The Lumineers bring back to Milan that poetic and light -hearted folk that they only know how to do – Rockon.it

Article by Silvia Cravotta | Photo of Martina Fiore

There are bands that on stage are more oiled than a Swiss mechanism could be, considered synonymous with perfect synchrony. Like i The Lumineersreturned to Milan two years after the last concert on the occasion of the world tour for the presentation of Automaticfifth studio album released last February. The only Italian stage of the path that started from Vienna on April 23 and which will end in Dublin, at the end of May, and then resume in July in the direction of the United States.

Their return was expected and left its mark in a Unipol Forum where you didn't see a free place. The duo formed by the Americans Wesley Schultz And Jeremiah Fraitesnow twenty years ago, he brought us back, for one evening, among the thousand folds of his indie folk rock. Together with them, the inseparable band of multi -instrumentalists who for years now has accompanied them in live characterized by great fun, a decidedly energetic execution and that perfect synchrony that was talked about at the beginning. But we will get there soon.

The arrival at the forum is alienating because there is a surreal silence inside, although the public begins to occupy its places. The bystanders are younger than you could expect and even the more âgée ones seem to bring their years particularly well. But the atmosphere is decidedly beautiful and relaxed (thanks also to the bridge).

While they are about to take 19.45 on the clock, it rises on stage Michael Marcagifrom Cincinnati, Ohio. Young American songwriter, with a face and clean voice, has an EP published with Warner, American romance. On the Milanese stage, “for the first time” as he himself points out, he brings the songs that made one of the promises to keep an eye on: from recent Good enough And Follow youa Scared to startwhich made him known thanks also to the success achieved on Tik Tok. And in the parterre he finds a good fanbase, probably composed of users of the Chinese social social networks, ready to applaud it.

With the stage gearbox, all the tools that the band will pass from hand to hand during the concert. Shortly after nine it will be the turn of the musicians, anticipated by a video with a musicsest that gives life to writings and forms of various kinds, including the 80s monoscopy (remember the image to colored bands that appeared on analog televisions?), That of the cover of the latest album. The first of the row is Schultz, unforgettable with two Viking braids and a red dress that seems to be razed at a distance. Behind him, in a battery position, Fraits, in the rectory white shirt and braces.

The attack is left, as scheduled, a Same Old Songfirst single that came out of the new job. Launched by the reconciled rhythm of the battery, to which are added piano and bass, which perfectly accompany the song, this song has already become one of their hymns. This is despite the poignant voice of Schultz who tells of pain and failure, like the SOS with which the title of the song is abbreviated. A decidedly powerful request for help.

Flowers in Your Hair It also remains beautiful in a live version, unfortunately as short as the one in the studio, but always with that pleasant feeling of lightness that takes you behind. On the other hand, succinct does not mean less effective, and The Lumineers know it well. Submarines live loses some of that working singing sound of sailors but keeps the Stomp that characterizes it, with arches, piano and guitar to accompany the piano played by Schultz.

It begins here, from the third song, the position of Stelth Ulvangto which a mention of merit goes. Because, in addition to going from one tool to another, as everyone does – but everyone – the members of the band, also takes the soul task of the party. Perennially barefoot, jumps here and there, applauds with the audience standing on the keyboards, the evening ends with a vertical on the piano that seems to last indefinitely while around the music is silent and the public keeps the breath suspended. VOTE: Ten.

He is one of the gears of that perfect synchronism we were talking about. Looking at The Lumineers performing is equivalent to seeing those square watches where wood figures move perpetually, crossing their paths without ever colliding. Continuous single and group movements, continuous exchanges of instruments from one musician to another, a stage that is never stopped and where everything seems calculated to the millimeter, but with great naturalness and spontaneity.

