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Fitz and the Tantrums burst onto the mainstream music scene in 2013 with "More Than Just a Dream," a catchy pop album that had a definite '60s soul vibe.

Fast-forward to today, and a very different sound emerged on the group's third, self-titled, album that dropped in June.

"Sonically we've changed and evolved," said bass player Joseph Karnes. "It was a lot more '60s Motown with '80s hip-hop influences tucked in underneath. But over the course of the last couple records, we've had this awesome love of the '80s-type sound, and that evolution is represented well on the new record."

The band isn't worried about losing its core audience over its musical evolution, though. The high-energy sound is still at the heart of the band's identity, and interaction is still a central part of Fitz and the Tantrums' live show.

"We've called the audience the seventh member of the band," Karnes said. "They're in the back of our minds, and the front at times. We're always asking, 'Where can we have a moment for audience interaction?' I don't know if we have a single song where we're not asking them to do something with us. The audience feels part of it because they really are just as important as the band."

With songs such as "Handclap," the audience will have plenty of opportunities to contribute to the live performance when Fitz and Tantrums come to Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 1, to close out the Twilight Concert Series.

The series this year has included Diplo, Jenny Lewis, Digable Planets and several other bands representing a wide array of genres. Fitz and the Tantrums are one of the few bands this year that listeners would have heard on mainstream radio stations.

City officials are evaluating the concert series after organizers asked for an extra $150,000 in emergency funding before the season started in order to begin booking shows. The concert series' annual budget is $1.6 million, and in 2015, the independent, nonprofit Salt Lake City Arts Council sought $60,000 in emergency funding.

Regardless of funding questions, Fitz and the Tantrums plan to put on their usual high-energy shows, which come to life onstage largely due to co-lead singer Noelle Scaggs.

"She's more than a hype woman," Karnes said. "It's part of her performance energy. Her stage persona is very infectious."

Karnes said he's excited to return to Salt Lake City, hike in the state's mountains and play in an outdoor venue in the heart of downtown.

"Come see the show, it's a great, great time," he said. "We're very proud of our live show and promise you'll get your money's worth." —

Fitz and the Tantrums

With Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and The National Parks

When • Thursday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m., gates at 5 p.m.

Where • Pioneer Park, 350 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $5, $10 at the gate (cash only), VIP sold out; 24Tix and Graywhale locations