A December to Remember: Passion Pit, Onuinu

[SOULFUL SYNTH-POP] Passion Pit is an oxymoron. The Boston-based group, fronted by Michael Angelakos, plays bright, synth-y songs about grim subjects like mental illness, substance abuse and socioeconomic issues. The band’s 2012 sophomore LP, Gossamer, features tracks like the popular “Take a Walk” that are not only extremely catchy and sonically invigorating, but also thought-provoking and complex, detailing painstaking emotions and evocative scenarios, unlike the majority of triumphant party-pop anthems pouring out of the airwaves. You could criticize the contradictory nature of Passion Pit’s approach, or you could give in to the key relationship between purging and alleviating, between sadness and hope. Angelakos pours his personal anecdotes and experiences into Gossamer in a way that seems crucial to his existence, resulting in music that’s, well, full of passion. 

Where: Crystal Ballroom
Phone: 225-0047
Address: 1332 W Burnside St.
Website: www.mcmenamins.com