It's been a number of years since I've been able to place a band anywhere near my "best live show" list, but Fun has done it. If you know anything about the former bands that the members of Fun hail from (The Format, Steel Train, and Anathallo), you would go into this show expecting a lot of indie energy and a fun performance filled with lots of surprises. What you'd get is more than you would have ever expected from just three dudes who are having a great time.

As the night began the band came on stage with a simple, "We are Fun." Then we embarked.

Nate Ruess, previously from The Format, formed the band with Jack Antonoff from Steel Train and Andrew Dost of Anathallo and the combo is...fun. Ruess's funky vocals made the songs interesting and dynamic. Couple that with multi-layered vocals and various instruments (Dost picked up the trumpet pretty often throughout the show) and it was impossible to get tired of the set.

Each member had a lot of energy, many of the songs were deeply personal, and it was obvious that Ruess sang them like he was singing them as though he were telling the story of his own life. He sang a song about his parents, and it really showed, as if he was singing the song to his family at that very moment. 

I have just two complaints, or rather wishes, for next time. First, Dost needs to sing more. He has a very smooth yet hardy voice; it is a heavy contrast compared to Ruess's but when you combine the two they complement the bouncy songs so, so well. Secondly, where was a Steel Train or Anathallo cover? There was a Format song thrown into the mix, but what about the other bands? Sure, Steel Train's lead singer isn't part of the band, but Antonoff had some of his own lead songs. Even though Anathallo is still around, it wouldn't have hurt to mix in some of their tunes. I guess there wouldn't have been much for Ruess to do, but hey, cover one band and leave out the others? That just seems wrong. Plus it would have lengthened the set list, and with only one album of only 10 songs, another cover or two wouldn't have hurt.

The show was filled with a euphoric energy, and it was nice to see a hardcore audience that really loved the band, but even nicer to see that the band loved the audience even more (complete with Ruess donning an "I heart ROCH" shirt near the end). The band promises to come back to their "favorite city" sometime before January, and I will be there. They are Fun.