You know that feeling you get when you feel a storm about to brew? There’s humidity to the air, you look for a breeze, and you know soon, something is going to hit and you’re not really sure how hard? That’s what I felt from the moment I walked into the Fitz and The Tantrums show at the Showbox SoDo last night. The show was sold out, as I predicted, and it was packed to the gills with kids, tweens, an everything in between. FATT demographic encompassed the young to a few fans in their 70’s. I found a pocket of moving cool air and I stayed there.
I did not get there in time to see HOLYCHILD but I reviewed them several months ago at the Showbox Market and they’re a band on the rise who will be playing CHBP this year. Lead Singer Liz Nistico is a dynamo on stage. She’s sexy, flirty, and commands the stage. You’ll have a hard time taking your eyes off of her and she’s supported by a talented band. I was impressed that they spent time at their merch booth greeting, taking photos, and connecting with fans throughout the night.
Max Frost hailing from Austin, TX was definitely a hit with the females in the audience. He reminds me of a young Adam Levine. He had a solid set and I really liked his new single, White Lies. His musical style is a combination of Pop/Blues/Hip Hop/Electro if you can believe that. You’ll hear all of the influences. He’s fresh, easy on the eyes, and relevant to today’s music.
So here is the night in a nutshell. HOLYCHILD breezed in, followed by a Texas hailstorm, and then it hit. From the darkness, you could feel the tension brewing. Fitz and The Tantrums hit the stage like a twister and it continued to build in strength to an F5 by the time they left the stage littering the room with glittered confetti and sweaty bodies.
FATT know how to get the party started and as promised it only dropped to an F3 now and then to give Fitz and singer Noelle Scaggs a breather before ramping it back up. The crowd was with them all the way and were eating out of their hands. Whatever Noelle or Fitz asked for, the crowd gladly responded. Playing all their hits, their final encore song was their major hit, “Walker”. The crowd roared in appreciation.
What I like about Fitz and The Tantrums is that they’ve figured out the formula of what works. There are a lot of songs with “call and response” which keeps the fan engaged, they’ve got great staging, some choreography (nobody dances or plays a tambourine like Miss Scaggs and did you check out her arms? To die for). Fitz also shines the spotlight on the other talented members of his band giving them ample solo time to shine in their own right, and boy did they!
As “Walker” ramped to a frenzy status, glittering confetti rained down from the skies. Eager fans went directly to the merch tables and everyone left satisfied with a memory or some memorabilia from the experience.
I highly recommend you catch them the next time they’re in Seattle. Fitz recollected how they started modestly here 6 years ago at The Croc with low attended shows but they’ve worked hard and they verbally showed appreciation to the crowd for their support and that, my friends, will make a fan for life!
Photos by John Lill
