Noelle Scaggs took off her shoes after just one song. She wanted to move around, because the soulful backup singer of the indie soul sextet Fitz and the Tantrums said she knew Tuesday's show at the Bluebird was going to be a party.And yet for a new band that lays down catchy singles with a baritone sax in their best attempt at a Motown revival, the audience treated Fitz as though they were a stadium act in Assembly Hall. Arm waving, dancing, singing and a spur of the moment chant of "Seven Nation Army" before the band's encore made for a show with unrelenting energy that the band absolutely ran with.
"Fuck regret," lead singer Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick shouted after the audience helped to belt out "Tighter," the closing track to the 2010 album Pickin' Up the Pieces. "This is a motherfuckin' dance party!"
Fitzpatrick strutted about the stage with the enthusiasm of Mick Jagger with a goth haircut, seemingly competing with Scaggs for who could be the better cheerleader. The duo's unison Dreamgirls dance moves and sexy, close-lipped harmonizing fit right in with the audience's surprising enthusiasm and movement.
But the band's uniquely retro sound dominated most of all. Saxophonist James King played his heart out to even make himself heard on early sing-a-longs "Don't Gotta Work it Out" and "Breakin' the Chains of Love," but ended up displaying his full range and talent on bari, tenor and of all things, flute, in the bouncy "Pickin' Up the Pieces."
King's solos atop a subtle but groovy bass line and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna's screeching treble breakdowns absolutely propelled Scaggs' and Fitzpatrick's energy, particularly during the simultaneously funky, hooky and clap-happy "L.O.V." or the massive acceleration at the end of the set closer "News 4 U."
The album Pickin' Up the Pieces is a strong collection of radio-friendly hook machines like the big encore of the evening "MoneyGrabber," but Fitzpatrick gave his love songs of regret and anger a little extra poignancy. "News 4 U" is for all the people who have been getting mixed messages, especially through cryptic texts, he said. Admittedly, this prompted me to shoot a jokey look to my female companion, but I digress.
More of the evening's memorable moments came from the band's funk version of The Raconteurs' "Steady as She Goes" and Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams," the latter of which proved to be a rollicking and loud sing-a-long.
But most of all, this riotous evening cemented Fitz's love for Bloomington. Although Fitzpatrick bragged about L.A.'s 90-degree weather yesterday and how we'll get two more blizzards before the month is out, he was sincere in his assessment that Btown always brings them back to a warm welcome.
Full Setlist
Don't Gotta Work It Out
Breakin' the Chains of Love
Winds of Change
Wake Up
Pickin' Up the Pieces
Steady as She Goes (The Raconteurs Cover)
Rich Girls
Tighter
L.O.V.
Dear Mr. President
News 4 U
Encore
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurythmics Cover)
MoneyGrabber
Post and photography by Brian Welk
