TTribune/Sentinelribune/Sentinel FFriday,riday, JJuneune 225,5, 22021021 15 Fitz and the Tantrums create music that entertains, inspires Continued from Page 1 If music is important to you, we encourage you to get out and sup- port it.” “Tuesdays in the Park” returns July 6 after a nearly two-year ab- sence. Multi-Platinum hitmakers •July 6 – Fitz and the Tan- Fitz and the Tantrums will head- trums line the 7 p.m. show. Tickets are •Aug. 3 – Brothers Osborne available at www.artpark.net. •Aug. 24 – Melissa Ether- Fitz and the Tantrums idge The pandemic grounded tour- ing musicians – and while that was weird for them, it wasn’t nec- essarily a bad thing. “I mean, it was amazing and challenging and horrible – it was everything,” Fitz and the Tan- trums frontman Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick said. “You know, be- cause on the fl ip side of not get- •July 1 – Blackberry Smoke ting to do what I love every day •July 14 – Lettuce was that I got to be home with my •July 27 – Bright Eyes kids. This is the longest I’d spent Artpark & Company had its main parking lot painted last summer – one of many creative endeavors staged when, •Aug. 20 – Joe Russo’s at home in 12 years. So, there was well, the stage wasn’t available. (Photo by K&D Action Photo and Aerial Imaging) Almost Dead something really magical about •Aug. 22 – Dropkick Mur- just being in my kids’ life every to be out on stage, it just feels like song like saved my @ss from a If You’re Going … phys & Rancid day; waking up with them, putting this collective sigh of relief; this bad breakup or got me through Artpark & Company recently •Aug 26 – Wilco + Sleater- them to bed every night.” collective moment of celebration; like a real hard time after my dad announced, “Proof of vaccination Kinney Like Artpark & Company, Fitz of enjoying being in the presence passed away.’ A number of times will no longer be required to at- •Aug. 29 – Blues Traveler looked for other ways to be pro- of our peers and seeing live music. we’ve had people pull us aside and tend events in Artpark venues. •Sept. 1 – Halestorm ductive while in lockdown. I mean, you can really feel there’s say that stuff has been powerful. Guests will also not be asked to Additional concert announce- “I dug in on the other side of a different energy out there right “A couple years ago, we played complete a health screening ques- ments are expected. Visit www. music, which is I love making mu- now. People are just ready to be a show in Texas and a family tionnaire or temperature check artpark.net for tickets or more sic and recording music and writ- done with this and ready to dance wrote to us and said, ‘Our daugh- upon arrival. Social distancing information. ing songs. So, I just put all my cre- to some live music.” ter has been dealing with some will no longer be mandated, and ative energy into that,” he said. More than most bands, Fitz and severe health issues, and your vaccinated patrons will not be re- crowded amphitheater this sea- While at home, Fitz recorded the Tantrums encourage concert- song, ‘HandClap,’ has been her quired to wear facial coverings. son, especially in July. There will an eponymous solo album in the goers to get on their feet. song and our song – our rallying “Patrons who are not fully vac- be room to move about and social most 2020 way: Over Zoom. “Anybody that’s seen us knows song – through her whole entire cinated are required to wear a distance if you wish. We have a “The process was a steep learn- that we bring a church-of-music nine months of treatment, when mask whenever social distancing COVID info page on our website ing curve,” he said. “You know, all kind of vibe,” Fitz said. “And if we didn’t know if she was going cannot be maintained (indoors at artpark.net that lists the cur- of a sudden trying to write with people haven’t seen us yet, it’s to make it.’ or outdoors). Those who are not rent policies, and will also email people on a video chat – it’s not like you got to come to one of our “And then they came back- feeling well at the time of an event ticketholders a day or two prior to the same sort of glorious moment shows with your dancing shoes stage, and we got to meet them. are also discouraged from enter- the events with any updates. of getting to create with people in on, because we don’t let you just And it’s hard for me even to tell ing the park, regardless of vacci- “And fi nally, we want to thank the same room. But, you know, stand there and shoegaze. It’s like you without like sobbing, because nation status.” everyone again for their contin- through trial and error and just we want everybody letting their it was so palpable – this energy of Artpark has tagged this mes- ued patience and support.” doing it, we kind of got ourselves hair down and going crazy. what this song meant. And not sage to its press releases: “Art- in a groove. “And that’s what we’ve always that I give myself or my music park is committed to keeping all “And I just worked with a couple done; and I think we’ve always that much importance, but