Music Reviews — 09 November 2012
Fun. Exclusive Acoustic Performance at Bowery Ballroom: A LocalBozo.com Concert Review

Fun. Exclusive Acoustic Show for “The Ally Coalition”
Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
November 8, 2012

Concert Review: Fun. Acoustic Show at Bowery Ballroom

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Following their sold out performance Wednesday night in front of a jovial Irving Plaza audience, the band Fun. would use Thursday afternoon to perform an exclusive and private acoustic show for New York City media outlets and a handful of lucky onlookers. In a joint promotional event hosted by Ben & Jerry’s and non-profit organization Reverb, the Bowery Ballroom would house a few dozen supporters as the trio of musicians comprising Fun. would mix part performance and part panel discussion revealing their upcoming plans for the recently initiated 2012 Campus Consciousness Tour as well as their newly founded “Ally Coalition.”

Noticing a vacancy of support in the music and arts community for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals, the band’s “Ally Coalition” is a non-profit organization that seeks to implement a positive outlet through their music, providing information, empowerment, and awareness to concertgoers. Said guitarist Jack Antonoff, “our shows became a place where homophobia didn’t exist and everyone could just be and that was really inspiring to us. We can use our voices. We can raise money for other organizations and more importantly, other people can use their voice.” Added frontman Nate Ruess, “it’s important for us considering the success we’ve had in the last year. It’s just one more thing to add to an already incredible year.”

The band opened the performance casually jutting out to the stage and subtly taking their respective seats as attendees awaited the band’s initial notes. The informal setup of the exclusive acoustic show really lent itself perfectly to the band’s talents. It was easy to note the relaxed and good natured rapport the three band members still share, despite the massively successful twelve months they’ve recently enjoyed. It’s nice to see that fame hasn’t entirely gone to their heads. Although Ruess noted his fatigue from the prior evening’s show, he led the band admirably with the same perfected high-pitched vocals that had shone so brightly just a few hours prior. Fun.’s abbreviated four song set delivered the band’s signature style of harmonizing, showing the band’s range despite the lack of drums backing them.

Opening with the band’s latest single “Carry On,” of which the video was shot in June at their pair of sold out shows at Terminal 5 and with filler footage in and around New York City, there was nary a peep from the crowd on hand, marveling at the band’s collaboration of talents in performing in such a reclusive and intimate setting. Dividing up the panel discussion between two two-song sets, the band played a rousing rendition of “We Are Young,” which saw the bandmates in a constant exchange of smiles on stage and then closing the set with a poignant and beautifully performed version of “The Gambler,” and a surprisingly uplifting and energy infused acoustically driven “Some Nights,” which really put the band’s staggering ability front and center.

In our me-first society, it’s a refreshing change of pace to witness a band so successful yet so truly humbled and thankful for the heights of their successes to date. And even more so, a band that cares about their fans to the extent that their coalition was initiated essentially for them. For their fans’ empowerment. For their fans to have a place to voice their concerns and their fears. For their fans to be comfortable at a rock concert and leave the prejudices and perils that society holds outside of the confines of any rock venue. Despite being heterosexuals themselves, Fun.’s social consciousness has kept them grounded just as their career is beginning to skyrocket. Giving a voice to the voiceless is now as integral a part of this band as is their proclivity for mind-blowing live performances. You can learn more about the “Ally Coalition” at every single Fun. show on the 2012 Campus Consciousness Tour and also at allycoalition.org.

Fun.- Live at the Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
November 8th, 2012
Setlist

1. Carry On
2. We Are Young
3. The Gambler
4. Some Nights

- Jane Van Arsdale

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