Fun (band)
Encyclopedia
Fun is an American
indie pop
band based in New York, New York that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format
. After the 2008 breakup of The Format, Ruess left Arizona
to develop his career in New York City
. Ruess then formed Fun with Andrew Dost of Anathallo
and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train
. Fun recorded their debut album, Aim and Ignite
in August 2008 with producer Steven McDonald
and arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
, the former keyboardist
of Jellyfish
.
Fun made its first single, "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)" available as a free download by signing up for the band's mailing list." In addition, the band announced that if Fun's Facebook
page reached 40,000 fans by December 1st, a new Christmas single, "Believe In Me," would be released for free download. This goal was met, and Fun did indeed release the single for free.
In February 2010, Fun supported Jack's Mannequin
on their headline tour, along with Vedera
which was followed by their first UK appearances in March. Their current touring band also includes Rob Kroehler, Emily Moore, Nate Harold, and Jon "Jonny Thunder" Goldstein.
In April 2010, Fun supported Paramore
's headline tour. Other support for the tour includes Relient K
and Harriet Ellis of Summer Beats hosted by Sprint Mobile. The band then embarked on a full UK tour in May.
In September 2011, Fun announced they would support Janelle Monáe
on The Campus Consciousness Tour.
split, and Nate Ruess immediately asked Andrew Dost, of Anathallo
, and Jack Antonoff, of Steel Train
, to join his new project. Dost had previously toured with The Format, providing various instrumentation, and Ruess knew Antonoff after The Format toured with Steel Train. The three began working together in New Jersey
within a week, with Ruess singing melodies for the other two to provide music for. The first song the band recorded a demo of was "Benson Hedges," which was then made available for free in Spins September 20, 2008 article on the band.
Fun approached Steven McDonald, who had previously produced The Format
's Dog Problems
with Ruess, to produce their debut album. McDonald, who also played bass guitar
on the album, was enthusiastic about the project, at one point saying, "I can’t believe what we’re working on here. This crushes anything I’ve ever done."
Recording took place in the Fall of 2008, and the band's first single, "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)" was made available as a free download on the band's MySpace
page on April 6, 2009.
Fun began its first North American tour on November 8, 2008 with Jack's Mannequin
. The debut album Aim and Ignite was released on August 25, 2009. In reviewing the album, The Washington Post
called some of the arrangements "theatrical, much like those on Panic! at the Disco
's 2005 debut".
Fun and Relient K
opened up for Paramore
on their Spring Tour 2010.
On August 4, 2010, Fun announced that they had signed with label Fueled by Ramen
.
On 14 August 2010, it was announced via the Official Paramore Fan Club that fun. would be opening for Paramore on their November UK tour.
In 2010 Fun's single, "Walking the Dog," was used in a commercial for the travel site Expedia.com.
In 2010, Will Noon
(formerly of Straylight Run
) will play drums with Fun on tour, according to Noon's twitter page.
To celebrate the Paramore UK tour and the band’s new single ‘Walking The Dog’, Hassle Records gave away a free download of an acoustic version of the track. Click here to download the track.
On 12/02/10, Nate Ruess announced at a live show in Washington, D.C. that after the current tour the band will be returning home to begin work on a new album.
On April 27, 2011 a YouTube video of the band performing a new song entitled "Carry On" was uploaded.
On May 17, 2011, the band released "C'mon" as a joint single with Panic! at the Disco
, who they opened for on their 2011 Vices and Virtues Tour.
On September 14, 2011, the band announced that the first single off of their next album would be called "We Are Young" and will feature Janelle Monáe
.
On November 7, 2011, the band announced that their next album would be titled Some Nights
and released on February 21, 2012.
Current touring members
Former touring members
Live albums
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band based in New York, New York that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format
The Format
The Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
. After the 2008 breakup of The Format, Ruess left Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
to develop his career in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Ruess then formed Fun with Andrew Dost of Anathallo
Anathallo
Anathallo was a band originally from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and then based in Chicago, Illinois. The band started practicing in the fall of 2000 and played their first show soon afterward. Their name is derived from a Greek word meaning "to renew, refresh or bloom again."In 2006 Anathallo released...
and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train
Steel Train
Steel Train is an indie rock band from New Jersey. They have toured with Tegan and Sara, Girl in a Coma, Ben Folds, The Fray, Silversun Pickups, Hanson, The Format, Gomez, O.A.R., Barenaked Ladies, Fun and others...
