By: Lindsey Blane
Passion Pit recently set out on tour across North America to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of arguably their most iconic album, Manners. They made a stop at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC on May 12th, 2019 with Canadian indie darlings The Elwins on board to open up the show.
The Elwins played a passionate set, opening up with boisterous track “So Down Low”. The camaraderie between the band’s members is always a highlight, as they trade banter and instruments throughout their performance. Other notable highlights include quirky track “OMG” and “Hey, Ya You,” when it became abundantly clear many fans were here early for them, dancing and singing along to every word.
It’s easy to get nostalgic for albums you grew up listening to, and many bands have been capitalizing on that in recent years by playing 10+ year album anniversary shows. It’s not necessarily a bad thing – the music industry as a whole revolves around giving fans what they want. Passion Pit delivered on the nostalgia front, executing a tight set backed by ample lighting to set the mood and keep the near-sold out crowd energized. From the opening notes of “Make Light”, Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos burst onto stage swinging his mic, and jumping and bouncing across every available surface. He seemed to slow down only when songs called for him to be at his piano. After playing Manners in full, they closed out the set with notable tracks such as “I’ll Be Alright”, “Constant Conversations” and “Take A Walk”.
Passion Pit’s synth-pop sound may have progressed over the years, but their energy and presence has remained constant – not every band can make it to the 10+ year mark and still remain relevant. Bands like this prove it’s okay to get nostalgic for the past, while also living in the present. For more information on Passion Pit’s tour dates and tickets, check out their website here.
FEMME RIOT 