The Lumineers: 'SNL' Performance Was Message to Drummer's Dead Brother

When Denver-based roots act the Lumineers appeared on "Saturday Night Live" last week, performing "Ho Hey" and "Stubborn Love" from their Grammy nominated self-titled debut album, the band stomped, shouted, hooted and hollered like holy-ghost afflicted parishioners at an Evangelical tent revival.

The millions that tuned in to see "Silver Lining Playbook" star Jennifer Lawrence host the long-running sketch show saw a promising young band capitalizing on an opportunity to reach millions of new fans.

But drummer Jeremiah Fraites reveals something deeper fueled the band's heartfelt performance.

"It was a huge deal and I don't want to down play it," he tells Spinner. "Growing up in Jersey, I watched 'SNL' a lot. My brother and I both loved the show."

Fraites and singer Wesley Schultz hail from the New York City suburb of Ramsey, New Jersey. Growing up, Schultz was tight with Fraites's older brother, Josh. Sadly, in 2002, Josh Fraites died of a heroin overdose. He was 19.

Mourning the loss of a brother and best friend, Fraites and Schultz turned to each other and found solace in a powerful musical collaboration.

At first, they tried the starving-artist route in New York City. When the city's high rents and competitive music scene became insufferable, they cut their losses. Heading in the opposite direction of so many hopeful musicians, they set up shop in Denver, Colorado.

There, they joined forces with multi-instrumentalist Neyla Pekarek. Now, a couple of years and a few hundred gigs later, the Lumineers are up for two awards at the 2013 Grammys and are successors to the roots-rock throne held by reigning kings, Mumford and Sons.

The Lumineers have made the rounds on the late night talk show circuit, performing for Craig Ferguson, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, and Jay Leno. But for Fraites, this recent appearance on "Saturday Night Live" tops them all.

"It was the coolest thing I've ever done in my life," he says. "It was a holy-shit moment."

He remembers staying up late with his brother to watch "Saturday Night Live" in the '90s, and how they would cry from laughter when their favorite cast member, Chris Farley, appeared on stage. Years later, as he stood on the very same the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, he was sending his brother a message.

"I don't want to get too sentimental," he says, "but in a significant way, by playing that show I was letting him know that I'm doing OK."