The human element always makes a big difference. Saturday's sold-out and spirited Fun. concert at the Glass House was a prime example.
New album Some Nights finds the alt-pop trio collaborating with producer Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Beyoncé, Jay-Z) on ambitious songs inspired by Queen, Broadway musicals and layered rap/hip-hop efforts with rhythmic programming, loops and Auto-Tuned vocals.
Anthemic first single and KROQ fave "We Are Young" is currently No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100, and Fun. is the first rock act in several years to achieve pole position with a debut chart entry. Many fans initially discovered it through an episode of Glee last December. Placement during a Super Bowl ad for the Chevy Sonic sent the song's popularity soaring and helped Some Nights bow at No. 3 on the magazine's Top 200 albums tally.
For this tour, Fun. (the period is part of the moniker) has impressively teamed with Revel & Riot; the gay rights organization had items and info alongside the band's merch table. Guitarist Jack Antonoff, also a member of New Jersey outfit Steel Train, is a "Straight Ally" contributor to the Gay Voices section of the Huffington Post.
Behind the stage in Pomona, tall letters spelled out the group's name and LED panels displayed computerized graphics (think old-school screen savers). Fun. was augmented by a bassist, a second guitarist/ keyboardist and a drummer. A very enthusiastic Glass House crowd skewed young, with a few parents seen chaperoning children. Teen girls shrieked as soon as Fun. started the rousing 75-minute set with a punchy "One Foot."
Frontman Nate Ruess was clad in a sweater vest and could have easily been mistaken for a student at the nearby Claremont Colleges (Antonoff sported an equality T-shirt). Ruess, who used to lead the Format, delivered a fierce vocal and tender coda while live trumpet, piano and sax were added to the tune's grand, triggered arrangement. The toy-themed hip-hop of "All Alone" proved endearing. A heartfelt "Why Am I the One" was propelled by Andrew Dost's fine piano work and a soaring group chorus (Glee should tackle it next) that recalled mid-'70s Elton John.
"All the Pretty Girls," an exuberant rocker from the band's 2009 bow Aim & Ignite, had everyone clapping and singing along to lyrics about having a good time on a Saturday night, while Antonoff dished out a ripping electric guitar solo. Ruess really worked up a sweat – and thankfully downplayed the synthetic vocal effects – during the affirming sentiments and spastic new wave of "It Gets Better."
Older tune "Barlights" featured welcome call-and-response action, while the uplifting "Carry On," with a Brian May-worthy solo by Antonoff, was among the evening's highlights. Meanwhile, a brief stripped-down segment, including the ultra-dramatic "Be Calm," featured just the core musicians and gave them a chance to relax, joke around and sing "Happy Birthday" to a fan.
Elsewhere, the buoyant "At Least I'm Not Sad" boasted a cool Caribbean vibe. But the set-closing tandem of "We Are Young" and a joyous, tribal "Some Nights" were truly electrifying.
New Zealand three-piece Avalanche City entertained early arrivals with a lovely 40-minute set characterized by inviting folk/pop arrangements (violin, banjo, accordion, mandolin, xylophone) and heavenly harmonies. Unassuming singer Dave Baxter basically let the music speak for itself.
Standouts included his intricately picked acoustic guitar playing on "Beautiful," the group whistling of "Sunset" and the title track to the trio's Love Love Love EP, just out on Roadrunner Records.
Photo by Lindsey Byrnes.
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