Fitz and the Tantrums made sure that the
Ace of Spades was full to the brim, to the gills, overflowing, bursting at the seams with people last night. Completely sold out!
 |
| Fitz and the Tantrums, Sacramento |
From the start of the evening, it was obvious that it was going to be a good show: the sound levels were just right, the crowd was excited and early, queuing all around the block to get in, long before the doors opened; and the opening acts, The Colourist and Hunter Hunted were both very good.
 |
| Fitz and the Tantrums, Sacramento |
Fitz and the Tantrums music is a refreshingly-melodic and energetic sound; reminiscent of both Motown/soul and pop, but rocky too. There's no lead guitar, and you don't miss it. The blend of Fitz's (Michael Fitzpatrick) and Noelle Scaggs' vocals and energy make you smile and want to dance. Easy to listen too, and to watch, but not-at-all simplistic: just easy in the way that the Eurithmics were the first time you heard them. As if you've been listening to them for a long, long time, even though you've just begun.
 |
| Fitz and the Tantrums, Sacramento |
The one band
Fitz and the Tantrums reminded me of: Paul Weller's one-time, mid-eighties band,
The Style Council. Both Fitz and the Tantrums, and The Style Council, pull strong influences from R&B, Motown, soul; both make great use of keyboard, brass, tambourine... and both drive you to your feet to dance. Yet
Fitz and the Tantrum's sound is something more ethereal, something happier. It's a big sound and it's fully happy.
 |
| Fitz and the Tantrums, Sacramento |
The new album,
"More than just a dream", is available now If you didn't make it to the show last night, I suggest taking a listen.
There were so many photographers in the pit... usually there's a couple of us at the
Ace of Spades, and that's about it. Last night, there were more than a dozen, and the space is tiny, a couple of feet between the edge of the stage and the barrier and front-row fans. I stayed in there one song only, then spent the next two songs wriggling through the crowd to better viewpoints, and to try to capture some of the atmosphere of the fans and the full venue.
 |
| Audience, Fitz and the Tantrums, Sacramento |
My only disappointment: I had to leave before the very end of the show, due to a 6 a.m. meeting the next day. I wanted to stay!!! Darnit... next time please make it a Friday night!
More photos from the show can be found in
the Toon's Tunes Fitz and the Tantrums gallery.
Band Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/fitzandthetantrums
Band website:
http://www.fitzandthetantrums.com/
Ace of Spades venue:
http://aceofspadessac.com
I hope to see Fitz and all the Tantrums again soon--they are a band worth queuing to see.
No comments:
Post a Comment