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Danforth Music Hall

Concert Review: Fitz and the Tantrums

Hot on the Street - Fitz and the Tantrums - Sax

If Peter Bjorn and John joined forces with Janelle Monae, they could still learn a thing or two from Fitz and the Tantrums. The indie dance pop band turned the Danforth Music Hall into a wicked dance party on Sunday night, which made me forget my Queen’s Plate FOMO.

Fitz and the Tantrums (FATT) may not be a local band, but the sincerity they expressed during their commentary convinced me that they’d fit right in with polite Canadians. Their fans aren’t necessarily hipster enough for Parkdale, but maybe they biked over from the Beaches.

After FATT dedicated Out of My League to the audience, everyone stood up — including the relatively introverted fans with balcony seats. The band inspired fans to put down their phones and dance like no one’s watching. It was awesome.

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Concert Review: KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall

TIFF might be over, but Toronto remains a star-studded destination. On Friday night, Avicii, Sarah Silverman and Serena Ryder all had events I would’ve loved to attend, but thanks to Nokia & Live Nation, I saw KT Tunstall. Twitter for the win, once again!

Tunstall kicked off her North American tour at the Danforth Music Hall and it was obvious that she was a little bit rusty. The apologetic singer repeatedly said “sorry” so many times that it became a running joke and the audience started counting. The Danforth Music Hall is a small enough venue that each time a fan shouted something at her, everyone could hear. This lighthearted banter created a laidback vibe that made the evening more enjoyable.

KT Tunstall

It was fun to hear Suddenly I See, Funnyman and Black Horse and the Cherry Tree live, but I wish she played more of her early hits. Instead, Tunstall focused on playing newer material. At some point between performing songs from her latest record Invisible Empire//Crescent Moon, Tunstall said she liked writing tracks in Arizona because “it’s the perfect place to meditate.” This album marks a transition in her career because after making upbeat pop-rock songs, she became interested in darker subject matter, including death.

Overall, I thought the sound quality was good, but the concert was short and there wasn’t anything too memorable. Though I’m grateful for having amazing seats in Row F, KT Tunstall’s performance didn’t top my first experience at the Danforth Music Hall when Sam Roberts rocked the house in 2008.