Band Crush: Fitz and the Tantrums

If music was a fashion, soul might be considered the new black given the resurgence the genre is currently experiencing. 

This modern soul revival can be credited to bands like The Heavy and Mayer Hawthorne and also to my current musical obsession, Fitz and the Tantrums.

Fronted by Michael Fitzpatrick, these swinging soulsters make Motown-friendly indie music that will win over the most cynical hipster. I dare you to listen to the band’s new album Pickin’ Up the Pieces (stream the entire thing below) and not dance. Hell, I just stopped typing a few seconds ago so I could clap along to “MoneyGrabber.” True story.

Growing up in the grunge era meant I didn’t really spend much time with experiencing the music made by the Stax and Motown set. Thankfully there are bands like Fitz and the Tantrums around to help bring beautiful soul-inspired music to the masses and to encourage people like myself to dig back into music’s past to rediscover some of the greats.

Music aside, the band has an image that almost compels you to a point of curiosity where you have to give them a listen. I mean look at that band in the photo above. How can you not be drawn to that group of six retro-soul badasses? They all have a mysterious t too cool for school look that you know means they must make some killer music.

Speaking of getting to know Fitz and Tantrums, you’re in luck if you want to get to know Fitz and the Tantrums a little better. Guerrilla Candy has a pair of tickets to the group’s Nov. 9 show at the Crocodile to give away courtesy of the band’s label, Dangerbird Records (which also has locals Minus the Bear on its roster). If you’re interested in the tickets drop me an email with the subject “Fitz” and your name in the body. Deadline to enter is Monday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. A winner will be randomly chosen and notified Monday evening. Good luck.