Passion Pit takes Chicago to a World of Dreams
Monday night at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre, fans waited for Passion Pit in a packed venue on their 12th stop of The Pretty Penny Tour following the announcement of their upcoming EP, The Pretty Penny. Accompanied by their opener, Arden Jones, who set an upbeat tone for the night, fans were incredibly excited to hear the nostalgic sounds and synths that Passion Pit is historically known for.
As the set began, the music opened with a soft ambient intro to build suspense for the audience in a pitch-dark environment, culminating in a hard synth drop and illuminating the venue with fluorescent light, leading into the song, “The Reeling.” Continuing with an upbeat presence, the set on stage was composed of a variety of synths and warm-toned lamps, while lead singer Michael Angelakos appeared sitting near his synths. The stage certainly felt like an embodiment of experimental nostalgia as Angelakos puts out an innovative and retro dreampop vibe to the band’s sound. The synths feel like the lifeblood of their music, with drums that are impactful as the crowd sways. Mid-show, Angelakos addresses and thanks the audience for coming and asks if everyone is feeling good while giving credit to his wife for designing the band’s merch and complimenting her, stating, “She’s the best.”
Highlights of the show included Passion Pit playing some of their most popular classic indie dream-pop hits such as “Take A Walk” and “Sleepyhead.” Audience members stood up from their balcony seats as the music and lights illuminated the stage and became that much more electric. Angelakos stood on top of the stool he was sitting on to address the crowd and welcome them with open arms. Another note that Passion Pit emphasized was that they use no computers and create their music purely through the art of analog synth. Different parts of the show had very ambient interludes, allowing for Passion Pit to mix synths live effortlessly and show off their creative flair. Angelakos exclaimed, “Chicago! Are you still with us?” to which the crowd roared back in unison.
The show itself embodied 2010’s nostalgia and showed a creative intimacy that felt reminiscent of being in your grandma’s basement watching movies or riding in the car. The warmth of the audience and encouragement from Passion Pit created a world of dreams and imagination powered by purely synths.
