Fitz and the Tantrums

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Fitz and the Tantrums
Fitz and The Tantrums 2013.jpg
Fitz and the Tantrums in 2013
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2008–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Website fitzandthetantrums.com

Fitz and the Tantrums are an American indie pop and neo soul band from Los Angeles, California, that formed in 2008. The band consists of Michael Fitzpatrick (lead vocals), Noelle Scaggs (co-lead vocals and percussion), James King (saxophone, flute, keyboard, percussion and guitar), Joseph Karnes (bass guitar), and Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboards). (John Wicks, who played drums and percussion, left the band in 2022 to teach at the University of Montana.) Their debut studio album, Pickin' Up the Pieces , was released in August 2010 on indie label Dangerbird Records and received critical acclaim; it also reached no. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. [1] In early 2013 the band signed to their current label, Elektra Records, which released their second LP, More Than Just a Dream, the same year. Their self-titled third album was released in 2016, which contains their most notable song, "HandClap". Their fourth studio album, All the Feels, was released in 2019, and their fifth, Let Yourself Free , in 2022.

Contents

History

Early history

Fitz and the Tantrums was founded by Michael Fitzpatrick in 2008. Having purchased an old Conn electronic organ, he was inspired to write the song "Breakin' the Chains of Love" that same night. [2] [3] He contacted his college friend, saxophonist James King, who recommended singer Noelle Scaggs and drummer John Wicks. In turn, King brought in bassist Joseph Karnes and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna. According to Fitzpatrick, the band immediately clicked. He has said, "It was literally like five phone calls, one rehearsal, and we could have played a show that night." The band performed their first show at Hotel Café in Hollywood, in December 2008, which Fitzpatrick booked one week after their first rehearsal. [4] In interviews, he has stated the importance of booking a date before the band was ready, in order to bring out the best in all performers. During the first half of 2009, they performed at several clubs in Los Angeles, including The Viper Room and Spaceland. Before Joseph Karnes was brought into the band, the previous bassist, Ethan Phillips was with the band for the first EP, and a part of their first album, "Pickin' Up The Pieces".

The band recorded their debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 , during the first half of 2009 at Fitzpatrick's home in Los Angeles. [5] The EP was first released on August 11, 2009, through Canyon Productions. In September 2009 they toured with Hepcat and Flogging Molly. In November 2009 the band opened eight concerts on the Maroon 5's Back to School Tour. [6] [7] [8] Their appearance was on short notice, after previously scheduled opener K'naan cancelled due to fatigue in late October. [9] [10] According to Fitzpatrick, "Adam Levine from Maroon 5 was in New York to get a tattoo, and his favorite tattoo artist had downloaded the record after hearing us on the radio. He told Adam, 'you gotta hear this band.' A week and a half later, we're opening for Maroon 5 on their college tour." [5] In December 2009 the band shot the official music video for their first single, "Breakin' the Chains of Love", which was directed by Joshua Leonard. It features Fitzpatrick and Scaggs in a moving and rotating bed.

Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs at a 2010 performance in San Diego Fitz and the Tantrums 0001.jpg
Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs at a 2010 performance in San Diego

Pickin' Up the Pieces

In March 2010 Fitz and the Tantrums played at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. On April 15, 2010, they opened for ska band The Specials on their North American reunion tour at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. On April 26, 2010, Dangerbird Records announced that they had signed Fitz and the Tantrums. [11] [12] Their first full-length album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, was released on August 24, 2010. Producer Chris Seefried was also a co-writer on the album. In October 2010, Daryl Hall invited the band to perform on his web-series Live from Daryl's House . [13] They played a seven-song set including four Fitz and the Tantrums songs, early Hall song "Girl I Love You", "Perkiomen" and finishing with "Sara Smile". "I walked back into the kitchen of his big old house in upstate New York, and his mother was there," recalled Fitzpatrick. "She said, 'Fitz, come over here. You sound just like my son!'" [5]

Fitz and the Tantrums in 2010 Fitz and The Tantrums in Asheville 2010 (a).jpg
Fitz and the Tantrums in 2010

The band performed the songs "MoneyGrabber" and "Don't Gotta Work It Out" on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! in Los Angeles on January 12, 2011. On February 28 they performed "MoneyGrabber" on TBS' Conan, and on April 5 on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . In 2011 the band announced a U.S. and international tour with April Smith and the Great Picture Show. In the fall of 2011, they made their first appearance at Austin City Limits Music Festival. On Friday, February 3, 2012, they performed "Don't Gotta Work It Out" on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon , episode 581, taped for broadcast at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis. They performed a free show at Thursday at the Square in Buffalo, New York, on June 14, 2012, and at the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 7, 2012.

