Passion Pit
Words by Flic Wallace
As part of Levi’s Ones To Watch 5 Night Revue, Passion Pit topped off an evening of melodious, spangling pop goodness.
Fanfarlo proved to be a support band that you start by just watching and then end up being made to watch them. Through a torrent of different instruments, Fanfarlo provided tunes that appeared jaunty and off-kilter, whilst maintaining an aura of anthemic pop. As the last song broke down into a voice and melodica sea-shanty chant, Fanfarlo confirmed their status as ‘one to watch’.
Next up as one to have our eyes on, Passion Pit are already a band that have swiftly moved from songs that were singer Michael Angelakos’ home-made valentines gift to his girlfriend into a much hyped success story. Shortly after Angelakos’ friends helped him turn these songs into full band pieces, EP Chunk of Change, Passion Pit got themselves both a record deal and prestigious supporting roles with Girl Talk and Death Cab for Cutie.
Drummer Nate Donmoyer and keyboard player Ian Hultquist spoke to Disappear Here about this manic transition from hearing a songs a friend wrote in their bedroom, to becoming critically acclaimed as a band. With the release of new album Manners came the solidification of Passion Pit into a band, rather than just one persons songs. Despite the writing and recording process being rushed through in a manic space of months, Angelako’s now writes his music with the rest of the band in mind. Whereas before, Passion Pit had to spend a long time forming their parts and sounds around the pre-written gift of Chunk of Change, Manners was fully formed, five piece score – ready to go. And go it has, into a mammoth tour around the world, of which band members admitted Glastonbury was one of the highlights. Donmoyer and Hultquist have both been enjoying dappling in some DJ slots and remixing. Check out Passion Pit remix of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, ‘Heads Will Roll’, for a juicy dance tune, utterly electronic with satisfying drops and stamped with the elated feel of Passion Pit.
And Passion Pit brought that elated, up-lifting vibe to the Levis show, hard to imagine that the dance, sing-a-long ‘Sleepyhead’ was originally only meant for one person to hear. The falcetto of Angelako’s voice compels him to almost force it out into the audience, providing a soaring sheen over the top of the pumping, bleeping melodies below. Passion Pit knew what they were doing tonight as they delivered tight performances, only the tiredness of a long schedule of this routine made tonight’s gig verge on the side of a band going through the motions. As Passion Pit have a remaining agenda of over 50 gigs and festivals to play this summer, lets hope there is enough passion left in these songs to sustain them.
Posted Thu, August 13, 2009