Webster Hall (New York City, NY)
02/08/23
Indie-pop band Fitz and the Tantrums performed to a packed crowd at New York City’s iconic Webster Hall venue on February 8th during their Let Yourself Free Tour in support of their new album of the same name. Los Angeles-based indie-pop singer Sammy Rash opened up the show with an impressive set of songs that really highlighted his vocals and charm – including fan favorites “let’s be friends” and “summer&cigarettes.” Following Rash’s set, Fitz and the Tantrums took to the stage for the night.
They kicked off their set with energetic performances; first came “Sway” which was followed by “Heaven,” both off of their new album, Let Yourself Free. Lead singer Michael Fitzpatrick (A.K.A. Fitz) gave an incredible performance, frequently leaning over the barricade to engage with fans in the crowd and nonstop dancing around the entire stage, all while never missing a note. The rest of the band matched Fitz’s infectious energy the entire set – with particularly notable performances from incredible vocalist Noelle Scaggs and saxophone/auxiliary player James King. Some standout moments included hit “The Walker” from their 2013 album, More Than Just A Dream, which featured an impressive saxophone solo from King and some less-impressive but charming attempts from the audience at whistling, and 2016’s dance anthem “Handclap” from their self-titled album to close out the night.
After returning for an encore, Fitz gave a moving speech about pursuing your dreams, sharing with the audience how he’s in his 50s and none of his music took off until he had already gone through several projects and albums with no success and was in his 30s. While it’s incredible to see so many young musicians taking off and making careers right out of school, including opener Sammy Rash who’s only 20 and already making a name for himself, it’s also incredibly special to see someone demonstrate that it’s never too late to live your dream, combating the hustle culture that often pervades our daily lives.
Fitz and the Tantrums are an indie-pop and neo-soul band from Los Angeles, California and have been making music together since 2008. They released their newest full-length studio album, Let Yourself Free, in November, which is available now on all streaming platforms. Their headlining tour wrapped up in February, but they recently announced that they will be joining the Goo Goo Dolls on tour this fall!
