When senior business administration major Ryan Coleman was told by a friend that indie pop band Fun. would be playing at John R. Emens Auditorium, he was in disbelief. He never expected his favorite band and recent recipient of six Grammy nominations to play on campus — especially not for a ticket price that he could cover by scrounging up couch cushion change.
At 8 p.m. Friday, Emens will host one of the biggest concerts in the university’s history, featuring Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin and Fun. Tickets are sold out as of Thursday morning. With chart-topping singles such as “We Are Young” and “Some Nights,” Fun. is stopping in Muncie before their performance at the Grammy’s on Feb. 10.
As a Fun. fan for more than a year and a half and a member of their street team, Coleman bought his ticket the day they went on sale. Friday’s concert will be the first concert Coleman has ever attended, one he said he’s sure won’t disappoint. Coleman said he hopes to meet the band members after the show, even if it means crossing legal limits.
“I’ll get arrested, I don’t care,” said Coleman. “I’m kidding — but seriously. Just to shake their hands or something would be wild.”
As a fan of lead singer Nate Ruess’ former band The Format, Coleman said the frontman’s thoughtful lyrics are what has always had him hooked.
“You can tell that the lead singer, Nate, likes what he does and puts forth the effort to speak out to everyone,” Coleman said. “[He doesn’t] just write songs that don’t make any sense and hope to make them famous.”
Associate Director for Student Center Programs Maureen Warter helped arrange Fun.’s appearance by consulting student leaders on campus and music or entertainment magazines.
“We wanted what would be best for students,” Warter said. “[We were looking] for an upcoming group that would work for our students.”
As a part of deciding what would fit students best, Warter sought out a group that would be flexible with low student prices to attract a crowd.
“We had sent out a couple of bids, and we were lucky to win the bid for Fun. [to come],” Warter said. “We hit our timing with Fun. performing at the Grammys in a couple weeks and [being] up for six nominations,” she said.
Warter said she hopes to sell out of the limited number of tickets left for sale.
After the concert, the hype will continue in the Village at Be Here Now’s Fun. after party. Cool Dad and 1,2,3 from Muncie and Pittsburgh respectively will perform around 11 p.m. or midnight, Be Here Now owner Whitney Lewis said. Lewis said he’s thankful for having the concert precede the after party.
“[I’m] looking forward to some help getting people out to see Cool Dad and 1,2,3 this Friday,” he said. “[We] thought it’d be a good way to get one of our favorite bands some new fans.”
The after party costs $4 for those over 21 and $6 for those under 21. If students bring their tickets from the concert or one of the flyers Be Here Now has made, they will get half off entry.
Lewis said the timing of the event will boost the recognition of 1,2,3 and Cool Dad.
“We felt like the Fun. crowd would really enjoy their music and so [we] invited them back to piggyback off the Emens show and hopefully get a big crowd out,” Lewis said. “ [1,2,3] have been working on a new album for the last year and plan on playing several tracks that have not been performed in public yet. Muncie makes for a good test market.”
Michelle Johnson contributed to this article.
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