Fitz and the Tantrums to headline W.I.L.D.
Dave LichtermanFitz and the Tantrums will perform on April 27 as the headliners for Spring W.I.L.D. Openers have yet to be signed.
The group that organizes Washington University’s biggest on-campus performances twice each year has yet to book openers, though it is in the final stages of doing so.
Fitz and The Tantrums is a six-member band led by Michael Sean “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, a crooner with a distinctive voice and a feel for the group’s signature electric organ. He’s backed up by singer Noelle Scaggs, saxophonist James King, bass guitarist Joseph Karnes, and drummer John Wicks.
Their sound can be described as pop soul, a mélange of James Brown and Coldplay. They have a distinct, electronic Motown vibe to all of their songs, which have been featured in promotional commercials for “Criminal Minds,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Inside the NHL.”
Since forming in 2008, the band has released one full length album called “Picking Up the Pieces,” performed several times on TV and once at Lollapalooza, and even served as the house band for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. They are known for several of their songs including “MoneyGrabber.”
According to Team 31 co-president, sophomore Casey Hochberg, the band’s affect matches the atmosphere the group is hoping to bring to this year’s W.I.L.D.
“They’re exactly the type of summer night vibe we want. They blend soul and funk and have the vibe that we want for spring W.I.L.D.,” Hochberg said.
The group sifted through YouTube videos of all the bands they were considering before finally deciding on Fitz and The Tantrums because of its high energy live performances.
Leading up to the reveal, Team 31 posted numerous clues about the artist on its Twitter page.
Student Life, as well as a number of students, correctly guessed that Fitz and The Tantrums would be headlining the show.
“I think this group has a cross genre appreciation,” Hochberg said. “It’s so accessible and it’s going to be such a fun feel, such a fun atmosphere. It’s exactly what a spring W.I.L.D. is supposed to be”
W.I.L.D. will take place on Friday, April 27 in the Brookings Quadrangle. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the concert will start at 6 p.m. It is free for all Washington University students.
1) Team 31, WTF?
2) Use the entire SU budget to bring in Pitbull.
Please give me thumbs up because you definitely agree with 1+2
Every comment that has the slightest support for Team 31 or F&tT has received multiple thumbs down, irrespective of the value of the content.
Stay classy Wash U.
Well now, you couldn’t really expect anything other than a billion thumbs down for that, could you?
Guys, Fitz and the Tantrums are kind of awesome. If you haven’t heard of them before, now’s the time to listen to them. Though McSchwasty might be right that a lot of people won’t even care. Besides, let’s be honest: the people who are happy with this aren’t going to throw a temper tantrum on the internet.
I guess I respect that team 31 only goes for band that are up and coming, and that they try to get washu to be ahead on new music.. still wish I knew them tho, I’ll just listen to em a bunch before the show
Bring back Mike Peters!
something really needs to change? can realize WUstock and WILD should be occur once a year this way WILD can actually pull a decent act once in a while..
i’m disappointed with the hate team 31 seems to get. these guys have been on the rise like mad and set to play during the primetime evening time slots at the two largest music festivals this summer. I’m so sorry you’ve been spending your days listening to tiesto and skrillex, but it’s your fault for not hearing them.
Looks like $157,000 a year gets you Mike Posner and whoever these no names are. Utterly terrible job by Team 31 again.
I misspoke with my numbers here. I was going off of some incorrect information. One page on the SU website says Team 31 an allocation of $157,000 for Fall WILD I am assuming to cover all expenses. For this upcoming spring WILD they requested $90,000 for headliner and openers. Based off of past budgets that are available they will be given/spend about 75% of that give or take depending on the acts themselves. However I was not able to find the exact totals spent on talent for this past fall’s show and spring WILD last year. I would hope Fitz and the Tantrums cost a whole lot less than $45,000.
I know $45,000 is not 75% of $90,000. My point is they better be cheap.
apparently fitz and the tantrums played at blueberry hill recently. so it essentially took team31 a semester to book a no-name band we couldve seen a few months ago.
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2011/02/fitz_and_the_tantrums_review_2011_st_louis_blueberry_hill_duck_room_february_12_jon_hardy_public.php
That was 2011. More than a few months ago.
That was over a year ago. A LOT changes in the music industry in a year.
first mike peters, now this??? /disappointment
Great April Fool’s joke!
….right?
it’s not like anyone is going to remember it anyway…
Great job as always Team 31!
Just when you think you can’t get any more disappointed, they mange to underwhelm us yet again
WUstock is officiall better than WILD
who the hell are they