Fitz and the Tantrums are an American indie pop and neo soul band from Los Angeles, California, that formed in 2008.

Their debut studio album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, was released in August 2010 on indie label Dangerbird Records and received critical acclaim; it also reached no.

[2][3] He contacted his college friend, saxophonist James King, who recommended singer Noelle Scaggs and drummer John Wicks.

[6][7][8] Their appearance was on short notice, after previously scheduled opener K'naan cancelled due to fatigue in late October.

"[5] In December 2009 the band shot the official music video for their first single, "Breakin' the Chains of Love", which was directed by Joshua Leonard.

On April 15, 2010, they opened for ska band The Specials on their North American reunion tour at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

'"[5]The band performed the songs "MoneyGrabber" and "Don't Gotta Work It Out" on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!

On February 28 they performed "MoneyGrabber" on TBS' Conan, and on April 5 on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

On Friday, February 3, 2012, they performed "Don't Gotta Work It Out" on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, episode 581, taped for broadcast at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis.

They performed a free show at Thursday at the Square in Buffalo, New York, on June 14, 2012, and at the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 7, 2012.

The album features the lead single "Out of My League", which reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart on September 30, 2013.

"[19] Los Angeles Times music critic Ann Powers wrote, "Fitz & the Tantrums is the kind of band that communicates best in concert, but this album serves as a fine proxy and party-starter.

"[20] Aly Comingore of the Santa Barbara Independent wrote that the band members craft "soulful, nostalgia pop that's not only infectious, but just fresh enough to make it stand apart from its predecessors.

[22] "Not only do L.A.–based six-piece Fitz and the Tantrums share James Brown's penchant for snazzy-dressed brass bands and feel-good retro ballads, they also have the late godfather of soul's tireless work ethic."

Their third album has been described as "a product of contemporary market forces and a depressing relic of an era of the music industry best forgotten.