Andy Grammer & Fitz and the Tantrums: The Wrong Party Tour
I recently had the pleasure of going to Wolf Trap’s Filene Center to see Andy Grammer and Fitz and the Tantrums.
First off, for those that have not been to this venue, it is actually a National Park that supports the performing arts. So, as you’re walking up, the normal security you would see at your run-of-the-mill venue consists of park rangers and volunteers at this location. The Filene Center is a gorgeous open-air amphitheater made of wood. It’s at the bottom of a “bowl” where people sitting on the lawn can see into the amphitheater.
The show was opened by an artist named Breland, an alum of Georgetown University. Breland had some stage presence, dancing around while performing some hip-hop songs. He eventually segued into his own work, which was (surprisingly) country music blended with rap, hip-hop, and R&B. At one point during his set, Breland ran from the stage all the way back to the lawn to give the audience a closer glimpse—all while singing. He performed a catchy tune called “Praise the Lord” which he performed at this year’s American Country Music Awards with Thomas Rhett. He also name-dropped Keith Urban before going into a song that they had worked on together; he explained to the crowd that, when Keith calls you, you drop everything and get to Nashville ASAP, which for Breland was “tomorrow,” driving through the night from Atlanta. The resulting song was “Throw It Back.” This artist is one to watch as he is picking up steam in the country genre.
Next up was Andy Grammer, who I was looking forward to since I had never seen him perform live. There were a lot of Andy Grammer fans in the crowd, some there to see only him. I can definitely see why—his performance lives up to the hype! He is engaging, charismatic, and fun to watch while he is onstage. At one point, Andy acknowledged a fan that had been signing in ASL along with his songs and even brought her up on stage to continue the song that he had been performing. Also, like Breland, he, too, ran to the back of the venue at one point of his show to give the fans on the lawn some closer interaction.
In between songs, he would have conversations with the audience about personal topics, like his mental health, going to therapy, addressing a lot of items that most performers will not…that a lot of the audience members can relate to. The official music video (edited for the three screens behind him) played while he performed “Love Myself,” and it actually made me tear up, as it showed a personal conversation with himself via text message; it was very heartfelt…plus, I’m a softie. At one point, Fitz appeared to help Andy sing “The Wrong Party,” a song collaboration in writing and performance.
I was definitely impressed with the energy and positivity put forth by Andy Grammer. Also, the guy is not only a singer, but a musician—he picked up the guitar, a piano/keyboard, as well as a trumpet during portions of his set. So, for anyone curious about Andy Grammer…get out there and attend a show of his—you will not be disappointed!
Andy Grammer Setlist:
Damn It Feels Good to Be Me
85
Saved My Life
Love Myself
Honey, I’m Good/September
Fresh Eyes
New Money
Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)
Lease on Life
The Wrong Party
Joy
Keep Your Head Up
Don’t Give Up on Me
Andy Grammer was such a bundle of energy, it was hard for me to see how anyone could follow it up! But, Fitz and the Tantrums were able to keep the mood up and the audience bopping along with their music. I have seen the band perform before, and they’re always solid in their performance.
Having been around since 2008, Fitz and the Tantrums are pure professionals on the stage. Fitz (Michael Fitzpatrick) and Noelle (Scaggs) are such a dynamic duo, both of their vocals strong and harmonious together. And, they have got so much charisma with each other. With them at the helm, they interact with their audience whenever they can—whether it is getting them to stand up and sing or clap along or giving them personal attention during a flirty little number.
I really enjoyed myself. It was a beautiful summer night (that cooled down enough to be comfortable) within a beautiful open-air amphitheater in the great outdoors with fantastic music! If the tour comes to your area, you should definitely check it out!
There’s not an official setlist (currently), but the following songs were included in the set (in no particular order):
OCD
Complicated
Out of My League
123456
Sway
Fool
Livin’ for the Weekend
I Need Help!
6 AM
MoneyGrabber
I Just Wanna Shine
Hands Up
HandClap
All the Feels
The Walker
Words & Photos: Deanna Escobar