Monday 2 March 2009

Hockey & Passion Pit Live in Whelan's: Review

Last night a sold out crowd in Whelan's were treated to not one, but two sparkling performances from Hockey and Passion Pit. Hockey who are from Portland, Oregon opened the show with Work, one of their funk filled tracks from the forthcoming album Mind Chaos which gets it's release here in May.Work invited the audience into their set from the get go which in return, snowballed into a rapturous performance with the band performing the wonderfully spirited Song Away and soul driven 3am Spanish. By the time Hockey performed their current single and current band anthem Too Fake, the crowd were so enamoured by vocalist Ben Gruben's vivacity and panache that I thought Passion Pit had a tough one to follow if I am being honest.
So Passion Pit came on to the stage surrounded by keyboards, drums, more keyboards, Samplers, Synths and guitars. Their audience was a well warmed up mix of young and old(er) and I think every female in attendance fell a little bit in love/lust (just a little bit now), with lead vocalist Michael Angelakos for the simple fact that the songs that have captured their hearts were written for his girlfriend as a Valentines gift. Synth pop at its best, I've Got Your Number, kicked off proceedings in a sprightly fashion upping the tempo and sound of the night to eleven. Smile Upon Me and Better Things from the accomplished Chunk Of Change EP, also enchanted the crowd into some great sing-a-long moments while tune of the night was always going to be the hugely brilliant and popular Sleepyhead.

If you unfortunately missed either Hockey or Passion Pit then gladly you will get a second chance to catch both acts as Hockey have been confirmed for Oxegen and Passion Pit for The Electric Picnic, thanks Jim Carroll for this joyous news on a Monday morning.
Check back later in the week to hear what Hockey had to say when we met them for a coffee while they were in town.

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