Photo of Ben Schneider of Lord Huron by Laura Jerele
Whether you’re hopeful or heartbroken, Lord Huron has a song for you, and if you were lucky enough to be at their sold-out show at Chaifetz Arena last Friday night, you know exactly what I mean. The whole night felt like stepping into one of their songs, one by one, a cinematic mix of melodies, dreams, and longing that only they can pull off.
The stage was a total vibe, layered in warm light, fog, and desert-like props that made it feel like you’d stumbled into a strange little roadside scene in the middle of nowhere. There was a glowing jukebox, a payphone, and this hazy, cinematic feel that matched every note they played. It was theatrical but never overdone, moody, transportive, and quietly breathtaking. Was it swoon-worthy and full of feels? Yes. Was the venue full of couples? Yes. Was it full of people reminded of what heartache is, holding back tears when “The Night We Met” was finally played? Yes… Myself included. Guilty of feeling that one deep, don’t care if you think I’m cliche.
Ben Schneider was in top form. His voice live is almost hard to believe, with depth and warmth, he makes it all seem effortless. Schneider takes you away; he’s got that rare presence and performance that commands a room without saying much. He doesn’t need to talk between songs because it’s all right there in the music and performance. Every lyric, every slow build, every cinematic pause feels intentional. The whole band was locked in, polished but full of life, delivering every moment with a lot of precision and heart.
Their set was a perfect blend of their catalog, spanning the early wanderlust of “Ends of the Earth” to the reflective ache of “Wait by the River.” They leaned into the moodier side with “Used to Know” and “Long Lost,” and lifted things up with “Meet Me in the Woods” before completely stopping time with “The Night We Met.” In a nice sendoff, “Life Is Strange” was the final blow, closing things out with pure cinematic, moody perfection.
There’s something so special about a band that can fill an arena and still make it feel intimate, and that’s what Lord Huron does best. Their shows don’t just entertain, I mean they do, but they transport us, and it was nice to be taken along. For a couple of hours, we were all part of the same dream, somewhere between heartbreak and hope, exactly where their music always seems to live.
Kevin Morby opened the night with the kind of warm, poetic energy that immediately set the tone. He’s a vibrant performer—he writes catchy songs and I love how unusual his voice is. The last time I saw him, it was at Off Broadway, so it was really special to see him now, taking the stage at Chaifetz and absolutely owning such a coveted opening slot. Morby, who now calls Kansas City home, mentioned how good it felt to be back “home” in Missouri, and you could tell he meant it! His set carried his brand of indie/folkie/rockish/heartland warmth, rolling through songs like “This Is a Photograph” and “Bittersweet, TN” all with a calm confidence. I think Morby was the perfect start to the night before Lord Huron swept us all into their cinematic world. | Laura Jerele
Lord Huron setlist:
Who Laughs Last
Looking Back
Bag of Bones
Ends of the Earth
The Ghost on the Shore
Wait by the River
Secret of Life
Used to Know
Ancient Names
Long Lost
Twenty Long Years
Watch Me Go
I Lied
La Belle Fleur
Frozen Pines
Meet Me in the Woods
The Night We Met
The World Ender
Nothing I Need
Not Dead Yet
Life Is Strange