More Than Just a Dream

The band's second LP, More Than Just a Dream, was released May 7, 2013, on Elektra Records. [14] It was produced by Tony Hoffer. The album features the lead single "Out of My League", which reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart on September 30, 2013. [15] A French version of "Out of My League" was also released and played on Canadian radio. This version has most of the verses sung in French, while the chorus remains in English. The second single from More Than Just a Dream, "The Walker", also reached number one on the Billboard Alternative songs chart. In October 2014 Fitz and the Tantrums returned to the Austin City Limits Music Festival and played both weekends of the expanded festival.

Fitz and the Tantrums

In March 2016, the band released the lead single, "HandClap", off their self-titled album. The album was released on June 10, 2016, and was supported by the 2016 Get Right Back Summer Tour. In July 2016 Fitz and the Tantrums performed at Slossfest in Birmingham, Alabama. The band supported OneRepublic on the 2017 Honda Civic Tour which began on July 7, 2017. [16]

All the Feels

On March 20, 2019, the band released the single "123456" from their fourth studio album. The second single, "Don't Ever Let Em", was released on April 17 of the same year, followed by "I Need Help!" on May 3, and then the title track of the album, "All the Feels" on June 28.

The album, All the Feels, consists of 17 songs and was released on September 20, 2019, through Elektra Records.

Let Yourself Free

On June 10, 2022, the band released the single "Sway" through Elektra Records. This was followed by the single "Moneymaker" on September 27, 2022, along with the announcement of their fifth studio album Let Yourself Free, which was released on November 11, 2022. [17]

Musical style

Fitzpatrick has said that the band's musical style can be fairly described as "soul-influenced indie pop." He said that while the band is influenced by the classic songs of the Motown and Stax record labels, the band is not trying to create an exact replica of that music. [18] In another interview, Fitzpatrick talked about his decision not to use guitars in the band. "I did want to try and make a big sounding record without guitars," he said. "For me, I just feel like in any music that has a band, the guitar is always there, it's always featured, it's always prevalent. I'm just sick of hearing it." [19]

Critical reception

Los Angeles Times music critic Ann Powers wrote, "Fitz & the Tantrums is the kind of band that communicates best in concert, but this album serves as a fine proxy and party-starter." [20] Aly Comingore of the Santa Barbara Independent wrote that the band members craft "soulful, nostalgia pop that's not only infectious, but just fresh enough to make it stand apart from its predecessors." [21] The band was heralded as a "band to watch" in an April 2011 profile in Rolling Stone . [5] In June 2011, Vogue named Fitz and the Tantrums the "Hardest-Working Band" of the 2011 summer festival circuit. [22] "Not only do L.A.–based six-piece Fitz and the Tantrums share James Brown's penchant for snazzy-dressed brass bands and feel-good retro ballads, they also have the late godfather of soul's tireless work ethic." Their third album has been described as "a product of contemporary market forces and a depressing relic of an era of the music industry best forgotten." [23]

Band members

Timeline

Fitz and the Tantrums

Discography

Related Research Articles

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Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1950s and 1970s. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived as an imprint of Atlantic in 2009. In October 2018, Elektra was detached from the Atlantic Records umbrella and reorganized into Elektra Music Group, once again operating as an independently managed frontline label of Warner Music. In June 2022, Elektra Music Group was merged with 300 Entertainment to create the umbrella label 300 Elektra Entertainment (3EE), though both Elektra and 300 continued to maintain their separate identities as labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerbird Records</span>

Dangerbird Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, California. The label is home to artists from around the world and part of the burgeoning Silver Lake music scene. The label has had international success from its small roster of artists including Silversun Pickups, Fitz and the Tantrums, Sebadoh, Minus the Bear, and The Frights

John Wicks is a drummer, songwriter, film composer and adjunct college professor based in Missoula, Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Seefried</span> American singer-songwriter

Chris Seefried is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the bands Gods Child, Joe 90, and Low Stars, and as producer and co-writer for the neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noelle Scaggs</span> Musical artist

Noelle Scaggs is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, known as the co-lead singer of the pop group Fitz and the Tantrums. Scaggs has also had numerous collaborations with the Black Eyed Peas, Dilated Peoples, Quantic, Mayer Hawthorne, and Damian Marley.

