If there’s one band out there that can draw in a crowd of all ages, a band that defies time periods and brings a smile to each face that is lucky enough to experience them, it is without a doubt Fitz & the Tantrums. I saw this band in Cleveland this past summer at a free show they did at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and I was blown away.
Fronted by the effervescent Michael Fitzpatrick, or Fitz as we know him, the band comprises Noelle Scaggs (who could give Aretha a run for her money), saxophonist James King, bassist Joseph Karnes, keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna, and drummer John Wicks. This band is often categorized as neo-soul, but pay no attention to this assessment. The band is SOUL, period. There’s nothing neo about it. If you built a time machine and sent them back to the sixties, they’d fit right in.
We had the opportunity to chat with drummer, John Wicks. Here’s the exclusive on what led him to pursue music, how the band can play in suits each night, and much more!
Can you tell me what led you to choose the drums?
I chose the drums for a few reasons. I’m a navy brat. My mother was a huge huge fan, so growing up in New Orleans, checking out a funeral march, line drums, as a young kid that’s why I got turned on to it, you know, hearing Mardi Gras. I tried a few other things—it was only with my father’s voice in my head saying that I needed to make more money—and I tried a different career, but nothing ever made any sense other than the drums.
I totally understand. My dad’s the same way!
Is he? Yeah, you know there was a long period of time when I was in college that I was still trying out different departments—the communications department, I worked as a DJ for a while, but that only fueled my addiction to record collecting.
I tried a whole bunch of different things, graphic design, anything that I could think of that I thought I might still get to be creative, but I just spent every spare minute practicing in the music department. So I finally just gave in, I was in college at Central Washington University, and then I ended up transferring to Berklee College of Music.
Oh, wow! That’s a great school!
It was very expensive, but it was a worthwhile experience. I ended up just staying there for a year and then I got a gig and just never looked back.
You mentioned you have an extensive record collection. Was there anything memorable that you listened to while growing up?
You know, there were two records that got me started. I was initially just jazzy and in that world as a kid and through college. But right as I graduated high school in 1993, De La Soul’s record, 3 Feet High and Rising, and the Beastie Boys’ record were those records for me personally, and I was really in a hip hop phase, and I realized that they were sampling all of these amazing artists.
So I started researching where each sample came from, and it sort of became this obsession for me. It still is to this day an obsession for me to try to find where each sample comes from. Those two records are famous for the amount of samples they both contain. Those two records kept me busy. I mean, I discovered bands like Steely Dan and Led Zeppelin, and all of these records because of those two records.
And then in addition to that, they were sampling hammond organ trios, as a result I sort of became obsessed with the hammond organ and tried to find every record I could with the hammond on it. That turned me on to tons and tons of great music. It just basically snowballed, and that’s when I started collecting records, right when I left high school.
It’s only recently that I’ve had to tone it down because I have children now, and I can’t be spending a whole lot of extra money at record stores, and it’s really tough because I’m in North Carolina right now and there’s two record stores that I really want to go in, but I can’t let myself.
What would you say the worst album in your collection is?
Oh, wow, that’s a good question! The worst album…would have to be. Gosh, you know, that’s a very tough question for me to answer because I’m always finding something valuable in every record. The worst record I own, I can’t remember the title but it’s a Frank Stallone album, Sylvester Stallone’s brother. That’s got to be the worst. I know that every time I’ve put it on I just cringe and laugh.
Your band is fronted by two powerhouse singers. Who do you think would win in a sing-off?
Oh, wow that’s a tough one. Depends what the criteria is, but I think, in a sing-off, I would have to go Noelle.
I’d have to agree with that, but I think Fitz has KILLER stage presence. I think they both do, but I think he really radiates…
That’s why I say it depends on the criteria. If it were a show like The Voice, and your back is turned and you’re just judging like that, I’d say absolutely Noelle.
How do you guys play in suits and not pass out?
I just ran nine miles, and I have to in order to keep up with these guys. Fitz and Noelle have so much energy, and they put out so much sweat every night that if I don’t stay in shape, I will feel it at the end of the night, that’s for sure. I’m running every day and trying to make sure I stay in shape.
