Rain, thunder, and lightning did their best to stop the party. The day didn't look promising in the morning; storms had rolled in, it was raining, and no sun was in sight. By midday, things were looking up. Clear blue skies and a nice breeze to cut the heat. The thought of rain drifted from memory, and the crowd rushed to fill The Refinery field, eagerly awaiting the moment to let it all go and dance their butts off. But Charleston’s weather is fickle, very fickle. Charleston’s own Brave Baby was to be the opening act, but Mother Nature had other plans. A voice rang over the mic and explained that there was incoming lightning and they were delaying the show's start. Eventually, a storm did roll through, ending Brave Baby’s chance to take the stage and forcing concertgoers to take shelter. Again, a voice on the mic assured the crowd that Fitz and the Tantrums would go on if the weather cooperated. Lightning lit up the sky, and a heavy rain began to fall. The Refinery, having a no-reentry policy, made it impossible to shelter in vehicles. Some of the crowd gave up entirely, causing a wave of people to exit the venue. But for those with a little patience and who stuck it out, they were treated to something special! Nearly an hour and a half later, the storms died out, and the crowd that was left began to file out of the venue's sheltered establishments. I was surprised to see that there was still a pretty massive crowd. They were soggy, and the humidity was creeping in, but the open field filled with bodies nonetheless. The mood was not at all diminished by the weather; people were still smiling and eager to party, and we all know Fitz and the Tantrums know how to party!
Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage, and the crowd went nuts. Co-lead vocalists Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs thanked the crowd for sticking it out and launched right into “Sway,” a feel-good pop bop from their 2022 album Let Yourself Free that immediately had the crowd dancing and singing. What's great about Fitz and the Tantrums is that their music is infectious but also incredibly adaptable. Versatile enough to be played to pump up crowds at sports stadiums, or to be played at kids' birthday parties to make kids dance off their sugar high. Their music is approachable and unoffensive, and that's great. There were plenty of families there to take in the tunes. It was fun for kids to dance along with their parents to songs like “123456” from All the Feels. Fitz and the Tantrums create an atmosphere where everyone can have fun. No time was this more apparent than when they began to play “Out of My League” from More Than Just a Dream. Hips were shaking, hair was swaying, and the lyrics were passionately belted out into the night sky. People had forgotten that there had even been rain at any point in the night, carelessly dancing in puddles and having a good time. I didn't think the positive vibe could grow any bigger, but I was proven wrong when Fitz began to play “Living for the Weekend.” It was like a full-blown hockey stadium level of excitement for that song! It being a Friday night only amplified the energy, and you could feel it as the crowd sang the choruses. Noelle asked the crowd if it would be ok for them to play a new song and introduced the crowd to the next track, “Man on the Moon”, their latest single. A vibrant, and of course, upbeat pop track that highlighted the group's signature blend of funk and disco. The lyrics, however, seemed a bit more melancholy than most Fitz tracks. It was different but in a great way. Fitz and the Tantrums continued through their setlist full of hits from “ Fool” off their hit Self-Titled album to “ The Walker” and deep cuts in between like “Moneygrabber” from their debut album Pickin’ Up the Pieces. If you closed your eyes long enough, their music almost transported you to a different time filled with dance TV shows like Soul Train or American Bandstand. Their sound is undeniably retro in the best way. James King’s saxophone melodies and John Wicks' big band style drum fills highlight the effect 10-fold. They get that massive big band sound of yesteryear. The crowd stood steadfast after the band had cleared the stage after the “The Walker”. Chanting encore, whistling, and clapping their hands raw. The stage remained dark. The band seemed to relish in that a bit as they took a few minutes to return, but when they did, it was an epic finale.
Ending the night with the encore of “All the Feels”, which prompted the crowd to throw their “hand” hearts in the sky, and closing it out the night on the highest of notes, Fitz and the Tantrums shut down the show with “HandClap,” their most infectious and widely known song. It was an absolute pleasure to watch the crowd clap in unison when the song demanded it. Even I had to get my clap in! As I said, Fitz and the Tantrums know how to party, and their live shows are an absolute joy. Their music is undeniably infectious, and try all you want to resist the fun, energetic positivity that drips from their songs— you can't! Their music just makes you happy, it forces you to want to dance, it forces you to smile. If you're looking for a good time with nothing but positive vibes, go catch Fitz and the Tantrums!