<i>Pickin Up the Pieces</i> (Fitz and the Tantrums album) 2010 studio album by Fitz and the Tantrums

Pickin' Up the Pieces is the debut studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums, released on August 24, 2010, by Dangerbird Records. After the success of their home-recorded debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 and touring, Dangerbird signed the group, who immediately began work on Pieces.

<i>Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1</i> 2009 EP by Fitz and the Tantrums

Songs for a Breakup: Vol. 1 is the debut studio EP by the American indie rock band Fitz and the Tantrums, released on August 11, 2009 through Canyon Productions. It was re-released in 2010 when the band signed to Dangerbird Records.

<i>Santa Stole My Lady</i> 2010 EP by Fitz and the Tantrums

Santa Stole My Lady is the second studio EP by the American indie rock band Fitz and the Tantrums, released on November 26, 2010 through Dangerbird Records. It was released both digitally and as a special 7" vinyl single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Fitzpatrick (musician)</span> Musical artist

Michael Sean "Fitz" Fitzpatrick is a French-American musician, singer and songwriter, who is the lead vocalist of the indie pop/neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MoneyGrabber</span> 2011 single by Fitz and the Tantrums

"MoneyGrabber" is a song by American band Fitz and the Tantrums from their debut 2010 studio album, Pickin' Up the Pieces. The song was released as an official single by Dangerbird Records on August 15, 2011. The song was used in the 2013 commercial for New Amsterdam Vodka and also appeared in Season 6, episode 5 of the television show Criminal Minds.

"Don't Gotta Work It Out" is a song by American band Fitz and the Tantrums from their debut studio album Pickin' Up the Pieces, released on September 23, 2011.

<i>More Than Just a Dream</i> 2013 studio album by Fitz and the Tantrums

More Than Just a Dream is the second and major-label debut studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums, released on May 7, 2013, by Elektra Records. The album was produced by Tony Hoffer at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles. The title comes from a line of the chorus from the group's lead single "Out of My League". Their song "Spark" also featured in the soundtrack to EA Sports game, FIFA 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Walker (song)</span> 2013 single by Fitz and the Tantrums

"The Walker" is a song by the American neo soul band Fitz and the Tantrums. It is the second single from the band's second album More Than Just a Dream. The song was used in two scenes of the film Identity Thief, the trailers for the films The Boxtrolls and Storks, in the trailer for video game The Sims 4, in television commercials for the 86th Academy Awards that were hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, in the 2014 Major League Baseball postseason and in commercials for Sprite, Supercuts, Reebok ZQuick and Walmart. From 2014 until the end of the 2017 season, the song was used as the opening theme to the MLB Network show High Heat, hosted by Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo. The song is also featured in the pilot episode of the FOX television sitcom Grandfathered as well as the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy. It has also been used in the soundtrack of the video game NBA 2K18.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">James King (musician)</span> American musician

James King is an American multi-instrumentalist who is a co-founder for soul band Fitz and the Tantrums. In 2008, he was approached by college friend Michael Fitzpatrick to play saxophone on a few songs that he had written which turned out to be the beginnings of Fitz and the Tantrums. King recommended Noelle Scaggs and other musicians. They performed for the first time a week later at Hollywood's Hotel Café. They released their debut EP Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 in August 2009, and the tracks soon received airplay on public radio station KCRW in Los Angeles.

<i>Fitz and the Tantrums</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Fitz and the Tantrums

Fitz and the Tantrums is the third studio album by American indie pop and neo soul group Fitz and the Tantrums. It was released on June 10, 2016 by Elektra Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitz and the Tantrums discography</span>

The following is the discography of Fitz and the Tantrums, a Los Angeles–based indie pop band formed in 2008 by Michael Fitzpatrick.