to see visitors, employees and artists of my good buddies; so, it kind of given people a safe place to let what it meant to them – and how safe and continues to work close- served a dual purpose of we were loose and go crazy and to have much it helped them through this ly with New York state offi cials TWICE being creative, but we are also us- fun. And this just feels like every- moment – and being a fellow par- to revise and implement health ing it as a way to stay connected body needs that moment even ent where they were like hugging and safety protocols. At this time, and check in with each other ev- more.” their daughter and they’re like, all activities are subject to New the impact ery day. And that was an amazing While hit songs “123456,” ‘You don’t know how much your York state COVID-19 guidelines. experience to be creative.” “HandClap,” “All The Feels,” “I song saved her, and saved us.’ For details, please visit (www.art- With coronavirus cases waning Just Wanna Shine,” “I Need Help” “And we were just all crying park.net). As offi cial local health stateside, the number of vacci- and “The Walker” certainly en- there, hugging this family I’d nev- guidelines evolve regarding CO- nated individuals increasing, and courage dancing, Fitz said they er met. And I was like, ‘That’s the VID-19 safety protocols, Artpark COVID-19 restrictions ending, do more than just entertain. power of writing a silly pop song, may shift seating confi gurations Fitz and the Tantrums recently “I think at the end of the day, and then it goes out in the world, and increase capacity.” with Print Online resumed touring. what I’m really working out in the and it becomes something so im- Wedekindt said, “We’d also like & “We just did our fi rst couple of beginning parts of writing a song portant to somebody in their life.’ to let everyone know that we have shows two weeks ago and, be- is I’m just trying to process my And to be able to be a part of that intentionally planned for gener- ADVERTISING sides being defi nitely a little out own demons and my own chal- is so humbling. ally smaller capacities and atten- Call today 773-7676 of shape, it just felt so good to be lenges in life – from depression, “I think I really was caught by dance this summer. Therefore, NIAGARA FRONTIER PUBLICATIONS back out in our natural element,” to stress, anxiety – all the things that bug of putting positivity out people shouldn’t expect a really wnypapers.com Fitz said. that all of us deal with,” Fitz said. there; putting positive messages. He explained audiences – who “And so, a lot of times, I’m kind Sometimes people knock me for also are getting back into the of trying to write that song almost it and think that it’s a little too swing of concerts – offered an in- as a theme song or an anthem to much of these simple platitudes, teresting response. remind myself to keep myself in and I’m like, ‘I don’t know; some “I think that because this is check and to maintain perspec- days I need those simple phrases maybe the only event that any of tive … and try and hold on – as to get me on the right side.’ And us will experience in our lives that much as I can throughout any seeing that it resonates with other we can say that we all collectively given day – to a positive attitude.” people – I’ll let other people write went through it – not just as a city, He explained, “This band has the sad, depressing songs. I want a state, a country, but the whole been my fi rst real successful to bring that joy and positivity to friggin’ globe – there’s something band. I made tons of music before the world.” really that I’ve been experiencing and nobody ever heard it. And Wedekindt said, “I’m happy we that feels very powerful and con- then with Fitz and the Tantrums, were able to bring Fitz and the nective with other people – even we started to have success. And Tantrums to Artpark this sea- random strangers – is that every- then I would have the experience son. They’re one of those bands body’s had to trudge a road of of having fans come up and relate that not only writes and records something different this year. And to me how much a song meant great pop songs and are talented obviously some people have had to them, or an album got them musicians, but also really shine to deal with a lot more than other through a diffi cult period in their in the live setting. They get the people; but at the end of the day, life. And it really impacted me to crowd moving and bring such a we all had to deal with this moment see the power that a song you fun, communal vibe. Their appeal together,” Fitz said. “And I’ve just write can have on other people – also spans a wide audience, from really sensed this deeper sense even a song you can think some- teens to 60-plus. They’ll offer a of connection with all the people times is a little silly. much-needed antidote to what I know and hadn’t seen in a year, “And you’ll see a fan and they’re we’ve all endured for the past plus people I’ve never met. And so, like, ‘Man, I got to tell you that year-and-a-half!”