REVAMP Riffs: fun. At The 9:30 Club (5/4/2012)

U STREET CORRIDOR -- The hands of the Friday night crowd were filled with cell phones and marked with Xs, as teens packed DC’s iconic, sold out 9:30 Club to see indie breakout band fun. perform. Many of them were at their first concert at 9:30, others their first concert. Judging by the shrieks and fist pumping, they were not disappointed.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
A consuming rendition of “Some Nights” left the young eyes and hearts of the crowd transfixed on the stage and lead singer Nate Ruess. Ruess bounces and shimmies around the stage with a smile, feathered hair, high cheek bones and thin lips, looking a bit like a young Bon Jovi. He also seems to revel in revealing his vocal prowess.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
Salivating at what was to fall upon their waiting ears, the packed club erupted with pep rally spirit as the tempo picked up and “Walking the Dog” sprung from the devices employed by the caffeine pop group. In the most surprising moment of the evening, a crowd that wasn’t of age to pour one out themselves had the privilege to listen to fun. play one out. The band delivered a few spunky bars of “Sabotage” as a tribute to the late great MCA, before quickly returning to material from this decade.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
As the show progressed, the crowd began to tense with anticipation for the song that launched 1,000 ship-ments of Some Nights. And 35 minutes into the show, Ruess announced that this would be the “second to last song.”

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
When the first chord was struck, on what was proclaimed to be the last song, it didn’t match the chord the crowd was expecting. A collective gasp left the lungs of the crowd, who came to hear the song that has been blasting in their parents’ cars all month. The prankster Ruess played “At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)”, and then launched into the uber popular “We Are Young”.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
Howls of ecstasy erupted from the crowd which for the first time all night, didn't need a prompt to sing along. Hands were removed from hips and pulled from pockets as the crowd reached its tipping point. Following the anthem, some headed for the doors. The lights went dark for a few seconds and the crowd wondered if an encore was on the horizon. Again, Nate announced that they were playing their second-to-last song and launched into the riotous, borderline punk “One Foot” followed by “All Alright”.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
No doubt prompted by the chants for “One. More. Song.” billowing from the floor immediately thereafter, the band launched into “Stars” which they claim to rarely play live. And after two more second-to-last songs, the show concluded. With a grin and a fist held high, Nate thanked the DC crowd for its presence and passion before strolling off into the darkness.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
After performing in D.C. for the third time in 6 days (Merriweather and two 9:30 Club shows), a letdown would have been understandable. But that was not the case for these showmen. Energetic bounding and wiggling by the front man and guitar solo dance moves that showed aggression and flexibility filled the performance.

Photo: Frank Wilson / REVAMP.com
fun. appeared to have a ton of… well, fun. Performing like their hair was on fire and accelerated by song writing aimed to provide a soundtrack for first time drivers, it’s no surprise the crowd left gasping for air, under one of the fullest moons of the year.