Nate Ruess’ exceptional voice matches livewire performance

RUESS’ set list includes songs from his solo album. Sherwin Guzman for Wilbros Live

THE SINGER danced, twirled and hopped on top of the mock grand piano.

It was apparent from his exultations alone, as he entered the stage skipping about and with a water bottle in his hand, that Nate Ruess was armed with an exceptional voice: bright yet muscular; theatrical and placed high—almost androgynous, at times. It was also durable, rarely shaken by his livewire showmanship.

And for the type of music he does—whimsical, buoyantly upbeat and laden with rallying cries—Ruess’ set of pipes couldn’t be a more fitting match.

In his recent one-night concert at Kia Theatre, Ruess showed off such musical qualities, which were especially compelling in ditties like the dashing opener, “Great Big Storm”—a track from his debut solo album, “Grand Romantic”; as well as “Carry On”—an uplifting anthem with a march-like cadence, from Fun, the award-winning indie-pop group he used to front.

All the while, Ruess danced, twirled and ran around, flailing, as if going to stumble at one point or another. He hopped on top of the mock grand piano from which he raised his fist and punched the air—the audience’s cue to sing their hearts out.

The American singer-songwriter only stood still during the climax of “Just Give Me a Reason,” his chart-topping duet with Pink.

Just as he was about to hit the ballad’s glory note, which Pink sang on record, Ruess paused, and asked his keyboardist for the correct key. “Oooh, that is tough!” he quipped, before unleashing a searing belt, which prompted an eruption of cheers and shrieks.

RUESS’ voice is androgynous, at times.

Because Ruess has only one album as a solo artist so far, his set list was quite short with 13 songs, and had to be beefed up with a song from his other band, The Format (“Oceans”); a cover of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” and of Elton John’s “Rocket Man”; and Fun’s most successful singles, and most likely, the fans’ biggest favorites, “We Are Young” and “Some Nights.”

With its deliberate beat and a catchy, chanted chorus, the stirring pop-rock ballad, “We Are Young,” which was hailed Song of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards, brought the gig’s most inspired moment, with everyone singing all their worries away!

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