On Sept. 3, the Lumineers closed out the North American leg of their tour with a concert at Wrigley Field, and while I was not lucky enough to go, I was able to watch the whole concert via live stream from the comfort of my friend’s basement.

The Lumineers are a folk rock band out of Denver, Colorado. Their fourth studio album “BRIGHTSIDE” was released Jan. 14, 2022, and the band has been on a world tour since Feb. 24, 2022.

For $20, any fan was able to buy a virtual ticket to a Lumineers live stream through a streaming service called Mandolin. Though no live stream will be able to accurately replicate the feeling of being at a concert, I’d say you got a pretty good bang for your buck. With the cheapest ticket being around $80, the virtual concert was a great option for fans who couldn’t afford tickets and fans who may not have a tour show near them.

Other than a couple lags and glitches at the beginning of the stream, I was able to enjoy the entire concert without much interruption caused by the technology barrier.

The concert was opened by the folk band Caamp and English singer/songwriter James Bay, who may not have the popularity of the Lumineers, but they still held their own and did not get lost in the size of the venue and the crowd. Caamp delivered a stellar 10 track setlist that set the vibe and excitement for the main act.

The Lumineers played a full 20 track setlist and a five song encore at the end of the concert. They even brought James Bay back out as a special guest on the song “Gale Song.” Though that may seem like a long list, the concert was a perfect length, with the main act coming on at 9 p.m. and ending around 11 p.m.

Among the songs performed were fan favorites like “Ophelia,” “Cleopatra” and “Ho Hey,” but the Lumineers also delivered to their dedicated fans with songs like “Charlie Boy,” “Donna” and, my personal favorite, “Stubborn Love.” The only song that I was missing from the list was “Classy Girls,” but who am I to complain with the amount of other songs that were played.

Another aspect that added to the excitement of the show was the stage set up. Along with the main stage, there was a diamond shaped cat-walk that extended into the audience and was able to increase the amount of interaction between the band and the fans.

Many popular artists nowadays perform concerts without actually singing any of their songs, lip synching along to pre-recorded tracks. I could tell, even over livestream, that the Lumineers were genuinely performing their music, and that authenticity shone through to even the most casual concert goers.

Whether you’re a die hard fan of indie folk bands, or have never heard “Ophelia” in your life, the Lumineers concert was an outstanding concert, and made even better by the fact that it was accessible to anyone who wanted to see it.