With a No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and being named a “band to watch” in April 2011 by Rolling Stone, Fitz and The Tantrums, formed in 2008, fast became a household name in the indie pop and neo soul scene.
Front man, Michael Fitzpatrick is the brain behind the operation that is Fitz and The Tantrums. He bought an old Conn electronic organ and wrote the song “Breakin’ the Chains of Love”, the same day. He contacted his college peers, and five phone conversations later, organised a rehearsal. One week later, they played their first show at Hotel Café in Hollywood. Still as a newborn band, they played some of Los Angeles’ most prestigious venues such as the Viper Room and Spaceland. After heading into the studio, which was a set up in Fitzpatrick’s home, they released their first EP on August 11th 2009.
This year was all ‘go’, with the band managing to land support slows with Hepcat, Flogging Molly, and even eight concerts on the Maroon 5 Back to School tour. The following year saw the band open for The Specials, and signed to Dangerbird Records. They also released their debut studio album, in the form of “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”, which was released on August 24th 2010.
They even got invited to play in a webisode of Live from Daryl’s House with Daryl Hall. In 2011, they made it onto some of the biggest late night TV shows, such as, Jimmy Kimmel Live! Conan, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the following year, on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
They have earned themselves a lot of spots on TV shows, with their song “News 4 U” making it on to a promo for the seventh season of Desperate Housewives. “Spark” was featured on the FIFA 13 soundtrack, and “Walker” made it onto an episode of Suits.
Their following record, “More Than Just a Dream” was released on May 7th 2013 through a new label, Elektra Records.
Gabe Bondoc
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