Concert Review: Fitz and The Tantrums at The Buckhead Theatre

The L.A. based quintet are out in support of their fifth studio album, Let Yourself Free, released late last year. Atlanta was the third to the last stop on their headline run, which saw the band cover ground across the west coast, northeast, and southeast of the United States. This also marked the band's first tour without veteran drummer and founding member John Wicks, who left the band in October of last year.

TikTok sensation and rising online pop-star Sammy Rash opened the show. Rash was called up just a few weeks before the tour was set to start after BabyJake, the original opener, had to drop out. This show marked Sammy's first time in Atlanta, and he was greeted to much fanfare. Sammy's pop production, handled by his DJ, saw him free to dominate the stage, flowing freely across as he delivered his hooks. Notably, he covered Iyaz's "Replay" acoustically, a fun breakaway from his original music.

Combining heavy synths, danceable bass lines, and catchy pop production, Fitz and The Tantrums roar to life in concert. The band stays faithful to recreating their recordings' sounds, but they also didn't hesitate to break the script, sprinkling in solos and crowd interaction to breathe fresh air into their catalog. This show was operating at full speed the entire night, with the band consistently delivering a fully energized and exciting performance. Co-vocalists Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs were a constant presence at the front of the stage, providing the soulful singing and engaging with the audience.

The Tantrums pack a punch. Saxophonist, guitarist, and keyboardist James King added the funk and spunk to the show, tearing up the rhythm section and providing saxophone solos at every opportunity. Joseph Karnes (bass) and Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboard) held down the upstage, providing the band's signature groove and synth laden sounds. With well over a decade beneath their feat, the band is playing at their best. They've done a fantastic job at blending together their soulful past and pop-driven present. "Moneygrabber", from their debut album, felt instantly nostalgic, capitalizing off of their progressive sonic leanings, while still capturing the classic sound of soul music. Inversely, "Moneymaker", a track from their latest project, was firmly in the pop spectrum, utilizing its instrumentation to craft a danceable and catchy tune. 

Fitz and The Tantrums are absolutely a live band. I don't mean that to discredit their studio work, but this is a band that has mastered a live show. Their stage presence is top notch, and the sheer bliss spread across the band's faces says more than enough to validate my opinion. They're having fun, and that is infectious. This was a night full of dancing and joy, with the crowd unrelenting in their reception of the music. I always try and emphasize when a band is ahead of the pack performers, and Fitz and The Tantrums fit that bill for certain. 

A solid blend of new and old, Fitz and The Tantrums' setlist covered bases from across their discography. Singles from newer releases, "Sway" and "I Just Wanna Shine", highlighted the band's longevity, while they also celebrated their success with their crossover hits "Out of My League" and "HandClap". Notably, "Roll Up" from their 2016 album Fitz and The Tantrums was absent. Fitz and The Tantrums' full setlist is below.

          Setlist:

          1. Sway

          2. Heaven

          3. OCD

          4. Good Intentions

          5. 123456

          6. Complicated

          7. Out of My League

          8. Livin' for the Weekend

          9. Fool

          10. Moneymaker

          11. 6AM

          12. Silver Platter

          13. Let Yourself Free

          14. I Just Wanna Shine

          15. All the Feels

          16. The Walker

          -

          17. Moneygrabber

          18. Ahhhh

          19. HandClap

The "Let Yourself Free" tour wraps up this weekend in Florida, but that won't be the last we see of Fitz and The Tantrums this year. The band hops onto Train's Sail Across the Sun music cruise the day after to hit the open seas performing with over a dozen other artists. They have also recently announced a run of shows opening for The Goo Goo Dolls in September. Their full dates are below.

          2/14 Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl*

          2/16 Fort Lauderdale, FL — Culture Room*

          2/17-21 Sail Across the Sun 2023

          4/23 Miramar Beach, FL — Moon Crush Music Festival 2023

          9/12 Eugene, OR — Cuthbert Amphitheater^

          9/14 Idaho Falls, ID — Hero Arena^

          9/15 Billings, MT — First interstate Arena^

          9/16 Casper, WY — Ford Wyoming Center^

          9/18 Mankato, MN — Vetter Stone Amphitheater^

          9/20 Southaven, MS — BankPlus Amphitheater^

          9/22 Camdenton, MO — Ozark's Amphitheater^

          9/23 Omaha, NE — The Astro^

          9/24 Decatur, IL — Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater^

          9/26 Asheville, NC — Rabbit Rabbit^

          9/27 Portsmouth, VA — Atlantic Union Bank Amphitheater^

          9/29 Bangor, ME — Maine Savings Amphitheater^

          9/30 Gilford, NH — Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion^

          * with Sammy Rash

          ^ supporting The Goo Goo Dolls

Fitz and The Tantrums deliver everything you could want from a concert; good music, an entertaining show, and, simply put, a fantastic night out. There is just so much happiness in the air during their show, they have built a show that creates an atmosphere disconnected from the world, where listeners can let loose and enjoy a night away from the hustle and bustle of their lives. I would highly recommend seeing Fitz and The Tantrums live at least once.