Fitz and the Tantrums at State Theatre, Minneapolis (22 Nov 2016)

Setlist Get Right Back Spark Don't Gotta Work It Out Out of My League Run It Break the Walls Breakin’ the Chains of Love Walking Target Complicated Fools’ Gold Roll Up Do What You Want MoneyGrabber Burn It Down L.O.V. -- Encore -- HandClap 6AM The Walker Tour Dates 11/30/16 The Night Alt. 103.3 Stole Christmas 12/02/16 FM 102.1 Big Snow Show 12/03/16 The Nights We Stole Christmas 12/06/16 94.7 FM's December To Remember 12/12/16 West Hollywood, CA Roxy Theatre 12/14/16 Mix 94.7 Presents: The Merry Mix Show 12/15/16 Mix 96.5 Not So Silent Night" 03/18/17 Pot Of Gold Music Festival Read More Fitz and the Tantrums There’s really no doubt left– Fitz and the Tantrums are no longer a secret locally; rather, are firmly established as a party-starting, crowd-inducing good time band that everyone now has their eye on. … Barns Courtney The evening was opened by Ipswich, UK singer-songwriter Barns Courtney (not to be confused with Australian singer/guitarist Courtney Barnett) in support of his Hands EP (Virgin EMI Records). …

Thanksgiving rolled up early and with a handclap as Los Angeles band Fitz and the Tantrums invited a sold-out crowd to Come Get Your Love at the State Theatre in Minneapolis on their last show of their tour.

The night began with a frenzied forty-minute opening set from relatively new singer-songwriter Barns Courtney, an Ipswich, UK native who grew up in Seattle and who has an initial EP, Hands (Capitol/ Virgin-EMI) out now, with full-length due in the new year.

Courtney and band worked hard to get the still-filling room into his corner and pulled it off with songs like his initial single, ‘Glitter & Gold’ and even pulled a move out of the Tantrums playbook during hit, ‘Fire’ (heard in the Bradley Cooper chef movie, Burnt as well) by having everyone huddle low on the ground, before exploding up for the song’s chorus.  Based on the warm reception he’s received locally, expect a return headlining show, once the album is released.

Soul-influenced indie pop six-piece Fitz and the Tantrums is currently enjoying their biggest success to date, with ‘Handclap’ considered by many as being THE song of the summer and a string of sold-out shows in larger venues, culminating in this leg’s tour closing date at the State Theatre.

The group is out in support of their self-titled third full-length (on Elektra Records), which symbolizes a sort of rebirth into the mainstream as their sound evolves from the retro-soul of their debut and electro-pop of the follow-up.

The band opened with the new ‘Get Right Back’, amidst a stage that would light its decorative rectangle patterns in various pastel neon colors and singer Michael Fitzpatrick was adorned in winter white and co-singer Noelle Scaggs banged a tambourine, in bright sequined jacket.

The mixed crowd stood up, and continued standing from the very beginning of the show, as the band’s music make it hard to remain still. Minneapolis remains a strong market for the band, with Fitzpatrick reminiscing mid-set about previous appearances here, including their first on a bitter cold night at Bunker’s, followed just a few months later by triple-degree heat at the first of three Basilica Block Party appearances - with this night’s show selling out the quickest of any of their dates on the current tour.

Scaggs shone on the “break” songs- ‘Break the Walls’ followed by ‘Breakin’ the Chains of Love’, always moving and inciting the crowd to join along.  Musically, the band was tight but loose as always, with sax/keys/guitar player and bandleader James King driving the band’s signature soul/pop sound.

“Everybody’s had this kind of relationship at least once”, Fitz said, introducing ‘Complicated’, which most in the audience seemed to relate to, and which ended with a blazing King sax solo.  Hands waved in the sky for new single, ‘Roll Up’ and Fitz introduced initial hit ‘MoneyGrabber’ by saying “it’s all about getting down and dirty with us”.

An hour in, the double-time, clap-happy ‘L.O.V.’ ended the main set with extended jam solos from each of the musicians, but the crowd was vocal in demanding more and was rewarded with a three-song encore. Still constant on the radio, ‘Handclap’ began the extra set, with 2100+ people clapping along in time.

2013’s bluesy ‘6AM’ followed, with the crowd swaying from right to left with the chorus, with the irresistible whistle intro of ‘The Walker’ beginning their final song.  “Thank you for making all of our dreams come true”, Fitzpatrick said, prefacing the song which was everywhere in its day, from Oscar promos to video games, and numerous commercials.

With a tour called Come Get Your Love, Fitz and the Tantrums gave just that, to a capacity crowd in a market that’s embraced them since their early days.

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Fitz and the Tantrums at State Theatre, Minneapolis (22 Nov 2016)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic