Keeping true to their name, fun. brought high energy, love, and a little something extra to the Firebird this past Wednesday. The band entered the stage unassumingly and announced, “This is going to be anti-climatic.” But just a few seconds into their opening song, “At Least I’m Not as Sad as I Used to Be,” the crowd reveled in their lighthearted, quirky beats. It was clear that this show was not going to be a let down.
The subtle energy present in their album, Aim and Ignite, in no way prepares the listener for the passion and spirit unleashed during their live shows. The cheery harmonies combined with lead singer Nate Ruess’ stirring voice (not to mention his adorable, semi-spastic dance moves), evoked the era of simple, summer camp fun. As the entire crowd swayed, singing the words, “You know I feel alive,” I couldn’t help but feel the power and freedom of being young. Fun. is one of those endearing bands that graces the listener with their refreshing humility and heartfelt lyrics. When Ruess belts out his lyrics, it’s needless to say he means what he sings.
The show took all sorts of surprising turns, from a brief albeit unsuccessful attempt at “Billie Jean,” to a cover of “The First Single,” a crowd pleaser from Ruess’ previous band, The Format. And with a surprise appearance by Ruess’ father, who brought cake and colorful balloons to celebrate the 29th birthday of the band’s bassist, the crowd returned much love with a reprise of “Happy Birthday.”
Though it was clear the band had exerted much energy by the end, they did not fail to satisfy the crowd’s roar for an encore with a performance as spirited as the body of their set. Their first performance in St. Louis certainly points to a promising future.
