BY TAYLOR STALEY There are certain bands that become permanently tied to a specific moment in your life. For me, Passion Pit is reminis...
BY TAYLOR STALEY
There are certain bands that become permanently tied to a specific moment in your life. For me, Passion Pit is reminiscent of my teenage years spent endlessly scrolling on Tumblr. Their music sends me back to a time where I was reblogging pastel-colored gifs, obsessively curating playlists for impossibly niche moods, and discovering music through the glow of a family shared computer. It was a much simpler, happier time.
So walking into The Senate in Columbia, SC on June 11th almost felt like stepping into a time machine. Fans inside the venue were fully embracing the nostalgia by sporting glittery makeup and even a few galaxy-print pieces that felt straight out of a Tumblr post. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the room. For a few hours tonight, everyone seemed ready to set aside adult responsibilities and reconnect with the version of themselves who first fell in love with Passion Pit’s music.
Opening up for The Pretty Penny Tour was Arden Jones, a Los Angeles-based alternative pop artist whose blend of rap, pop, and synth-driven production made for the perfect fit for the bill. His set delivered an upbeat energy that immediately won over the crowd. The electronic infusion in his beats complemented Passion Pit’s signature sound. In a college town like Columbia, the rap flow of his music resonated particularly well with the audience. Many attendees recognized Arden from his viral hit, “Someone New,” but the rest of his performance showed that he is an artist with more depth than just a breakout single. By the end of his set, I found myself eager to dive deeper into his discography.
The moment of the night was upon us. The lighting in the venue dimmed and fog rolled out over the stage. Strobe lights descended upon the stage and Passion Pit, led by Michael Angelakos, came out, opening the evening with “The Reeling” and, boy, it was the perfect song to open with. The energy was high and the room was hot with the entire audience dancing as we went down the setlist. The pairing of Angelakos’s talented vocal ability and an insanely fun light show was truly something special.
Before starting one of the crowd favorites, “Take A Walk,” the band took a moment to discuss how they are doing this tour without computers. There was no backing music helping this band throughout the night - they were doing this on the spot. This is something that is especially appreciated nowadays where artists can make the easier decision to let pre-recorded material hold them over. Not this band, not tonight! This truly made for such a fun experience as you could really tell each member of the band was locked in on giving their all on the performance.
The evening dwindled down with a handful of fan favorites, such as “Carried Away,” “Little Secrets,” and “Sleepyhead.” You could hear every member of the audience as they sang along with the band, taking in every moment and not wanting it to end. Passion Pit truly transformed The Senate into a nostalgia-fueled party and we were all thankful to be a part of it!
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- TAYLOR STALEY
Taylor Staley is a Charleston, SC, native who currently resides in Columbia, SC. In her free time, you can catch her tearing up the interstate going between Charlotte and Atlanta, looking for her next show to shoot. She has three animals, two cats and a dog, that keep her quite busy. Her favorite genres are pop, alternative, and indie but you can really find her listening to just about anything. Follow her on instagram at tay.atshows.
Read Taylor's posts here.
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