By LAUREN HALLIGAN
News Editor
The cleverly named Los Angeles-based indie pop sextet Fitz and The Tantrums will soon be visiting the Capital Region as part of their fall tour.
Formed in 2008, the band released their second full-length CD in May entitled More Than Just a Dream via Elektra Records. Their latest hit song “Out of My League” (a 102.7 WEQX favorite), is the opening track on the release.
The Bright Futures Tour, featuring Fitz and the Tantrums and fellow L.A. pop groups Capital Cities and Beat Club, will be rolling through the 518 next week.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park. Tickets cost $23.50 in advance at Ticketmaster locations or $25 at the door on the day of the show.
Bandleader Michael Fitzpatrick (Fitz) will be joined on stage by co-vocalist Noelle Scaggs- who adds an element of soul to the group’s style- James King on saxophone &flute, Joseph Karnes on bass, drummer John Wicks, and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna.
Ruzumna said that when the band performs live, they do everything they can to make the crowd shake around and sing their lungs out. “It’s a party onstage and we won’t stop till you’re right there with us,” he said, and Tuesday night’s show will be no exception.
The Chronicle: How do you describe the Fitz and The Tantrums musical style?
Ruzumna: I always described the first album as sounding as if an ‘80s New Wave band had transported themselves to the ’60s, recorded the album, then had a hip hop producer from the early ’90s mix it and add some beats to it. The new album comes from a similar place songwriting-wise, but with a different sonic personality. If the first album was about Fitz’ huge, old organ and his old upright piano, this album was much wider. I’ve got a massive collection of keyboards from the ’60s, ’70s, and 80s, and we used all those plus laptop synths. So, this album really has a personality of its own.
The Chronicle: How did you come to form Fitz and the Tantrums?
Ruzumna: Fitz knew James in college and from there it snowballed. I’d known James from a band called The Breakestra, and I’d known Joe technically since junior high. Interestingly, Noelle had been in a band called The Rebirth which was an offshoot of the Breakestra. And John and I had met while in the house band at a club called Bardot, which was this crazy scene where people like Prince would come jam with us. It was pretty awesome. John is actually the one who told Fitz about me and that’s how it all went. It was very quick and we literally only had one rehearsal before we were off and running.
The Chronicle: What has the band been working on lately?
Ruzumna: Most recently we’ve been concentrating on upping the ante on our live show. The album is doing well and we are touring our butts off and we want the live show to blow away everything we’ve done so far. I’m really happy with how it’s going. We just want to keep topping ourselves.
The Chronicle: What has The Bright Futures Tour been like so far?
Ruzumna: We met Capital Cities a couple of times at festivals we were both playing, and we fell in love with their music and also got along with them. We all joked about how cool it would be to be on the road together and then it actually happened, so we are stoked. It’s a love fest for sure.
The Chronicle: What are the band’s future plans beyond this tour?
Ruzumna: Our agent recently told us to pack our suitcases for two years, ‘cause they want us to tour this album like crazy. And if all goes well, that’s what’s up with us for a while.
After that, when it comes to making another album, it’ll be time to rise to the same challenge we took on this album: to top what we did before.
The Chronicle: How would you describe a Fitz and the Tantrums show to someone who hasn’t experienced one?
Ruzumna: High energy and fun. Fitz and Noelle make sure that they connect with each and every audience member, and the band is like a freight train behind them, driving up the mountain. You’ll get beats and bass lines that make your ass shake, but you’ll also get great songs that you can’t stop singing.
The Chronicle: What’s your favorite part about playing together as Fitz and the Tantrums?
Ruzumna: I really feed off of the crowd’s energy. When that’s there, and we’re oiled and primed, it’s an incredible feeling. And there’s this one specific drum fill that sounds like an ‘80s drum machine that John knows I love, and he’ll occasionally throw that fill into a song here or there in the set, and we always look over at each other and kind of laugh about it and it just reminds me of the joy of making music.
