Flashback: Passion Pit at Warehouse Live, Houston (04 June 2009)

Away from her New York scene, Kate G returns to her hometown in Houston, Texas… and complained about the fact that between Dallas and Austin, most bands ignore Houston. We do get some bands, in this case, Passion Pit stopping by the Warehouse Live in Houston in June 2009.



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In terms of concert geography, Houston is screwed. Most bands do the obligatory show in Austin and often stop by Dallas but few deign to swing by polluted, artery-clogged Houston. But when they do stop by, bands often find themselves overwhelmed with enthusiasm, as the musically-deprived audience is simply grateful they are not another Selena cover band. Such was the case with Passion Pit and the Harlem Shakes.

The two bands seemed like appropriate tourmates since they had gained steady momentum through blogs, well-received EPs, and incessant shows up and down the east coast. Not to mention they both looked like walking advertisements for the Salvation Army (as most bands do).

Harlem Shakes photo by Kate G

The Harlem Shakes provided just the right amount of pep to wake up the somewhat restless crowd. Starting with the gradual building “TFO,” they soon moved on to fan favorites like “Nothing But Change Pt. II” and “Sunlight.” Lead singer, Lexy Benaim, occasionally offered sleepy commentary between songs, but for the most part, stuck strictly to singing. The audience caught on quickly to all the “oohs” and “ahs” in their songs and a haphazard sing-a-long could be deciphered every once in a while. As a self-proclaimed cynic when it comes to opening bands (I’ve suffered through way too many My Bloody Valentine disciples), I was impressed.

Passion Pit took the stage to much acclaim and the occasional fangirl squeal (mostly directed to oh-so-dreamy keyboardist, Ian Hultquist). The first song, “Make Light,” reduced the audience to a sweaty mass of frenzied dancing. Aside from their debut album, Manners, the band played a few songs from their fan-favorite Chunk of Change EP, such as “Better Things” and “I’ve Got Your Number.”

I’ve heard a few people criticize lead singer Michael Angelakos’ voice, (Pitchfork lovingly called it “half-eunuch/half-Jeremy Enigk”), but there were no complaints that night, as the arsenal of synthesizers and keyboards seemed to balance everything out. Highlights of the night included “Little Secrets” and “Moth Wings,” as their infectious hooks allowed for plenty of audience participation. Requests for their runaway hit, “Sleepyhead” were heard throughout the night, and when the band finally acquiesced, the audience went –for lack of a better word—apeshit.

For the encore, the band returned with their single, “The Reeling,” another song featuring a catchy chorus sung by a children’s choir, much to the crowd’s delight. By the end of the night, the band seemed genuinely surprised by the Houston audience’s uninhibited gusto. I suppose they weren’t expecting much from a venue situated between a Chinese restaurant and an empty lot.