Photo Credits:Cristi Demnowicz
Photo Credits:Cristi Demnowicz
Guests piled in to the Merriweather Post Pavilion as noon passed. The clouds were heavy and it was clear that a rain storm was in the near future. But the rain wasn't enough to keep the fun. away.
The band kicked things off with great energy at the start of the festival. Their upbeat, sing-a-long tunes had concertgoers buzzing thanks to their recent success with the hit single "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monae.
Judging by the warm crowd reaction to their set, the band likely gained a few more converts that day. Latecomers could be spotted grooving as they made their way into the venue during the band's set. Highlights from their set included the lithely melodic "Some Nights" and the quirky "At Least I'm Not As Sad." But of course, "We Are Young" is the anthem that everyone came to hear, and fun. didn't disappoint.
fun. is on an upward trajectory, having gone from a mostly Internet-based fan base to the full glare of mainstream exposure. Their mainstream success is also notable due to the fact that they're a pop-rock band. Rock as a music genre has been in a bit of dry spell. In fact, the Billboard Hot 100 hasn't been topped by an alternative/rock act since 2008's "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay. So their success is a breakthrough for a genre that's been fighting to maintain its relevance in pop music.
With Bonarroo around the corner, fun. demonstrated their festival strength at Sweetlife. Fans should expect a good time from fun. if they catch them in an upcoming festival set.
A$AP Rocky hits the stage the 2012 Sweetlife Festival.
Photo Credits:LaVan Anderson
As fun. departed the stage, there was a DJ set to fill in the time until it was time for A$AP Rocky's set. A$AP Rocky was brought onto stage with a strong response with fans chanting "ASAP!" continuously. Rocky's set kicked off with "Pretty Flacko" as he and his crew stomped the stage. The folks in the pit were riled up and bouncing along with the rapper. The A$AP Mob help Rocky's stage presence and also intensify the crowd response, especially for notable verses like A$AP Ferg's on "Kissin' Pink".
A$AP Rocky proved he is a force of his own as he commanded the fan favorite "Wassup" to a rowdy response and some of the earliest crowd surfs of the day. The energy was high for what seemed like a short set. A$AP Rocky finished with a bang by performing "Peso," arguably his biggest song to date. He thanked his fans for their support to this point and any new fans just discovering the A$AP movement.
A$AP Rocky could be spotted later in the evening enjoying other shows and greeting fans throughout. It's good to see that despite their success, there are still humble acts out there willing to mingle with the people.
Photo Credits:Cristi Demnowicz
