May 27, 2009

Passion Pit & Harlem Shakes @ Wonder Ballroom

If you want to go home smelling like strawberry body lotion, sweat, and flavored vodka (even though you were drinking beer), go to a Passion Pit concert. Or at least that was my experience. The Portland ladies were out in full force on Sunday night, ready to dance. And the guys were getting down too. A dude next to me lost his glasses he was working so hard. Fan favorites like "Sleepyhead" and "Little Secrets" caused near mosh pit like dancing. You'd have to be pretty uptight not to be swept up by Passion Pit's fun and brash dance music with its big beats and equally giant hooks.

It always feels like winning the lottery when two bands I'm currently loving tour together, so I really can't complain, but in the opening slot, the Harlem Shake's lively set felt way too short. Still, it was great to hear the songs like "Strictly Game" and "Sunlight" live with just a touch of the glossy sheen rubbed off. And even though they are on tour promoting their new album, Technicolor Health, they fit "Carpetbaggers" into the set off their fabulous EP.

5 Comments:

Mona said...

Wow, great show and you lived to write about it :)

Wait. HS opened up for PP? Figured it'd be the other way around. Which one did the audience seem more amped about? I'm officially hooked on Manners now, falsetto or not. It really really grew on me.

Didn't "Strictly Game" sound fantastic live? Love it.

awmercy said...

I'd say they were in the correct order based on the level or fan appreciation. However, the Wonder Ballroom didn't even list the Harlem Shakes on their website for some reason, so that may have affected the make up of the crowd.

Mona said...

Wow, what an unintentional diss. NYC would never do that to Harlem Shakes b/c local fans would riot or something. Did you shake your tail-feather too? I'm not a huge dancer, but I do recall it hard keeping still at the show.

War Machine said...

This tour is coming through DC on June 9th. I'm sure the dancing will be much more bureaucratic.

Will be there with my lapel pin.

awmercy said...

So true. DC crowds can be rather subdued.

You'll have to let me know what you think when you see them.