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Following a successful summer of playing the festival circuit and the release of debut full length album ‘Manners’, Birmingham was ready to welcome the euphoric synth soaked sounds of Massachusetts five piece Passion Pit.
If they could bottle happiness there would be five keyboard toting hairy guys on the label, right from the opening bars of ‘Eyes as Candles’ the crowd exploded with delight. Starting seated, front man Michael Angelakos’ impossibly high falsetto tones are unfaltering through the gentle ‘Live to Tell the Tale’ and the rest of the band made up of keyboards, bass, guitar, more keyboards, drums and synths pulsate with electro pop energy .
With Michael unleashed from the keyboard and bouncing around stage he gave ‘I’ve Got Your Number’ his all, unfortunately the crowd couldn’t hear any of it thanks to technical difficulties with the microphone. With a panicked sound engineer scurrying around with duct tape the band played on regardless with the instrumental version as the punters filled the gaps. Song over and technical difficulties sorted the good natured band agreed to shouts to play it again.
For a band with a relatively small back catalogue Passion Pit have a surprising number of catchy hits. ‘Little Secrets’ sounds great with the children’s choir reverberating around the decidedly sweaty Academy and single ‘To Kingdom Come’ incite ripples of bouncing in the mosh pit and smiles all round.
‘Better Things’ was another highpoint and ‘Sleepyhead’ was rapturously received by a crowd that was lapping up every technicoloured moment. Leaving the stage following ‘Smile Upon Me’ the crowd bayed for more and were rewarded with an encore of ‘The Reeling’.
Passion Pit is one of those bands that manage to both replicate their recorded sound and add an extra dimension at the same time. Radiating sunshine throughout, the gig was the perfect antidote to a dark autumn evening.