The repeated refrain of the Ballad You're all I Gotwith its inevitable falsetto, is accompanied by the torches of cell phones while Where we are with his “I Don't Know Where We Are/But It Will Be Okay“Full of hope makes all the arms present at the forum in sway, in a moment of total love that involves everyone. Mood: Peace & Love, branded sixties. Athhole With his slow rhythm and his funny text everyone sing it, as well as AM Radiopowerful thanks to its piano and guitar agreements. “Long As You Run / I Couldn'T Give You Up“You can't all sing together, while a starry sky flows vertically behind the band.

This concert is a long road made of 27 stages, songs taken from the new album but also by all the previous production. Feeling them one alternating to the other, it stands out even more how The Lumineers have maintained their folk rock soul intact, with a racing and rustic sound that accompanies an intelligent and poetic songwriting, made of texts with many textures and themes that inevitably refer to us today, from the difficulty of the relationships, to that of finding a balance between boredom and overestimation, until those psychotropic drugs and alcohol. The easy definition of “Mumford & Sons American” is definitely overcome.

The public appreciates and they feel it, and they say it. Fraites takes advantage of the opportunity to show off the knowledge of our language (on the other hand he lives in Turin with Italian wife) and to make a happy birthday to the son, who is among the public. The calmness of Woman (still a song with a female name, like many of their repertoire) is overwhelmed by I have heywith the musicians all in front of the stage and the audience everything standing. It takes little to imagine the ovation that accompanies the song that in 2012 is detonated all over the world, giving sudden notoriety to the duo that had been working together for seven years, first in New York and then to Denver.

The rest of the concert is accompanied by moments that must be reported: for Brightside Schultz descends into the parterre and crosses him by singing, embraced by two wings of crowds who sings and resumes with his cell phone, while for Sleep on the Floor It's time for an explosion of golden confetti. After the choral song of Glory and the melancholy go of I know longwith its poignant refrain, follows a splendid version of Salt and the Seawith Fraites and Schultz together with the piano. After being lulled by “You're all I Got“, Who returns to the intimist and delicate Keys on the tableis the time to Charliea song that – Schultz underlines – do not often perform. Michael Calargi returns to stage, surrounded by the Fraites mandolin, the violin of Lauren Jacobson (deliciously of green paillettes dressed) and by the guitar of Brandon Millerwhich sound more than ever as if they were a single tool. Behind them too Byron Isaacswith his bass.

And continue. For Slow It DownSchultz is completely on stage, without jacket and with only one guitar. Only in half is Fraites grafted, with Tambourine and Tamburo. Schultz's broken item in Automatictitle track of the new album, is accompanied by Fraits on the piano, the same one on which the singer will lie down while the whole forum sings at the top of Ophelia. For Leader of the Landslide There is a snippet of You Can't Always Get What You Want While Attivan It is worth a speech from the stage, the theme is strong and applies to psychotropic drugs but also for all drugs today. All narrated in a crescendo of piano with a light voice and temptress (that of what depending on). Big paradewith his golden carousel in the background and his rhythm from Marching bandis the perfect time to present all the members of the group and make each of them sing a piece of the song.

No encore, you go to the yarn until the end with Reprise, Cleopatra And Stubborn Love. All beloved, all sung by the public, who for Cleopatra sings the attack alone, before Schulz follows accompanied only by the violin. He appreciates and wants to say it. But, after almost two hours of concert, it is time to close and healthy, among the enthusiasm of the public. The great lesson of the American folk was served this time too.

Click here to see photos of the The Lumineers concert at the Unipol Forum in Milan (or scroll down the gallery below)

The Lumineers: The Scaletta of the concert at the Unipol Forum in Milan

Same Old Song
Flowers in Your Hair
Submarines
You're all I Got
Where we are
Athhole
AM Radio
Plasticine
Woman
I have hey
Angela
Brightside
Sleep on the Floor
Glory
I know long
Salt and the Sea
Keys on the table
Charlie
Slow It Down
Automatic
Ophelia
Leader of the Landslide
Attivan
Big parade
Reprise
Cleopatra
Stubborn Love