Fitz & the Tantrums

Fitz & the Tantrums

Was it an aerobic workout or a SXSW showcase? Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs made an argument for both on Friday night with a set that built upon the considerable energy generated by the face-rocking Joy Formidable and turned it into a full-on dance party. Opening with "Spark," the band encouraging the audience to clap and sing-along, the L.A. sixpiece maintained an impressive energy level as the set extended into the wee hours. The set consisted mostly of the rock-edged, neo-Motown, indie soul featured on 2010 debut Pickin' Up the Pieces, including "Don't Gotta Work It Out" and "Dear Mr. President." Fitzpatrick and Scaggs, who rocked edgier looks with close-cropped blonde hair and a fitted leather dress, respectively, kept to their quadrants of the stage, but occasionally harmonized face-to-face in semisexualized, faux-aggressive playacting. While the Raconteurs cover "Steady, As She Goes" and "Out of My League," the lead single off forthcoming More Than Just a Dream, fared less well with the audience, when Fitz launched into "L.O.V.," followed by the house-burning "MoneyGrabber," the audience got what it came for – a "motherfucking dance party."