fun. was fun (except when I cried)
Camera fund took a bit of a hit last week, when I decided (with a little help from my friend) that “fun. fund” had too nice a ring to it not to be utilized.
I was ready to escape to the city on Saturday (Nov. 27). Following a stop at Think Coffee and a yummy Thai dinner, we headed to Webster Hall and waltzed over to what turned out to be Awesome-View VIP Spots just as the first band, The Postelles, began playing.
We agreed that The Postelles were not unpleasant to listen to, just a bit repetitive and very standard-trendyindie sounding. I do really like their name, though. Awesome-View VIP Spots (which were a set of mini-bleachers just in front of and to the left of the stage) quickly proved their worth, because we, old people that we are, could sit!
Yes, this was another very young crowd. The girls behind us talked about fake IDs, a few were with parents, and most people’s hands were branded with an underage stamp… but the positive side is that these kids, despite their hipster threads, were enthusiastic. Nothing makes a show like a good crowd.
Anyway, Steel Train (fronted by fun.’s Jack Antonoff) played next, and we agreed that we liked them much better this time than the last time we saw them, which was (not surprisingly) when they opened for fun. in September. The difference? Not being right next to the big boom-boom-thump speaker and remembering earplugs. That’s not snarky; they have a huge, almost abrasively loud sound that’s more pleasant and still fully rockin’ when it’s not quite so… in your face.
[Side note: Once again, they played their cover of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “American Girl” (one of my favorite songs), and once again, I had to quickly send a mental apology to poor Tom Petty for mistaking it for The Strokes’ “Last Night” during the first several opening measures. (At least I didn’t say out loud to my friend, “Hey, they’re covering The Strokes” this time.) If there were ever a measure of Totally, Utterly Ripping Someone Off, it’s when another, third band plays a cover of the original and the audience mistakes it for your rip-off song.]
Right, fun. They were… fun. No, really. I’m not even going to try describing it another way. The crowd was super, super into it, jumping and singing along and even attempting some stage-jumping and moshing. The band mentioned this was their biggest hometown show ever (sold out Webster Hall), which made it feel pretty special.
Highlights! They opened with my favorite off the album, “Be Calm,” which they hadn’t played at the September show. For whatever reason, it wasn’t quite as amazing live as I’d imagined it could be, but the other songs more than made up for it. “Benson Hedges,” another one they hadn’t played at the September show, totally lived up to expectations. “All The Pretty Girls,” naturally, was even better being played on an actual Saturday night.
Right before they played “The Gambler,” I said, “If they play ‘The Gambler,’ I’m going to get weepy.” And they did. And I did. (And I do not shed tears at concerts… ever.) Somehow, before I first heard that song live in September, I was not aware that it was about lead singer Nate Ruess’ parents. Yeah, I need to pay attention more. So it was “awwww” sweet two months ago when he told that touching story. This time, with a painful reminder in between that not every love story ends like that of his parents, it hit hard.
It was okay. Quick swipe of a tissue, and I was ready to rock out again from the Awesome-View VIP Seats (standing, of course, during fun.’s set), which offered a prime view of the stage, the crowd, and everything else. If only I had a camera…
All in all, a winning night!
