steel train
Live Review: fun. @ Boston, MA’s The Orpheum (02/01)
Bands: fun., Andrew McMahon
Location: Boston, Massachusetts’s The Orpheum
Date: February 1, 2013
All pictures by Avery Fiftal for Lost In The Sound
fun. was formed in February 2008 after Nate Ruess’s former band The Format split. Fun. was formed when Ruess brought in Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff from Anathallo and Steel Train, and they released their first album, Aim and Ignite, in August 25, 2009. This album took off in the alternative music scene getting recognition as a progressive and amazingly written pop album. The next year, fun. set off on their first North American tour with the band Jack’s Mannequin.
Two years later and the song “We Are Young” started changing this band’s life. On March 7, 2012, Fun’s single “We Are Young” reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and their sophomore album, Some Nights, took off from there and they have been continuously touring since.
Now, fun.’s back on tour and this time they brought out Andrew McMahon (ex-Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate), and I must say; this was a show to remember.
Andrew McMahon opened the show with a mix of classic Something Corporate songs along with his soulful Jack’s Mannequin tunes. Though not many people in the crowd seemed to know many of McMahon’s songs due to the fact that he was added to the tour after it was sold out, he seemed to capture the attention of many prospective fans. As McMahon’s first solo tour the few fans in the crowd were greatly anticipating what was to come about, and I must say, as a fan myself, I was thoroughly impressed. With everything from “Dark Blue” to “I Woke Up In A Car” we were able to hear Andrew McMahon’s journey over the last 10 years. It was simply amazing to be able to see McMahon perform live for the first time as a solo artist and be able to see his growth all in one performance.
Next, it was fun’s turn to play to the full house at The Orpheum. They opened with “Out On the Town”, a bonus track from Some Nights and you could feel the excitement of the crowd completely radiate throughout the room. Dedicated fans of fun. screamed the lyrics along with Ruess and as the set progressed, you could feel the amazement and astonishment of the crowd grow as more and more well known songs were performed. “Some Nights” and “We Are Young” got screaming whoops and a rowdy singalong from every head in that crowd, while the lyrics to songs such as “Barlights” and “The Gambler” flowed out of devoted fans alike.
Fun. put on a show that was thoroughly impassioned and impressive to new and old fans alike. Their like show all in all proved why this band has taken off so well in the last year. Everything from Ruess’s extraordinary stage presence to Jack Antoff’s staggering guitar solos to Andrew Dost playing everything from piano to stealing Ruess’s famous gold microphone, it was a show to remember. And the Boston Celtics jerseys weren’t a bad touch either.
Valentine’s Day Mix
Steel Train – I Feel Weird
The Postal Service – We Will Become Silhouettes
Rivers Cuomo – Lover in the Snow
Elliott Smith – Say Yes
Jimmy Eat World – Invented
The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
Wilco – I’m Always In Love
Limbeck – I Wrote This Down
Girls – Saying I Love You
Cults – You Know What I Mean
The Format – Janet
Best Coast – Crazy For You
Monday Mixer #7 [Springtime]
This week, we are very excited to present Week 7 of the Monday Mixer playlists, a collaborative playlist created each Monday by some of your favorite music blogs. The theme for this week’s playlist is “Springtime.”
Photo: Angela Wu
You can check out the full playlist below.
Owen @ Wine and Bowties
Ghostland Observatory – “Midnight Voyage”
I’ve definitely been feeling the barefoot, springtime vibe so I was pretty juiced to find out this weeks theme. Anyways… the band is Ghostland Observatory. They get down. Front man Aaron Behrens makes me forget bell bottoms aren’t cool. I’m imagining the setting for this song to be at a barbeque after everyone’s eaten and the sun is almost down… buzzed… then this song comes on and everyone realizes it’s time to dance. Hard. That would be awesome.
Confusion @ Pigeons and Planes
The Shins – “Chutes Too Narrow”
I put this Shins song on a spring break mix years ago and now it always reminds me of driving to the beach with the windows down in a car full of friends.
Ben @ The Metropolitan Jolt
The Knife – “Pass This On”
I have always loved this tropical track from The Knife. Its utilization makes it unlike any other songs from the group. And I guess it’s really a bit more summery than spring time, but I think it still applies. Made to be enjoyed in warm weather.
Levi @ Lost In The Sound
Blue Öyster Cult – “Then Came the Last Days of May”
I hold a special place for Blue Öyster Cult. I think that they’re one of the most underappreciated bands of their era, and this song is a good demonstration of their utility outside of their singles. A laid-back, somber song, it’s music strongly evokes the cool desert imagery. Perhaps an inversion of the typical rebirth feelings of spring, the setting and feeling make it worthy of a spring playlist.
Marc @ Umstrum
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson – “Relator”
Whenever I hear this song, no matter whether it’s hot or cold outside, I feel like spring has arrived. I don’t know if it’s the summery guitar chords, the bouncy rhythm or the soft vocals but it just feels like the temperature rises a few degrees every time I play it. Give it a try! Play the song and close your eyes. Can’t you see yourself driving a car across the country with your windows open and the sun hitting hard on the windowshield? It always works…
Chris @ Daily Beatz
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – “Up From Below”
Springtime is one of my favorite times of the year. Mostly because it means the end of another long and brutal winner and the start of a few months of fantastic weather and good times before it all goes downhill again. “Up From Below”, one of my favorite Eddie Sharpe tunes, seems to capture this emotion pretty well, both lyrically and with its undeniably bright and upbeat music.
Mikayla @ LOOSE L!PS
The Virgins – “Rich Girls (Le Castle Vania Remix)”
An oldie but a goodie, Le Castle Vania’s remix of The Virgins “Rich Girls” is my ultimate spring song. With its stomping beat, criminally funky bassline, vocal oohs (which are my musical Achilles heel), and mock-guitar whines, it is THE staple piece in every ‘sunny day’ playlist I’ve created in the past year and a half. Just try to listen to it without grooving. Now take it to your car, roll your windows down, and start cruising. Just trust me on this one.
Frank @ Lost In The Sound
Steel Train – “Bullet”
One of 2010’s biggest surprises for me was New Jersey indie rock band Steel Train’s third studio album. “Bullet” is the opening track, which pretty much encapsulates what the entire album is about: non-stop fun. Highlighting frontman Jack Antonoff’s easily distinguishable voice, the crescendoing chorus is perfect for a sunny day.
Hellogoodbye Stream
Hellogoodbye‘s new album, Would It Kill You?, is streaming on the band’s Myspace here. If you liked their past stuff, fun., or Steel Train, then you should definitely check out Would It Kill You?. It’s a great album.
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