Fit for Rivals

Fit For Rivals
Band members of Fit for Rivals
Fit For Rivals
Background information
OriginJacksonville, Florida, United States
Genres
Years active2009-present
LabelFreak Machine Records
MembersRenee Phoenix
Thomas Amason
Dorman Pantfoeder
Rufino Lomboy
Past membersEli Clark
John Hartman
Benjamin Nelson
Websitefitforrivals.com

Fit for Rivals' is an American rock band that originated in Jacksonville, Florida. 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, followed by Freak Machine on September 2, 2016. In 2025, the band returned with a lo-fi reimagining of Steady Damage, revisiting their debut with a fresh sonic perspective.

History

Fit for Rivals formed in 2009 when Reneé Phoenix met Thomas Amason while looking for a new guitarist for her band The Explicits. 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 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. A fan music video for "Freak Machine" was posted on their YouTube channel on November 11, 2014.

After the release of Sugar, Fit for Rivals began working on their second studio album entitled Freak Machine. Freak Machine was released on September 2, 2016 and was produced by Thomas Amason.

During this time, Fit for Rivals toured extensively in support of Freak Machine and their primary single "Novocain," which received national radio airplay and consistent rotation on Sirius XM Octane. The band toured with I Prevail, Halestorm, Flyleaf, Framing Hanley, Hoobastank, and Icon for Hire, among others, and were added to Revolver's Hottest Chicks in Rock Tour, while also appearing at major rock festivals including Vans Warped Tour, Riot Fest, Rockville, Summerfest, and Welcome to Rockville.

Lead singer Renee Phoenix was featured in the single "Get With It" by the band Something Clever from their fourth EP Moments: Blue. 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.

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".

"Bad Bitch Supreme" featuring GRLwood (2023)

In 2023, Fit For Rivals released the single, "Bad Bitch Supreme" featuring GRLwood.

Steady Damage (Lo-Fi) (2025)

In 2025, the band returned with a lo-fi reimagining of Steady Damage, revisiting their debut with a fresh sonic perspective.

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, and Brody Dalle. Their EP Sugar has a bit of a throwback sound, as described in New Noise Magazine.

Members

Current members

Former members

Associated acts

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Music videos

YearName
2009"Crash"
2009"Damage"
2014"Hit Me"
2016"Novocain"
2022 "Damage" 4k, SFW Version
2022 "Wake The Dead"

References

  1. 1 2 Crane, Matt (May 27, 2015). "Hear Fit For Rivals' Jagged New Song, "Light that Shines" (Exclusive)". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Childers, Chad (October 21, 2016). "Fit For Rivals 'Novocain' Exclusive Video Premiere". Loudwire. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Reid, Ed (June 21, 2015). "They Are Fit For Rivals". Florida Music Letter. Ejeff Media. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via Blogger.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Shrum, Tony (October 23, 2015). "Album Review: Fit For Rivals – 'Sugar' EP". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  5. ↑ Freak Machine Records (August 27, 2014). "Fit For Rivals - Hit Me". YouTube (Video). Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ Freak Machine Records (November 11, 2014). "Fit For Rivals - Freak Machine (Fan Version)". YouTube (Video). Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Fit For Rivals – 'Freak Machine' – Album Review". The Fuze Magazine. November 22, 2016. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Something Clever: Moments: Blue -EP (2019) on Spotify". Spotify. Bunker Hill Records.
  9. ↑ "Something Clever - Get With It -Single (feat. Renee Phoenix)". Apple Music. Something Clever. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ Lovejoy, Heather (March 26, 2010). "Fit for Rivals kicks off Saturday benefit concert for Somer Thompson Foundation". Jacksonville. The Florida Times Union. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Fit For Rivals – "Crash" HD". YouTube. March 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Fit For Rivals – "Damage"". YouTube. November 10, 2009. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Fit For Rivals - Hit Me". YouTube. August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Fit For Rivals - "Novocain"". YouTube. October 21, 2016. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.