Fitz and the Tantrums
September 7, 2010
Fingerprints Records
Making their first stop ever in Long Beach, Fitz and the Tantrums delighted the locals with an energetic set that knocked fans down to the floor and kicked them up to the ceiling. Their aptly titled debut album Picking Up The Pieces recently hit the stores last month and the word has spread quickly as a nice line of fans had formed outside Fingerprints.
]
The slick attired sextet got right down to business as they spread their “L.O.V” over the audience. Funky keyboards and a shuffling swing drum beat instantly made everyone's hips shake. Led by the charismatic singularly named lead singer Fitz, the band was interlocked in a swaying rhythm that would provoke even the most devoted hipster into dancing along.
Noelle Scaggs is the dynamic yin to Fitz's yang. “Winds of Change” had Scaggs shaking her tambourine and imploring the crowd to move while adding some vocal sugar to Fitz's smooth croon. The throwback organ and keyboard sounds of “Breakin' The Chains of Love” could easily blend into the latest Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack.
Knowing when to slow things down, the plucky keyboards of “Don't Gotta Work It Out” and stacked vocal harmonies raised the overall temperature of the room. The titular album track may be one of the sweeter break up songs you will hear and make you think Fitz had his heart broken at one point.
Fitz apparently found love again if you decipher to the lyrics to “Tighter” where he longingly wants to hold his lover tighter. “News 4 U” is full of swagger and redemption that momentarily crosses over into a verse spoken in French. Ironically, “Moneygrabber” could be their cash cow with its cross over appeal and shout along chorus.
The crowd cheered loud enough to get an encore of “Rich Girls” as the band was seemed shocked by the ovation they received. Two long lines soon formed at the cash registers when it was announced the band would sign their album at the conclusion of the show. Fitz and the Tantrums may be a Coachella appearance and movie soundtrack placement away from stardom.
Personal Bias: Fitz and the Tantrums won me along with a full audience over at a Detroit Bar show back in June.
Crowd: Enthusiastic and engaged. Probably one of the louder Fingerprints in-stores that I have attended.
Overheard in the Crowd: “I ditched my philosophy quiz to be here.”
Random Notebook Dump: Its impressive how music noise they made without having a guitarist.
Setlist:
“L.O.V”
“Winds of Change”
“Breakin' The Chains of Love”
“Don't Gotta Work It Out”
“Picking Up The Pieces”
“Tighter”
“News 4 U”
“Moneygrabber”
“Rich Girls”
