"Wake Up" and Listen to Fitz and The Tantrums.

Despite predictions of rainy weather on Saturday, the sun shone through for Fitz and The Tantrums at Central Park's Mainstage, part of The City Park's Foundation Summerstage Concert Series.  Although the forecast undoubtedly kept some fans away, Fitz and the other bands in Saturday's FREE concert lineup, which included King, and Lee Fields and The Expressions, with interludes from DJ Rich Medina, played to a packed field.

Fitz and The Tantrums on Mainstage

The Los Angeles based soul group immediately transports fans to the sounds of the 70s, when soul was at its peak, but they have a funky, modern flair that keeps their music fresh. The beautiful Noelle Scaggs has an effervescent chemistry with the band's leader, Michael Fitzpatrick (aka Michael "Fitz"), and when she asks whether you're ready to "get [ ]our groove on," she is not just patronizing the crowd.

Fitz (right) and bassist, Joseph Karnes (left)
sign autographs after the show 

Fitz and The Tantrums are absolute crowd-pleasers, interacting with audience members throughout the show, from Fitz "stealing" a woman's sunglasses (he gave them back, after performing a song in the lady's retro shades), to Scaggs always making sure everyone had their hands up clapping or their bottoms out dancing, this was not a band for whose set one could sit even for a moment, except perhaps during their last song (their most well-known single, "Moneygrabber") when Fitz instructed everyone to "get low." Those who did not oblige were called out in the crowd, and within a minute or so, everyone was kneeling down, quietly bopping to the music as it crescendoed louder and louder, until we were all back up on our feet dancing and clapping again with our hands in the air.

James King flute solo

The band's songs are fun and groovy, and you immediately want to sing along. Add to that Fitz's unique sound, Scaggs' powerful, sexy voice backing him up, and exquisite instrumental solos from bandmember James King, on bass sax, alto sax and even flute, and from Joseph Karnes on bass guitar, and this band has found a winning combination for success. In two years, they have already played to New York crowds five times, and they promised to return again soon. So, if you know what's good for you, "Wake Up" and check out Fitz and The Tantrums. (Yes, that's an ironic reference to one of their newest songs...).

And don't forget that Central Park will be hosting free music, dance and comedy shows all summer long, in all five boroughs, as well as some paid acts. You can find the full schedule of events here.

Michael Fitz Poses With an Adoring Fan (Okay, that's me/WGINY...)