. Fun recorded their debut album, Aim and Ignite
Aim and Ignite
Aim and Ignite is the debut album from indie pop band fun. It was released on August 25, 2009 through Nettwerk. The two bonus tracks are re-imagined versions of two other songs on the CD...
in August 2008 with producer Steven McDonald
Steven Shane McDonald
Steven Shane McDonald is the bass player in the Los Angeles alternative rock/power pop band Redd Kross. He is also a member of the hardcore punk band OFF!, which formed in late 2009. Other projects included The SMG and Green and Yellow TV - both were Los Angeles-based groups from the 2000s...
and arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. is an American keyboard player and founding member of bands Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, The Moog Cookbook, and TV Eyes. He has also spent several years as an integral member of Beck's backing band, and made contributions to several recordings by the band Air. He is...
, the former keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
of Jellyfish
Jellyfish (band)
Jellyfish were a power pop band from San Francisco. It formed after Beatnik Beatch broke up in 1989. The core members were drummer/singer/songwriter Andy Sturmer and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Roger Joseph Manning, Jr...
.
Fun made its first single, "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)" available as a free download by signing up for the band's mailing list." In addition, the band announced that if Fun's Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page reached 40,000 fans by December 1st, a new Christmas single, "Believe In Me," would be released for free download. This goal was met, and Fun did indeed release the single for free.
In February 2010, Fun supported Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin is an American rock band formed in 2004, originally hailing from Orange County, California. The band began as a side project of Andrew McMahon, the frontman for Something Corporate, and is composed of guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Mikey "The Kid" Wagner, and drummer Jay...
on their headline tour, along with Vedera
Vedera
Vedera is a pop/rock band from Kansas City, Missouri.- History :Kristen May grew up in the Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs, as did the rest of her bandmates. Her entire family was musical; her mother was a singer who loved Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Jim Croce. “I listened to those artists,...
which was followed by their first UK appearances in March. Their current touring band also includes Rob Kroehler, Emily Moore, Nate Harold, and Jon "Jonny Thunder" Goldstein.
In April 2010, Fun supported Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
's headline tour. Other support for the tour includes Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
and Harriet Ellis of Summer Beats hosted by Sprint Mobile. The band then embarked on a full UK tour in May.
In September 2011, Fun announced they would support Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe is an American R&B/soul musician signed to Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records.Monáe debuted with a conceptual EP, Metropolis: Suite I ...
on The Campus Consciousness Tour.
History
In February 2008, The FormatThe Format
The Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
split, and Nate Ruess immediately asked Andrew Dost, of Anathallo
Anathallo
Anathallo was a band originally from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and then based in Chicago, Illinois. The band started practicing in the fall of 2000 and played their first show soon afterward. Their name is derived from a Greek word meaning "to renew, refresh or bloom again."In 2006 Anathallo released...
, and Jack Antonoff, of Steel Train
Steel Train
Steel Train is an indie rock band from New Jersey. They have toured with Tegan and Sara, Girl in a Coma, Ben Folds, The Fray, Silversun Pickups, Hanson, The Format, Gomez, O.A.R., Barenaked Ladies, Fun and others...
, to join his new project. Dost had previously toured with The Format, providing various instrumentation, and Ruess knew Antonoff after The Format toured with Steel Train. The three began working together in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
within a week, with Ruess singing melodies for the other two to provide music for. The first song the band recorded a demo of was "Benson Hedges," which was then made available for free in Spins September 20, 2008 article on the band.
Fun approached Steven McDonald, who had previously produced The Format
The Format
The Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
's Dog Problems
Dog Problems
Dog Problems is the second album and fourth release by American rock band, The Format. It was released on July 11, 2006, on The Vanity Label, The Format's own record label through their management company, Nettwerk. An MP3 version of Dog Problems leaked to the internet almost two months before its...
with Ruess, to produce their debut album. McDonald, who also played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on the album, was enthusiastic about the project, at one point saying, "I can’t believe what we’re working on here. This crushes anything I’ve ever done."
Recording took place in the Fall of 2008, and the band's first single, "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)" was made available as a free download on the band's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page on April 6, 2009.