What musicians are you currently digging?
I love Neon Indian out of NY. Super into a band out of Grand Rapids, MI called Stepdad. I just saw a Youtube video randomly that they put on Youtube, and I fell in love with it so much that I turned everyone on to their record, and we loved them so much that we asked them to tour with us on the last tour we did. And it was so fun having them out every night, they were just phenomenal.
One musician in particular that I’m very into is a drummer named Deantoni Park. He’s as far as I’m concerned, a really forward-thinking musician. He’s a pretty uplifting guy.
I remember Noelle mentioning when you played the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame here this summer how important the live music experience is. How do you think the live music experience impacts your listeners, as opposed to a recorded experience?
I think especially in this time period right now, live performance is really coming back. It’s really where it’s at. Just from a financial standpoint, it’s really the only way bands can make money anymore; you’ve gotta hit the road, and you’ve gotta get in front of people. As far as the impact goes, people want to see something with no smoke and mirrors, and that’s definitely what they get when they come to a Fitz & the Tantrums show.
You can listen to the recording and fall in love with the songwriting or the vibe of the recording, but when you come to a show, you’re not getting what’s on that record. You’re getting something on the next level, both musically and energy-wise. What I’m so proud of with this group is that we’re able to create such a great, fun, happenin’ party environment every night for the audience, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of something positive like that. And I think that’s the impact of the live performance that we have, it’s just one big positive force out there.
Alright. Well, let’s talk a little bit about Fitz & the Tantrums. How’d you cross paths with Fitz?
Oh, okay. Yeah, this kind of brings up record collecting again, to be honest. Anybody that I play with knows how nuts I am with records, and Fitz and I share a friend, a piano player who I have done some jazz gigs with, and he knew that I’m obsessed with motown, and fast recordings and that ’60s era.
Fitz was looking for a drummer, and my friend told Fitz he should call me because he knew I was obsessed with motown. So he called me up and gave me the record, and I listened to it once and I was like, “Wow, I’m on board.” No doubt about it, the songwriting was so strong and honestly the record was so good, and so where I am coming from aestheticly, and I was so psyched. So that’s where it started, from my record collecting.
I guess it’s paid off then!
It has paid off in more ways than I can tell. It’s allowed me because of my research to work as a drummer. I’m able to play without an accent within a lot of different styles. Also, in the studio it has provided me the ability to make producers comfortable because a lot of the touchstone recordings they reference, I am able to know both how to play within that style and how to get that sound from the drums, what microphones to use, those sorts of things. That’s the benefit of being both a musician and an extensive collector.
I think that’s another aspect of music education that you don’t think about in the classroom, is all the benefits you gain from listening to music.
And you’re right. To be honest, that was one of the frustrating things about my formal instruction in a college setting. I had an amazing high school band instructor who was basically like a father to me, but he was also somebody who literally every day was giving me more and more records to listen to that night and to come back and tell me what I thought about them the next day. For some strange reason when I went away to college, they lose sight of that, they lose sight of the fire. And people always ask what was your initial fire, and it was always that recording that was heard.
So what sort of advice would you give to kids who know they want to pursue music, but who have parents who are telling them it is irrational as a career?
I would say absolutely go for it. I would say also to be very honest with yourself, constantly to be pushing yourself to play with people that you feel are better than you, and make sure you are playing up to that level. If this is what you want to do, stay naïve and stay optimistic—those are your best tools. Don’t let yourself become negative because if you become negative or become jaded you’re not gonna make it. It’s the person with the most endurance that makes it. I’ve been doing this since third grade and just now am I able to be in a band that’s doing it. I guess my recommendation is to stay optimistic, and if someone tells you that you can’t do something, to immediately do it.
Clevelanders, if you’re lucky enough to be holding tickets to the show tonight at the Beachland Ballroom, count your blessings as it is SOLD OUT. If you won’t be at the show tonight, hop on a train, plane or bus and get to their next gig. These cats definitely know how to bring the noise!
