Continuing our highlights from DAY 1 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…
Indie pop sensations and aptly named three-piece FUN. from New York was a fierce contender for best act of the day for this reporter. Set up on the largest stage at Fuji Rock Festival, the moment leading man Nate Ruess stepped out onto the stage and broke into the first track, a wave of good vibes washed over the audience and didn’t cease until the last song was over.
Ruess genuinely seemed to have trouble standing still for even a minute, absolutely exuding energy and pacing vigorously around the stage, gesticulating every word and delivering a passionate performance sure to have stuck in the minds of all those in the audience. The crowd, which extended way back up the mountain, was screaming, singing and clapping along, and for tracks “We Are Young” and “Some Nights,” the majority were jumping and dancing in total elation.
Fun. has enjoyed immense popularity and success in the relatively short time they’ve been producing music (this year alone they were nominated for six Grammy Awards, two of which they won), and their set at Fuji Rock festival left no doubt as to why that is. From August 21 the group will embark on a huge US tour until October.