Ho Hey, The Lumineers: A Night That Sang Itself in Birmingham

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Rockstar Culture in Concert Reviews // 0 Comments

▣BJCC | Birmingham, AL  ▣Wednesday, March 25th 2026
▣Photographer/Journalist: Dani S.

If you told a little 12-year-old me that she would get to see “Ho Hey” performed live, she just simply would not have believed you. She wouldn’t be able to fathom seeing the song heard on every radio station at the time (circa 2012…I now feel old) live! But if you told that little girl that she would be taking pictures of the band at that same show? Oh man, I don’t think she would even know where to take her thoughts. Seeing The Lumineers at the BJCC on Wednesday evening brought the rootsy energy of opening act Shovels & Rope with them. The whole evening leaned hard into that stripped-down, emotional Americana vibe that somehow feels both intimate and arena-sized at once, and I am thrilled to tell you all about it!

A lively music performance with two musicians on stage. One is playing an electric guitar and the other is drumming energetically, both dressed in stylish outfits. In the background, silhouettes of an audience enjoying the show can be seen.

Let’s start with Shovels & Rope, because they didn’t just “warm up” the crowd—they set the tone. Shovels & Rope walked onstage with zero pretense and immediately got to work. Something about a husband and wife duo that can make that much noise—both literally and emotionally—that grabs your attention fast, and I was living for it. They bounced between instruments, blended vocals like it was second nature, and built a gritty, almost chaotic energy that made it feel like the stage had a pulse. Not polished, not perfect—just real. And that’s what made it stick. By the middle of their set, you felt the shift in the room. People who were still finding their seats at the beginning were now locked in to the sight on stage. It didn’t feel like background music anymore—it felt like part of the experience. For that, I would absolutely recommend checking out their music catalog.

Then came The Lumineers, launching onto the scene loud and proud with “Same Old Song.” The Lumineers have always been masters of pacing—knowing when to build, to hold back, and when to allow a moment breathe—and that skill really showed live. It never felt rushed or forced. Frontman Wesley Schultz carried a lot of that emotional weight. His voice has that slightly worn-in quality that makes everything feel a little more honest and a lot less produced. In a space as big as Legacy Arena, that kind of sincerity could’ve gotten lost—but it didn’t. If anything, it pulled people in closer.

Two musicians performing on stage with acoustic guitars, surrounded by dramatic lighting and laser effects.

Of course, the big songs hit exactly how you’d expect. The second those first notes of “Ho Hey” kicked off, the entire place basically turned into one giant choir. No hesitation, no prompt from the stage—just instant, full-volume singalong. Same thing with “Ophelia” and “Cleopatra.” It felt like it wasn’t even about the band at that point because it was about everyone in the room sharing the same moment (which is kind of the whole point of a show by The Lumineers anyway.) But the real standout moments weren’t the loud ones; they were the quiet ones. Those moments felt almost out of place in an arena, but not in a bad way, like you’d think. More in an intimate way, where it felt like the room shrank and you were suddenly somewhere much smaller and closer to the performance. This contrast was my favorite bit of the night.

Production-wise, they kept things fairly minimal. No over-the-top effects, but they did have the background screen match the warm lighting and subtle mood shifts of each song. It felt intentional and really encouraged that nostalgic feeling of when everyone was parading their mustache tattoos and neon colored clothing. They knew what they were doing and that the music didn’t need anything extra. The crowd itself was a mix—diehard fans who knew every word, casual listeners who showed up for the hits, and people somewhere in between. Not every second was perfectly attentive (it’s an arena show, after all), but when it mattered, everyone showed up. Those unified moments were the ones that truly hit.

When it ended, there was that brief pause where nobody really moved. No one rushing for the exits, no immediate chatter—just that lingering “okay… that was something” feeling. I believe that’s the best way I could describe an evening led by The Lumineers. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t overproduced. It just felt real. That’s exactly what you need for a show of this caliber. If you get the chance, get yourself a ticket to see these guys on the Automatic World Tour!

Check out our contributor photographer, Dani S. photos now!

SHOVELS & ROPE

Black and white photo of two musicians performing on stage, one playing electric guitar and the other on drums, with an audience in the foreground.
A live concert performance by Shovels & Rope with vibrant stage lights and an enthusiastic audience.
A musician playing an electric guitar and a drummer performing on stage, both smiling and engaging with the audience. The stage is illuminated with focused lighting.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, focused on their performance, with a microphone in front and a drum set visible in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing electric guitar and the other sitting behind a drum set, both dressed in suits, with a dark background and audience silhouettes visible.
A drummer in a white suit energetically playing the drums on stage, with a microphone and music equipment visible in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing electric guitar and the other playing drums, with an audience in silhouette.
A live concert scene featuring the band 'Shovels & Rope' on stage with dramatic lighting and a large backdrop displaying their name.

THE LUMINEERS

A musician performing on stage with a microphone in hand, surrounded by band members and colorful lighting in the background.
A live music performance with a band on stage, featuring musicians playing various instruments under bright, golden stage lights and visual projections in the background.
A female musician performing on stage, playing the violin and singing, with a grand piano nearby and an audience in front of her.
A musician performing on stage with an accordion, wearing glasses and a patterned jacket, illuminated by stage lights.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage, illuminated by warm, dramatic lighting, with a crowd in silhouette in the foreground.
Silhouettes of two musicians on stage, illuminated by bright lights and starburst effects, with an audience visible in the foreground.
A musician performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing a blue electric bass guitar, with a vibrant background of lights and patterns.
A live band performing on stage with colorful lighting and visual effects, featuring multiple musicians playing various instruments.
A musician performing on stage with an acoustic guitar, wearing a hat and suspenders, while two band members appear in the background.
Two musicians performing together on stage, one playing an acoustic guitar and the other gesturing while holding a guitar. Bright lights and laser beams create an energetic atmosphere.
A trio of musicians performing on stage; a female violinist on the left, a male singer playing tambourine in the center, and a male guitarist on the right, with colorful stage lighting in the background.
A performer on stage, gesturing with one hand raised while wearing a floral jacket, with a crowd of fans enjoying the show in the foreground.

Check out their websites for more info –

Shovels & Rope

The Lumineers

SETLIST

Same Old Song
Flowers in Your Hair
Angela
You’re All I Got
A.M. RADIO
Asshole
Ho Hey
BRIGHTSIDE
Sleep on the Floor
Gloria
WHERE WE ARE
Ophelia
Big Parade
Cleopatra
Stubborn Love

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