Passion Pit – Cargo, London: 23rd February 2009
Having had a massive panic that the list had been cancelled for this show, everything finally sorted itself out on the afternoon before, leaving me in a state of excitement and unable to work for the rest of the day.
There were two bands in support this evening, Bear Hands and Hockey. Bear Hands come across as a slightly grungier Minus The Bear, with some fantastic bass lines and delicate guitar parts descending into ear-bleedingly loud, distortion fuelled jams. Good. Very good. Hockey, unfortunately, do not have quite the same effect. Seeming akin to a more funk driven LCD Soundystem, without the innovation or depth to really pull it off. Not awful though, and I would want to listen to them on record before making too damming a judgement.
Passion Pit took to the stage earlier than billed (which, considering Bear Hands started late, is probably a first for any band, ever) and ploughed straight into a non-ep track before dropping into 'I’ve Got Your Number', when things really started to take off.
The band lurched around the stage, putting their all into their first London headline show, and as the chorus on the EP opener dropped in, the band have rarely sounded so beautiful.
'Live To Tell The Tale', 'Better Things' and an older track (I think) that may have been 'Tons Of Guns' are all played with a passion and vigour lacking in most bands today and acted in others; even when Ayad was left having to hold his moog in one hand and lay with the other after the supports came loose and it collapsed mid song. Of course, this would be a problem for most bands, yet Passion Pit failed to bat an eyelid, noting that they have technical difficulties almost every show and simply “used to it” now.
By now though, it was time for the big guns, and out they came. 'Sleepyhead’ sounded like the single of the year it is destined to be, in all of its looped samples, soaring vocals and swirling, hook laden synth lines; while 'Smile Upon Me' is already everyone’s summer anthem in waiting with its laid back vibe, blissful melodies and heart-warming vocals.
This was, truly, a beautiful debut London headline show that deserved to be seen by more than the industry heads in attendance, who resembled little more than those irritating nodding dogs or whatever it is that those dull people with rather too much skull put in their vehicles to appear more interesting. Or comical. However, stuff them, lets not put a downer on the show as it only proved the point that by the end of 2009, Passion Pit will be simply inescapable and we shall all love it.
Words: James Hoste
Write a comment
- Required fields are marked with *.
-->