There are certain bands — like the Foo Fighters, for example — that step onstage at a large outdoor venue and do everything they can to blow the roof off the place. Then there are bands like The Lumineers, which played at PNC Music Pavilion in University City on Wednesday, that focus fully on the music rather than the performance of it all.
For an amphitheater with a capacity nearing 20,000, Wednesday night’s concert felt more akin to something you’d see in a living room, which is an accomplishment in itself for the alt-folk group.
The audience was respectful. The sound was crisp in the cool September air. Singer Wesley Schultz had no issue with taking his time to tell stories — and the crowd had no issue soaking in every word. In some ways, The Lumineers made PNC feel more like the Evening Muse than Charlotte’s largest outdoor music venue.
Interestingly enough, while there were plenty of audience singalongs, none overshadowed Schultz himself. Though he and multi-instrumentalist co-founder Jeremiah Fraites have been writing music together and performing for 20 years, it took all six members, regularly switching instruments on stage, to create the night’s full sound.
Each band member even took a turn singing a verse on the 2012 song “Big Parade.”
Schultz pointed out that he and Fraites have a relationship like any other — needing to put egos aside for the betterment of the band — but it’s a formula that’s worked through five albums, from the self-titled debut album in 2012 that saw them peak on the charts with hits like “Hey Ho” to their latest release, 2025’s Automatic.
There are concerts that employ a certain level of energy to take the crowd over from the jump, and there are those that let the good vibes slowly roll over those in attendance while the music does the talking. While so many performances focus on that kinetic energy, and create great experiences in the process, Wednesday’s Lumineers show was refreshing in all the right ways.
The band’s Automatic World Tour continues through the States until mid-October when they’ll start hopping continents.
Lumineers setlist (via Setlist.fm)
Same Old Song
Flowers in Your Hair
Angela
You’re All I Got
A.M. RADIO
Asshole
Gale Song (w/ Chance Peña)
Plasticine
Donna
Ho Hey
Dead Sea
BRIGHTSIDE
Sleep on the Floor
Gloria
Ativan
Salt and the Sea
WHERE WE ARE
Slow It Down
Strings
Automatic
Ophelia
Big Parade
Leader of the Landslide / You Can’t Always Get What You Want
New York State of Mind (Billy Joel cover)
Cleopatra
Stubborn Love
Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.
