Photos + Review: Fitz and the Tantrums @ First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN)

Fitz and the Tantrums (Los Angeles, CA), Ax and the Hatchetmen (Chicago, IL)
August 2nd, 2025
First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN

I get the urge to go out of my comfort zone every once and awhile. I was also starting to feel a little bit out of practice of sorts with having not shot a show in a good amount of time. So when the opportunity came to shoot a Fitz and the Tantrums show at First Avenue, I was excited.

Usually when I take a leap of faith at a show like this, I get surprised, and this was another example. It was an eclectic looking and feeling crowd throughout the night. From only knowing their biggest hit “Handclap,” I found myself thoroughly enjoying the songs that filled out their setlist, and also found it a nice compliment to the recent Cory Wong set I got to listen to while at MN Yacht Club festival.

Fans showed up, and showed up early for Fitz. I found it quite hard to get around the venue near the end of the opener’s set, Ax and the Hatchetmen, and in between the change over. I love the fact that there’s was only one opener.

Set production, lighting, and sound was all phenomenal this night. It was one of the best, and easiest shoots I’ve had in awhile, which I was initially worried about. First Ave has a very high stage, and coupled with stage monitors near the edge, it makes photoing pretty hard at times. But I was happy with the looks of it all and walked away from the night very happy with the results.

Fitz and the Tantrums weren’t a band that much on my radar before, but I’ve very glad I got the opportunity to make it out. They’re just good, enjoyable indie rock that gets the crowd moving and feeling good. I’m glad I got to see the songs I already knew “Handclap” and “Out of My League” live, as well as all the others.