moment feel even more special.

Covers came with stories. You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones), and a tender New York State of Mind dedicated to Wesley’s late brother, Sam Schultz, who passed away recently. He spoke about how this tour has been helping him deal with his grief, by staying close to the love and energy of the fans, one audience at a time.

The night ended with Cleopatra and Stubborn Love, the perfect closing for a show full of music, emotion, and connection.