The unexpected hiccup caught everyone off guard, throwing things into a deadlock.
For John Mark, his first instinct was to bring back Ellie Goulding or Nick & Vinz. But Ellie was busy recording her second album, and Nick & Vinz were touring in Norway. Bruno's global tour stretched over a long timeline, and unless schedules were locked in far ahead, syncing up was next to impossible. That left John in a tight spot.
Bruno himself didn't mind. To him, no opening act wasn't a big deal—it was his concert, after all. He was the main event. He'd already prepped to take the stage solo, shrugging it off and diving into meetings about his second album.
But John saw it differently.
This long tour was finally nearing its end, and for it to wrap up imperfectly due to some fluke felt like a letdown. Plus, the final stops—Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston—were all major cities.
At Bruno's current level, first-tier cities were rare opportunities. This tour had skipped Chicago, New York, Houston, and Miami, making Washington, Philly, and Boston standout destinations on par with LA. The venues were 10,000-seat spaces—top-tier for the entire global tour, a legit big-stage moment.
And yet, for cities and venues like these, no opening act?
It felt kinda shabby.
John wasn't having it. So he started hunting for a replacement. Bruno didn't pressure him—in fact, he kept easing off, telling John not to sweat it. But John was his own toughest critic. He wanted Bruno's tour to end on a perfect note.
Sure, with Bruno's current success—even as a rising star with just one album—he had sales and awards to back him up. There were plenty of options for opening acts. But John's challenge was real—
Finding a band with "skill, an open schedule, and a willingness to open" in a short window, ready to rush to Washington in two days for rehearsals, and one whose style matched Bruno's? It was like finding a needle in a haystack with way too many conditions.
Bruno tossed out a few suggestions—he had industry friends and knew some great indie acts.
But time was too tight, schedules wouldn't align, and then Fitz and the Tantrums threw out a backup name.
"Wait, you're saying Fitz and the Tantrums recommended us?" Ronan zeroed in on the key detail. The opening act stuck in Brazil had suggested them? That was a surprise on top of a surprise—pretty wild.
John nodded, confirming it. "Yeah, Michael said they've been watching your YouTube channel for a while. He said your road tour is basically what Fitz and the Tantrums are doing right now, so he totally gets it. The only difference is you've got a camera documenting your journey, while they missed that chance."
Michael Fitzpatrick—lead singer, bandleader, and main songwriter for Fitz and the Tantrums.
"And more importantly, your music's got this power—a raw, untamed energy that's full of passion and life," John added. That's why Michael liked King for a Day, and why John sent the email.
He hadn't expected to actually dig up gold in a sea of sand. Small win.
As for why he'd pick an unknown indie band—one with no prior connection or history—that was a whole other story. In short, Bruno Mars knew what it was like to grind through years of obscurity. More than anyone, he understood how desperately those unsung musicians needed a stage.
Bruno was all in on helping out however he could.
For this "Love Song Saga" world tour, aside from Ellie Goulding—who'd already made a name for herself—the other two opening acts were obscure indie bands.
Fitz and the Tantrums were pals Bruno met in LA; he invited them because he loved their sound. Nick & Vinz, the rap duo, had no personal tie to Bruno—John reached out to them himself, sparking a new friendship.
So King for a Day wasn't the first, nor would they be the last. John could see this happening plenty more times in Bruno's career. He genuinely hoped Bruno would find more friends in the music world.
What made this special was that King for a Day came from YouTube—
Honestly, John's mindset hadn't caught up with the times. He had a slight bias against YouTube musicians and artists, always thinking they were "unprofessional." Maybe because YouTube's audience was regular folks, and artists hyped by the masses hadn't been vetted by pro eyes. Their skill got a discount in his mind, their quality questionable.
When he clicked on King for a Day's video, John was just going through the motions to humor Fitz and the Tantrums' recommendation. He was on a call, barely paying attention to what was playing. But after hanging up and listening for a moment, the lead singer's voice hooked him instantly.
It was a revelation!
John was dead sure this was a vibe Bruno would dig. He never imagined he'd find gold buried in YouTube's desert.
After that, John dove deep into King for a Day's channel, combing through it for a while before making up his mind.
"I think Bruno's gonna like your music," John said. No over-the-top hype—he didn't need to butter up an indie band. If they weren't into it, fine. They weren't that amazing that he'd grovel. He kept it short and sweet.
Simple, but real.
A bright smile flickered in Ronan's eyes, and he let out a cheerful laugh.