Heading into night one of last weekend’s Wine Amplified Festival, if you’d asked me which band I was most excited to see, the easy answer would have been Passion Pit. And if you’d asked which band I was most ambivalent about, it would have been Panic! At the Disco. But by night’s end, the story was completely different.
Passion Pit lead vocalist Michael Angelakos performs during Wine Amplified at the MGM Village on Friday, October 09, 2015.
Let’s start with Passion Pit, the dance-pop band I would have said would headline this fest in any city not directly affiliated with Panic! At the Disco. To be clear, when referring to Passion Pit, I’m talking about singer-songwriter/keyboardist/only member Michael Angelakos, plus whomever he decides is playing with him at any given time. He replaced everyone in the touring band, and judging from Friday night, these guys have yet to click the way the previous lineup did.
Angelakos uses so many vocal effects and samples in the studio, it’s very difficult to re-create that genius in a live setting. Previously, I’ve been impressed with his band’s ability to make it work, but here it was rough from the start. “Little Secrets,” which used to be the main-set closer, moved to the opening slot and lost some of its power. It wasn’t until the last third of the set, when hits “I’ll Be Alright,” “Carried Away,” “Talk a Walk” and “Sleepyhead” were played, that Passion Pit regained the momentum that made it such a must-see act in the past.
Brendon Urie, lead singer of Panic! At the Disco, knows all about replacing band members; he’s the only original member left in the band. But where the latest Passion Pit lineup is still trying to find its footing, Panic! seems to have gelled. The band that once had bottles thrown at it overseas has emerged stronger. “Vegas Lights” is an expression of hometown love. Early hits “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” have a more polished feel live. A cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while not the most creative choice, showcased Urie’s powerful voice. Even “Nine in the Afternoon” meshed well with the full-on electro-dance-pop set.
On record, there’s no question: I’m still picking up a Passion Pit album every time. Live, it’s a different story—for now. But that can change as quickly as band lineups.
