A devoted crowd gathered in Bowman Park on Saturday evening to see Fitz and the Tantrums.
The rain from the day before turned Bowman Park into a swamp and with a temperature hovering around 45 degrees, most students were bundled up in sweaters and coats. Most of the audience members might have been deterred by the cold, but roughly 500 people still attended.
On any other day, with any other band, these factors could have ruined a concert. But lead singers Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs' soaring vocals and wild dancing kept the audience moving.
Senior Elizabeth Gentry, president of Union Board, said despite the weather conditions, the board's fall concert was a huge success.
"The weather was a little chilly, but we believe students were pleased because we met previous requests for an outdoor venue," Gentry said. "Those who were in attendance embraced the weather by dancing barefoot in the mud and enjoying the outdoor atmosphere of the event."
When Fitz and the Tantrums arrived onstage, they were greeted with a long uproarious applause. Using the energy from the crowd, the band broke into an 80's pop/soul infused concert that lasted two hours.
The majority of songs they played were from their most recent album "Pickin' Up the Pieces."
The band also showcased their versatility by performing a cover of The Raconteurs' "Steady As She Goes," in addition to a two-song encore. The encore included a cover of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and a complete rendition of their most popular "MoneyGrabber."
During the encore, Fitzpatrick stepped aside and let The Tantrums run the show. There were saxophone and flute solos by saxophonist James King as well as a solo by keyboardist/organist Jeremy Ruzumna. Even the accompanying vocalist Scaggs was able to belt a few bars.
The jam session was soulful improvisation at its finest. Audience members were encouraged to clap and dance along as the band members fed off of each other's solos.
Even when the band hit their final note of the night, the audience didn't lose its steam. Dozens of students and alumni, most of them wearing mud-covered pants, stayed outside of the GCPA to get an autograph or a picture with one of the band members.
Despite the cold weather and the mud in Bowman Park, students were leaving the concert with smiles on their faces. Gentry said that it was the overall atmosphere and the music that shaped the audiences perception of the night.
"I talked to dozens of students who remarked that it was the best concert they have seen at DePauw," Gentry said. "Not only did people really enjoy the band's performance, but everyone was also beyond excited about the outdoor venue."
This is a significant victory for the Union Board. Not only could the weather have ruined the concert, but the music could have fallen flat as well.
Last year, Mike Posner was welcomed to DePauw with great acclaim, but afterwards the audience's reviews were mixed. Held in Kresge Auditorium, a $10 ticket price was attached to accommodate two other acts. This meant a three-hour wait to even see Posner take the stage, and consequently, some students left feeling dissatisfied.
Senior Julia Abarr thought that the concert was near perfection though.
"[Fitz and the Tantrums] were one of the best live acts I've ever seen," she said. They worked really hard to engage the audience and keep the energy high."
Junior Ashray Patel agreed.
"It was a welcome change and a very refreshing concert for DePauw and union board," he said. "It was great that they brought out a band with a good music pedigree. ... an indie, rock and soul fusion."
