Wednesday 07.01.09: Club NME with FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS / JENNY O.

Fitz and The Tantrums || Watch

You can practically hear the record needle drop on the scratchy 45 when listening to Fitz and The Tantrums, a stylish retro-styled 60’s pop/soul combo from L.A. The influences and references, a mash up of early Motown, Stax and even a touch of British Invasion and Hall and Oates blue-eyed soul, knock against each other with cool abandon but there’s no doubt that Fitz and his revue also have a keen eye on the recent success of other neo-soul singers such as Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele.

Noted Winehouse producer Mark Ronson is a fan and it’s easy to see why in the “imitation and flattery” play book. The material may not be in the majors yet — there’s just a bit too much studied retro structure and marketing concept at play here — but fortunately the band’s August 11 debut five-track EP Songs For A Breakup, Vol. 1 has just enough small pleasures and downtown grit to keep things interesting. We’re not in the Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings territory yet but just getting this close makes it worth a listen. Lead track “Breakin’ The Chains of Love” is one of the best of the batch, a song that manages to bring a fresh, “where have I heard that” melody to the super-stylized sound – Direct Current Music

With:
Jenny O.
Resident DJs Dia and Solid Todd spinning

8:30pm / $8 / 21+