The band initially captured the public's attention when foot-stomping breakout single Ho Hey was featured on CW's Hart of Dixie in December. By January, the band had signed a contract with Dualtone Records. "It's pretty surreal," says lead singer and guitarist Wes Schultz, 29. "We've had the benefit of failure for about seven years, so when something finally hits, it feels weird. We don't know what to make of it, given all the time we spent where no one heard of us. Fans are a new venture for us."
A lot to love: Newfound fans are falling in love at first listen with the band's homespun acoustic folk and powerful lyrics. The Lumineers' self-titled debut, released in April, reached No. 3 on the independent chart and No. 31 on Billboard's overall album chart, with Ho Hey climbing the iTunes singles charts and featured on a Bing ad. The gr oup is set to tour North America this summer and fall, opening for artists including Brandi Carlile, Old Crow Medicine Show and the Civil Wars.
An illuminating loss: The Lumineers' journey to success began with personal tragedy. In 2002, Schultz's best friend, Josh, brother of Lumineers drummer Jeremiah Fraites, died of a drug overdose. "It influences what we talk and write about," Schultz says. "There's a certain level of growing up overnight that happens. As a band, it adds something that's very elusive â€" it's hopefulness, but there's also some sorrow behind it, and there's some depth that defines who you are." Out of their grief came Schultz's and Fraites' musical collaboration. The two newly connected friends had both been playing in separate bands since high school, but they soon began making music togeth er, writing songs and playing gigs.
Seeking their big break: Initially, Wes and Jeremiah, now 28, tried their luck at breaking through the competitive music scene in New York City, but found that the constant struggle to make ends meet prevented them from focusing on what really mattered. "I was living in Brooklyn and working three jobs just to pay the rent," Schultz says. "It was really infuriating to move to a city that would help us grow musically but then never have any time to work on music. So I decided to do something about it." Wes and Jeremiah packed up and started over on the West Coast, moving to Denver in search of inspiration.
The Lumineers gained their third member, cellist Neyla Pekarek, 26, in a chance moment that would define the band's success. Looking for a sonic alternative to an electric bassist, Schultz and Fraites posted a Craigslist ad requesting a cellist for their new musical venture. Pekarek, classically trained in cello, had just graduated college and planned on becoming a teacher. Instead, the multi-instrumentalist (she also plays mandolin and piano) decided to respond to the ad on a whim, and the three hit it off. "The rest was history," Schultz says. "It could have been a missed connection."
Hard-won success: Following years spent crashing on couches during DIY national tours, Ho Hey proved to be The Lumineers' ticket to fame, as word-of-mouth surrounding the single propelled the group from unknown to buzz band. Schultz sees an upside to The Lumineers' gradually attained success: "If you succeed right away, you rel y on external forces to tell you if something's good or bad. For us, we were forced to form that on our own, which helps us now. Success is great but it can really screw some people up, so we're taking it in stride."
From performing on Conan in May to preparing for their first European tour this fall, The Lumineers are enjoying their status as rising stars. But Schultz keeps fame in perspective. "We've only recently been able to quit our jobs to make music full time," he says, referencing his years spent waiting tables and walking dogs for a living. "We've had a lot of luck recently, and I would feel greedy to wish for anything more right now. It's a very fickle industry, and hopefully things continue to progress. But, man, I feel lucky."
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