Fit for Rivals
{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Resume-like|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Fit For Rivals
| image = Fit_For_Rivals.png
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt = Band members of Fit for Rivals
| caption = Fit For Rivals
| origin = Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| genre = {{hlist|alternative rock|pop punk|hard rock|emo}}
| years_active = 2009-present
| associated_acts = The Explicits
Renee Phoenix
Love Arcade
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
| website = {{URL|freakmachinerecords.com/fitforrivals}}
| current_members = Renee Phoenix
Thomas Amason
Dorman Pantfoeder
Rufino Lomboy
Jordyn Zubyk
| label = Freak Machine Records
| past_members = Eli Clark
John Hartman
Benjamin Nelson
Joshua Hamilton
Ronnie Winter
}}
Fit for Rivals is an American rock band that originated in Jacksonville, Florida. The band's core members are songwriter/vocalist Renée Phoenix and songwriter/guitarist Thomas Amason. The band released their debut album Steady Damage on July 9, 2009, and the follow-up, Freak Machine was released on September 2, 2016.
History
Fit for Rivals formed in 2009{{Cite web|last=Crane|first=Matt|date=2015-05-27|title=Hear Fit For Rivals' Jagged New Song, "Light that Shines" (Exclusive)|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/hear_fit_for_rivals_jagged_new_song_light_that_shines_exclusive/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Alternative Press|archive-date=2021-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414114421/https://www.altpress.com/features/hear_fit_for_rivals_jagged_new_song_light_that_shines_exclusive/}} when Reneé Phoenix met Thomas Amason{{Cite web|last=Childers|first=Chad|date=2016-10-21|title=Fit For Rivals 'Novocain' Exclusive Video Premiere|url=https://loudwire.com/fit-for-rivals-novocain-exclusive-video-premiere/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Loudwire|archive-date=2021-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612200421/https://loudwire.com/fit-for-rivals-novocain-exclusive-video-premiere/}} while looking for a new guitarist for her band The Explicits.{{Cite web|last=Reid|first=Ed|date=2015-06-21|title=They Are Fit For Rivals|url=https://www.floridamusicletter.com/2015/06/they-are-fit-for-rivals.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Florida Music Letter|publisher=Ejeff Media|via=Blogger|archive-date=2021-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511203035/https://www.floridamusicletter.com/2015/06/they-are-fit-for-rivals.html}} The album Steady Damage by Fit For Rivals features excerpts of Phoenix's songs from her first album, The Explicits.
=''Steady Damage'' (2009)=
In 2009, Fit for Rivals released their debut EP Was That Our Youth?. Later in the year, the band began recording their debut studio album, Steady Damage, which was self-released{{cite web |last=Shrum |first=Tony |date=2015-10-23 |title=Album Review: Fit For Rivals – 'Sugar' EP |url=http://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-fit-for-rivals-sugar-ep/ |url-status=live |access-date=2015-10-12 |website=New Noise Magazine |archive-date=2015-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024000757/http://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-fit-for-rivals-sugar-ep/ }} on July 18, 2009. It spawned the singles "Crash" and "Damage" and music videos were recorded for both. The track "Crash" has notably been used as a theme song for WWE's Over the Limit pay-per-view and was featured in multiple films and television programs, including Legendary.
=''Freak Machine'' (2015-2019)=
The band released their second EP Sugar on July 17, 2015 and consists of 4 tracks: "Special Kind of Crazy", "Light that Shines", "Freak Machine" and "Hit Me". A music video for "Hit Me" was released on August 27, 2014.{{cite web|last=Freak Machine Records|date=2014-08-27|title=Fit For Rivals - Hit Me|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2XBGNI8NDs|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=YouTube|type=Video|archive-date=2020-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217063947/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2XBGNI8NDs}} A fan music video for "Freak Machine" was posted on their YouTube channel on November 11, 2014.{{cite web|last=Freak Machine Records|date=2014-11-11|title=Fit For Rivals - Freak Machine (Fan Version)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w_HDeR8jn8|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=YouTube|type=Video|archive-date=2021-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230080905/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w_HDeR8jn8}}
After the release of Sugar, Fit for Rivals began working on their second studio album entitled Freak Machine.{{cite web |url=https://thefuzemagazine.com/fit-for-rivals-freak-machine-album-review/ |title=Fit For Rivals – 'Freak Machine' – Album Review |publisher=The Fuze Magazine |date=November 22, 2016 |access-date=May 25, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Freak Machine was released on September 2, 2016 and was produced by Thomas Amason.
Lead singer Renee Phoenix was featured in the single "Get With It" by the band Something Clever from their fourth EP Moments: Blue.{{cite web |title=Something Clever: Moments: Blue -EP (2019) on Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2TWfwl6ZO0ngg5kYzE4XjO |website=Spotify |publisher=Bunker Hill Records}} It was released a promotional single on March 1, 2019, the same day of the EPs release. An official music video premiered in 2019 which Phoenix was featured in also.{{cite web |title=Something Clever - Get With It -Single (feat. Renee Phoenix) |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/get-with-it-radio-edit-feat-renee-phoenix-single/1452292345 |website=Apple Music |publisher=Something Clever |access-date=2 May 2025}}
=Freak Machine Records (2020)=
In 2020, Renee Phoenix and Thomas Amason started Freak Machine Records, a rock label.
=''B-Sides and Oddities'' (2020)=
Through the year 2020, Fit For Rivals released the singles, "No Way In Hell", "Fake", "Tight Rope" and "Window" as part of their B Sides & Oddities EP.
="Wake The Dead" and "Secret" (2022)=
In 2022, Fit For Rivals released the singles, "Wake The Dead" and "Secret".
Musical style
Fit for Rivals has been described as rock, punk rock and pop punk. Reneé Phoenix's "raspy" and "gritty" vocal style is compared to that of Joan Jett, whom she says she admires,{{Cite web|last=Lovejoy|first=Heather|date=2010-03-26|title=Fit for Rivals kicks off Saturday benefit concert for Somer Thompson Foundation|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20100326/NEWS/801254908|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Jacksonville|publisher=The Florida Times Union|archive-date=2018-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618054129/http://www.jacksonville.com/article/20100326/NEWS/801254908}} and Brody Dalle. Their EP Sugar has a bit of a throwback sound, as described in New Noise Magazine.
Members
- Reneé Phoenix – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2009–present)
- Thomas Amason – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (2009–present)
- Dorman Pantfoeder – drums (2009–present)
- Rufino Lomboy – lead guitar (2015–present)
Former members
- Eli Clark – bass, backing vocals
- John Hartman – drums
- Benjamin Nelson – drums
- Joshua Hamilton – bass
- Ronnie Winter – bass
Associated acts
- Reneé Phoenix
- The Explicits
- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
- Love Arcade
Discography
=Albums=
- Steady Damage (2009)
- Freak Machine (2016)
=EPs=
=Singles=
- Wake The Dead (2022)
- Secret (2022)
=Music videos=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|url=http://www.freakmachinerecords.com/fitforrivals}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Alternative rock groups from Florida
Category:Pop punk groups from Florida
Category:American pop rock music groups
Category:Hard rock musical groups from Florida
Category:Musical groups established in 2008