| Still reeling from PASSION PIT's Powerstation dance-party... |
| Written by Sarah Mudgway |
| Saturday, 31 July 2010 11:13 |
 I’m not going to lie, when PASSION PIT announced their return after playing Big Day Out earlier this year, I was sceptical. Unlike many others, I was far from impressed by their mid-afternoon set at the festival. Sound issues made up for some of that disappointment, but I was also left underwhelmed by vocalist Michael Angelakos. His unique and piercing voice found on their album ‘Manners’ seemed to waiver - and I found myself distracted by what I felt were under-par vocals. Oh, but what seven months can do! Somehow, between January and now, Passion Pit's live performance has got amazing. Playing to a sold-out crowd at the Powerstation, the relatively intimate indoor venue suited the synth-pop wunderkinds to a tee, and from the first few beats of opening track ‘I’ve Got Your Number’ the predominantly 18-25 year old crowd was up on their feet for a dance party.  ‘Make Light’ intensified the infectious energy coming off both the audience and the band members, creating quite possibly the most enthusiastic audience I’ve ever witnessed at the Powerstation. It’s what MGMT struggled to create - a connection between fan and band. Angelakos put his heart and soul into giving a great performance, his trademark vocals were on form, and as he lay on the ground singing the final lyrics in ‘Make Light’ I couldn’t help but be transfixed by his energy. 'Better Things' had bassist Jeff Apruzzese reveal a plastic kiwi figurine he had placed on his bass amp - "hidden amongst many other things" - and the band expressed their delight at being able to come back to New Zealand so soon, adding that the band had been dreading the performance as they hadn’t played together for awhile, but on stage they felt incredibly alive.  Moving on to hit single 'The Reeling', alive is perhaps the best word to describe the atmosphere, especially during the chorus - ‘look at me oh look at me is this the way I’ve always been oh no, oh no’ - which inspired a mass sing-a-long, bringing massive smiles to jumping-jack Ayad Al Adhamy’s face. Slower track ‘Swimming In The Flood’ had the dance enthusiasts near me looking confused - suggesting not all of the audience were there for a love of Passion Pit, but rather a love for dance parties. All confusion and an alarming amount of self portrait photo op's were diminished when the upbeat tracks continued with ‘To Kingdom Come’, followed by ‘Let Your Love Grow Tall’ and ‘Live To Tell The Tale’.  For the little expectations I had for vocalist Angelakos, he impressed me further by answering a fan's plea for water by throwing out the band's own bottled water out into the audience, as well as praising New Zealand crowds for actually participating in the show as opposed to U.S. crowds where he is usually looking out into a sea of cameras. I’m all for snapping a few shots and getting a video to remember the concert by, but in the age of technology it’s all too easy to get caught up in experiencing a concert behind a camera lens, so it was refreshing to see actual crowd participation. Rounding out the main portion of their set with ‘Folds In Your Hands’ then ending with ‘Little Secrets’, I had to check my watch upon their departure from the stage, as the set seemed really short. But alas, we were over one hour into the show... so I guess the saying that time flies when you’re having fun is an accurate descriptor of the night.  Arriving back on stage for a three song encore, at that moment I don’t think anyone was sitting down - the energy was too infectious. Kicking off with ‘Eyes As Candles’ (complete with 'na-na-na-na-na-na-na hey hey hey' sing-a-longs), before playing their 'Cranberries cover ‘Dreams’. Angelakos once again expressed the band's gratitude for "giving [them] a reason to come back" before ending with ‘Sleepyhead’ - ironic, considering the song prompted the most energetic display of dancing and hugging and shouting of the night. In my eyes, Passion Pit 100% redeemed themselves. With minimal stage adornments and no fancy effects, the band was able to connect with their audience and create an exciting atmosphere which barely ever lost its energy... which really, for a synth-pop group is all you can ever ask for.  |
