It's More Than Just Sleepyhead

(image via artistdirect.com)

As I have mentioned before, I am a bit of a music fan.

I don't purport to be any kind of expert or music snob, I like what I like, tending to lean toward the indie-ish variety. I am never one to be the "first" to discover bands, and I can sometimes be a little predictable (coughanimalcollectivecough) but I make no excuses, I know what I like!

I first heard Passion Pit when they played with Phoenix over the summer, my friend Kathy had gotten me tickets and, not really knowing either band, I went blindly. As much as Phoenix were the main attraction, I found myself very drawn to the dancey vibe that Passion Pit had going. A half hour in and I was hooked.

(video for "Sleepyhead", which is also now, unfortunately, featured in a Palm Pixie ad--darn sellouts!)



Kathy and I went to see these darlings again last Friday at Terminal 5, a venue that I really WANT to love, but I can't seem to. It tries to be a medium-sized concert space, with two upper levels of balcony that in theory should be really great--and they ARE, if you have no desire to watch the band perform whatsoever. After multiple tries finding space around the balcony that would enable us to actually see what was going on, and almost taking down overzealous teenyboppers in the process (more on that in a sec), we found our way back down to the floor and had to be satisfied with standing behind some freakishly tall puberty-aged boys (hooray growth hormones!)

Now, I do not my fancy myself an "old" person, regardless of my physical age..and I have been to my share of GA shows and stood in the front row, without second thought. However, when sharing space with overamorous, over intoxicated kids (I'm thinking ranging from 16-20), I suddenly feel like I've instantly turned into my grandmother. And not in that "let me bake you brownies and give you money" kind of way.

The band started with "I've Got Your Number" and from the first note we were surrounded by flailing bodies heaving themselves at the stage, each other, and us. Many were wearing flashing neon jewelry, rings that blared like strobe lights, that they were utterly mesmerized with. Two kids next to us fluttered their hands in front of their faces, obviously entranced by their flashing rings, and spent almost the entire show photographing or filming their hands. Teen couples dirty danced while making out voraciously to songs like "Moths Wings" and "Little Secret". So very romantic, especially the one couple who stood swaying in a spoon, his face buried in her neck for about 3 songs until they skittered off to do more Ecstasy (I assume).

At one point a kid lit up a cigarette next to me, and the grandmother in me came out again as I pointed my finger and tsked. "You can't smoke in here!" Grandma fumed. He looked at me, scowled, and kept puffing away.

Regardless of such distractions, Passion Pit puts on a fun show. Lead singer Michael Angelakos voice does well live, and if dancing is your thing, then this is definitely a band to check out. Just be respectful of your concert neighbors--and be sure to step carefully over the half-passed out dude slumped over on the floor of the exit on your way out.