<i>All the Feels</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Fitz and the Tantrums

All the Feels is the fourth studio album by the American neo-soul/pop band Fitz and the Tantrums, their first release since their self-titled album in 2016. It was released on September 20, 2019, through Elektra Records. The digital release of the album has 17 songs, and is the band's longest album to date following Fliz and the Tantrums (2016).

"I Just Wanna Shine" is a song by American indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. It was released on July 14, 2019, as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album All the Feels. Band's members Michael Fitzpatrick, Noelle Scaggs, Joe Karnes, James King, Jeremy Ruzumna and John Wicks wrote the song with Nick Long, and it was produced by Jake Sinclair.

<i>Let Yourself Free</i> 2022 album by Fitz and the Tantrums

Let Yourself Free is the fifth studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums. It was released on November 11, 2022, by Elektra Records. A deluxe edition of the album with six extra songs was released on June 23, 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Fitz And The Tantrums at Billboard
  2. ↑ Fitz and the Tantrums at AllMusic
  3. ↑ Bronson, Kevin (June 17, 2010). "Fitz & the Tantrums: Finding plenty of soul mates". Buzz Bands. Los Angeles. Retrieved June 22, 2011. A few hours and some backbreaking lifting later, he owned a '60s-vintage Conn organ "that just consumes my living room." "I sat down and wrote 'Breakin' the Chains' in five minutes,"
  4. ↑ Korina Lopez (February 13, 2011). "On the verge: Fitz & the Tantrums channel the Motown spirit". USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Greenwald, Andy (April 12, 2011). "Band to Watch: Fitz and the Tantrums Put a Modern Spin on Motown". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 25, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Fitz and the Tantrums". Alternative Press 267 (October 2010), p. 58.
  7. ↑ "Event archive 2009". Last.fm. March 31, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  8. ↑ Fitz and the Tantrums (November 8, 2011). "Maroon 5 Fleet Of Buses!". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  9. ↑ "News Archives Oct. 2009". Maroon 5. October 30, 2009. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  10. ↑ Plock, Andrew (November 3, 2009). "Fitz and The Tantrums open for Maroon 5". The Shorthorn. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  11. ↑ Martens, Todd (April 26, 2010). "Dangerbird inks neo-soul act Fitz & the Tantrums". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 6, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  12. ↑ Martins, Chris (April 27, 2010). "Fitz and the Tantrums Sign to Dangerbird, Tour with Dap-Kings, Plan Spaceland Residency". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Episode 35: Fitz and the Tantrums". Live from Daryl's House. October 15, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  14. ↑ Reed, Ryan (February 5, 2013). "Fitz and The Tantrums broaden their sound on new album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 27, 2017. Deep into the recording of his band's sophomore album (and Elektra Records debut), More Than Just a Dream, Fitz and the Tantrums frontman Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick suffered through "many, many sleepless nights."
  15. ↑ "Fitz & the Tantrums - Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  16. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (February 16, 2017). "OneRepublic Headlining 2017 Honda Civic Tour: See the Dates". Billboard.
  17. ↑ "Let Yourself Free by Fitz and The Tantrums" – via Apple Music.
  18. ↑ Jansen Seymour, Jane (June 1, 2010). "Fitz & the Tantrums Keep Busy Over the Holiday Weekend". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. I have a lot of other musical influences—not consciously but I'd say more subconsciously—which influenced my songwriting. And I didn't want to just do something that sounded exactly like an old Motown or Stax record – I wanted to do something different and challenge myself.
  19. ↑ Johnson, Alexandra (January 17, 2011). "More Soul Than the Devil Could Buy: The Pockets of Sound with Michael Fitzpatrick". TheWaster.com.
  20. ↑ Powers, Ann (August 9, 2010). "Album review: Fitz & the Tantrums' 'Pickin' Up the Pieces'". Los Angeles Times.
  21. ↑ Comingore, Aly (August 30, 2010). "Fitz & the Tantrums – Pickin' Up the Pieces". Santa Barbara Independent.
  22. ↑ Campion, Freddie (June 7, 2011). "Music: Best of Summer 2011 Festivals". Vogue Daily. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  23. ↑ Hemmerling, Joe (June 9, 2016). "Album Review: Fitz and the Tantrums – Fitz and the Tantrums". Consequence.
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