Fox and Weber bounce back to Btown

Ten months ago, it was an idea. Eight months ago, it was posted. Today, Brice Fox and Daniel Weber’s YouTube video “This is Indiana” has more than 650,000 hits. And last night they opened for SuperMash Bros at Jake’s Nightclub.

“We had no idea it would turn into this at first,” Weber said yesterday afternoon. “After we released our first video (‘IU Anthem’) we weren’t considering doing it again.”

And if two viral videos in four months weren’t enough, Fox and Weber went for a three-peat in April with the much-anticipated release of their Little 500-themed song, “iLL 5.”

A campus bus displays the duo’s faces on its side. They’ve garnered notoriety and recognition from IU alumnus Mark Cuban and websites like campusmusick.com.

So what is life like for them now?

“I have a ton of Facebook friends I don’t recognize,” Fox said with a smile. “I used to have to work so hard to get people to want to collaborate with me, but now I’m the one being approached. It’s really cool.”

Since relocating to Los Angeles post-graduation, Fox has been busy with numerous projects. From contract marketing to making music for his latest collaboration, “Kresado,” with fellow graduate Danny Olson, Fox has been keeping his main focus on music.

“I plan on doing it all,” Fox said. “I want to be able to perform, produce and write in the future.”

Weber said he shares similar aspirations but sees himself farther from the mic.

“My dream is to be backstage at Lollapalooza and see the crowd’s reaction as the performer sings one of my songs,” he said.

While Weber still resides in Bloomington, he said he has been avidly songwriting and trying to make the next big hit.

Fox and Weber’s reunion at Jake’s was no easy gig to schedule, though. With Fox across the country, the pair didn’t foresee it coming together at first.

“It wasn’t until I got the offer to be flown back here that I realized coming back would be possible,” Bloomington native Fox said. “It’s great to have the opportunity to come back home and see my family and friends.”

There is still an ounce of surrealism to being pseudo-celebrities. Both Fox and Weber said they are flattered and humbled whenever they hear positive feedback about their work.

“It’s been bizarre hearing our songs played everywhere from parties and dorms to bars and clubs,” Weber said.

The scope of their fan base was equally surprising, Fox said.

“I met a kid from UCLA when I was in California that told me he listens to ‘iLL 5’ every day,” he said.

The twosome don’t use their newfound celebrity solely for their own gain, either. While Fox is in town, he and Weber are working on a PSA to help get the word out about missing IU student Lauren Spierer.

Even though both Fox and Weber have since graduated, they don’t think their return to Jake’s will be like an overstayed welcome.

“It might be different on stage, but it’s going to be good to see the students and perform together again,” Weber said.