On The Download: Everyone Should Jump Into The Enthralling Passion Pit

If you enjoy irresistibly danceable music then you need to immediately go out and buy the debut album from Passion Pit, “Manners.” My fiancée had been raving about the band ever since she saw them at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival this past April, so I surprised her with tickets to see them at the Hollywood Palladium on December 7, 2010. That night, I found out why she was so taken with them. These guys put on one super fun show, filled with electrifying music!

Some bands seem to have the sole purpose of putting you in a good mood (the Black Eyed Peas come to mind), and Passion Pit definitely falls into that category. With songs like “The Reeling” and “Folds In Your Hands,” you can’t keep your body from dancing (although I’m not sure why you’d want to). Part of what makes their music so enjoyably satisfying is the voice of lead singer, Michael Angelakos. He has one of those unique high falsettos, like Queen’s Freddie Mercury and Muse’s Matt Bellamy. At times, it’s hard to believe that that ethereal sound is even coming from his mouth.

It was entertaining to watch the other members of the audience soak up the show too. The average age of the audience seemed to be mid-to-late teens, and they danced and sang to the songs with all the vigor they could muster. “Sleepyhead” was one of the biggest crowd pleasers of the night, evoking a wild reaction from the audience when the band kicked into the song’s memorable intro. And Angelakos did a great job of leading the audience in some sing-a-longs, like letting the crowd belt out the “higher and higher” backup vocals for the infectious tune, “Little Secrets.” In general, Passion Pit’s music lends itself well to a concert atmosphere, because their songs sound even better when a room full of people is singing along — “Let Your Love Grow Tall” is another excellent example of that. At times, it was endearing to see Angelakos’ reaction to everyone singing along to the band’s music, as if he’s still amazed that a few hundred strangers were singing the songs they wrote.

As if I wasn’t impressed enough with the buoyant show, as part of the band’s encore, they launched into a spirited cover of The Cranberries’ “Dreams.” If you thought it was impressive when Dolores O’Riordan sang those high notes, then just wait ‘til you hear a young man sing them (and nail every last one).

It’s easy to relish a band like Passion Pit, because their music is full of such positive energy. I was certainly converted to being an admirer by the end of this concert. Here’s to hoping that millions of other people jump on board with them soon also.

For more information on where you can catch the band playing live, click here.