Synth pop band Passion Pit performed for students at the Student Programming Council's (SPC) Fall Band Party on Wednesday.
Emory was one of the band's last stops on its fall tour supporting its latest album Gossamer, which has gained considerable popularity and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Charts. In addition to Gossamer, the synth pop group has released another studio album called Manners, as well as two EPs.
Passion Pit played for a large crowd with more than 3,500 people in attendance, according to Goizueta Business School senior and SPC Co-Band Party Chair Zach Atlas. Atlas and Jordan Francis, also a B-School senior and SPC Band Party co-chair, both said they felt Wednesday's crowd was more energetic than Emory's concert crowds usually are.
"I don't think Emory students are known for dancing at our concerts, especially at a rock act, but people seemed really into it," Francis said.
Students waved their hands in the air and sang along to Passion Pit's popular singles, such as "Take A Walk," "I'll Be Alright" and "Sleepyhead." Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos spoke to the Emory crowd during the show and yelled, "You guys are awesome!"
Passion Pit played most of the album Gossamer and ended with an encore performance of "Little Secrets," a single off their debut album Manners.
College junior Vincent Vartabedian said he had seen Passion Pit perform live twice in the past. He added that he thought the band provided more variation in their set at Emory than in previous shows.
"This time, the lead singer sensed that Emory wasn't the most excited audience, so he actually tried to excite the audience more than he would for the usual group of fans who had paid to see the show," Vartabedian said.
The event opened with The Joy Formidable, a Welsh alternative rock band who has been accompanying Passion Pit on its fall tour.
Francis said booking a better-known band such as The Joy Formidable as the opener was a departure from the local acts that usually open at Emory's concerts. He added that he was pleased with The Joy Formidable's performance and hopes to continue this trend in the future.
"We would like to continue booking opening acts that are worth Emory's time," Francis said.
College freshman Aaron Frankel said he attended the performances for both acts.
"I thought they were both really good," Frankel said. "I thought it was a fun night."
Atlas said SPC chose Passion Pit for Fall Band Party because of the band's appeal.
He added that both he and Francis had seen the band perform before and thought it would be relevant for college-aged students.
"The sound is unique, yet mainstream enough that the average student would listen to them," Atlas said. "We thought they'd be an exciting show and bring a big audience."
– By Harmeet Kaur
Photo by David Feldman
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