Fun began its first North American tour on November 8, 2008 with Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin
Jack's Mannequin is an American rock band formed in 2004, originally hailing from Orange County, California. The band began as a side project of Andrew McMahon, the frontman for Something Corporate, and is composed of guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Mikey "The Kid" Wagner, and drummer Jay...
. The debut album Aim and Ignite was released on August 25, 2009. In reviewing the album, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
called some of the arrangements "theatrical, much like those on Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
's 2005 debut".
Fun and Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
opened up for Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
on their Spring Tour 2010.
On August 4, 2010, Fun announced that they had signed with label Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...
.
On 14 August 2010, it was announced via the Official Paramore Fan Club that fun. would be opening for Paramore on their November UK tour.
In 2010 Fun's single, "Walking the Dog," was used in a commercial for the travel site Expedia.com.
In 2010, Will Noon
Will Noon
Will Noon is the drummer of Straylight Run and the former drummer of Breaking Pangaea. He has performed as a studio musician with bands such as Cassino, Destry, and The Scarlet Ending as well as a touring musician for Fun...
(formerly of Straylight Run
Straylight Run
Straylight Run was an indie rock band based in Baldwin, New York. Two of the members, Nolan and Cooper, had been members of Taking Back Sunday and have now rejoined that band. Their final releases are the EPs About Time and Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The...
) will play drums with Fun on tour, according to Noon's twitter page.
To celebrate the Paramore UK tour and the band’s new single ‘Walking The Dog’, Hassle Records gave away a free download of an acoustic version of the track. Click here to download the track.
On 12/02/10, Nate Ruess announced at a live show in Washington, D.C. that after the current tour the band will be returning home to begin work on a new album.
On April 27, 2011 a YouTube video of the band performing a new song entitled "Carry On" was uploaded.
On May 17, 2011, the band released "C'mon" as a joint single with Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
, who they opened for on their 2011 Vices and Virtues Tour.
On September 14, 2011, the band announced that the first single off of their next album would be called "We Are Young" and will feature Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe is an American R&B/soul musician signed to Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records.Monáe debuted with a conceptual EP, Metropolis: Suite I ...
.
On November 7, 2011, the band announced that their next album would be titled Some Nights
Some Nights
Some Nights is the second studio album from American indie pop band fun. It will be released on February 21, 2012 through Fueled by Ramen. It was recorded in 2011 and produced by Jeff Bhasker. It will be awesome...
and released on February 21, 2012.
Band members
Current members- Jack Antonoff – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(since 2008) - Andrew Dost – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, flugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
, glockenspielGlockenspielA glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(since 2008) - Nate Ruess – lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(since 2008)
Current touring members
- Nate Harold – bass guitar (since 2009)
- Emily Moore – guitars, vocals, keyboards (since 2009)
- Will NoonWill NoonWill Noon is the drummer of Straylight Run and the former drummer of Breaking Pangaea. He has performed as a studio musician with bands such as Cassino, Destry, and The Scarlet Ending as well as a touring musician for Fun...
– drums (since 2010)
Former touring members
- Jon Goldstein – drums (2008–2010)
- Rob Kroehler – guitar (2008–2010)
- Michael Newsted – bass guitar (2010)
- Maggie Malyn – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
(2008) - Evan Winiker – bass guitar (2011)
Discography
Albums- Aim and IgniteAim and IgniteAim and Ignite is the debut album from indie pop band fun. It was released on August 25, 2009 through Nettwerk. The two bonus tracks are re-imagined versions of two other songs on the CD...
(NettwerkNettwerkThe Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
, 2009) - Some NightsSome NightsSome Nights is the second studio album from American indie pop band fun. It will be released on February 21, 2012 through Fueled by Ramen. It was recorded in 2011 and produced by Jeff Bhasker. It will be awesome...
(Fueled By RamenFueled by RamenFueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...
, 2012)
Live albums
- fun. Live At Fingerprints (Nettwerk, 2010)
Singles
- 2009: "At Least I'm Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)"
- 2009: "All The Pretty Girls"
- 2010: "Believe In Me"
- 2010: "Walking The Dog"
- 2011: "C'mon"
- 2011: "We Are Young"
External links
- Official site
- Fun YouTube Channel
- Fun coverage on Audioholic Media
- Alter The Press Interview