Energy. That is the first word that comes to mind when asked to describe a Fitz & The Tantrums show. I advise you rest well before attending a F&TT concert, because you will be in for a night of jumping, dancing, and singing your heart out.
Fitz & The Tantrums rocked Boston on the 15th when they performed at the House of Blues in Fenway. Upon entering the venue, each attendee was given a free F&TT bracelet featuring a heart that lit up to the surrounding volume levels. The setlist of their headliner tour was full of variety, featuring crowd favorites, cover songs, upbeat dance tunes, and slow melodies that had you reaching for a lighter to wave in the air (or, considering this is 2014, your cell phone screen).
When it comes to stage presence, Fitz & The Tantrums never fail to impress. Lead singer Michael Fitzpatrick, whom the band’s name originates from, is constantly dancing and moving about the stage. He speaks directly to the audience several times, giving the show a highly personal feel. The band make it a priority to interact with the crowd. Fitz’s comments range from quirky stories as a prelude to songs (one was about having a great day only to come home to find your significant other in bed with a different lover) to extensive thank you’s to all the fans (his speech about how much the band loves Boston and are grateful to every person in the crowd went on for minutes straight – all of which I couldn’t stop smiling through). The other band members are also on par when it comes to bringing the energy. Singer Noelle Scaggs both appears and sounds absolutely flawless, constantly smiling and moving to the beat. Her soulful voice makes for a superb combination with Fitz’s. And who needs a guitar solo when you can have a saxophone solo? James King blows the crowd away every time with his incredible saxophone skills. I’m still in amazement by how long he can hold his breath for.
At one point in the show, the crowd was demanded to get down on the ground. Anyone still standing was personally called out by Fitz himself. The crowd was directed to simultaneously jump up on his cue as the music got louder. This is just one of the many ways F&TT make it a point to not just play music, but to entertain. Notably was the set design and lighting of the stage. Behind the band was a giant electric heart, mirroring the one on the album cover of their most recent release More Than Just A Dream. The heart changed different colors to mach the theme of each song. During “Fools Gold,” the heart was gold; during “Money Grabber,” it was green; and during “House On Fire,” it glowed red. Additional lights fired out at the crowd and around the stage. Toward the end of the performance, loads of confetti rained from the ceiling, making for a memorable closing.
By the time I left the venue, my voice was gone, my feet were sore, and my pulse was pounding. And that is how you know it was a good show.
Amanda Weisman 