There were synths aplenty at Mercury Lounge last night, and in theory the pairing of Passion Pit with Sunset Rubdown seemed a natural choice. Both bands rely on a synth-heavy approach, not so much adorning their songs with keys but rather engorging every melody in washes and layers of it. You could also point out some superficial similarities in their vocal styles as well, a convergence of impassioned yelps and falsetto croon. But in watching them perform back to back, these supposed shared characteristics only became more divergent and distinct with every passing melody; the end consensus seemed to be a band in firm control of sculpting their own sound and aesthetic standing in sharp relief to a promising young band perhaps still finding their way.

All the predictable hype swarming Passion Pit became entirely understandable upon seeing them live. They have an insanely accessible sound and songs that are like a picture book, meaning you could turn to any page and instantly understand what’s going on. Is that faint praise? Well, you tell me. In order to forge such a sound, singer/songwriter Michael Angelakos sacrifices compelling nuances, wrinkles, dynamics, eccentricities, and pretty much everything besides pretty melodies that makes music compelling and dangerous. They will learn though, and from what I understand they’re a band still finding their way. As soon as they temper their full-steam ahead “disco” impulses with quieter and more reflective passages (and a reprieve from full-bore falsetto screaming), there’s no telling the crossover appeal that a band like this could foster. I’m sure good things await them and it will be interesting to revisit them down the road. Below are some pics:

I suspect Sunset Rubdown is what would result if Passion Pit accidentally ate a few sheets of acid and partook in a vision quest out in the Canadian wilderness. This band is nothing but twists and turns and trap doors and eccentricities, and I personally adore them for that. Many have touted Spencer Krug as a Brian Wilson-type songwriting presence for our generation, and in letting the sheer audacity and scope of his compositions speak for themselves, I wouldn’t argue this point. And with Sunset Rubdown, he’s found a suitable outlet and like-minded musicians to bring these ambitions to life, particularly in the live setting. Whereas Sunset Rubdown albums always have the feel of a hurried and impatient songwriter cramming mini-orchestras onto a 4-track before he forgets how to play them, Sunset Rubdown live is an entirely different affair. The songs are finally given the space and breathing room they deserve and are allowed to properly ebb, flow, peak and crash. It’s a violent and beautiful mess, and no one destroys as delicately as Spencer Krug. See pics below:

Listen: Sunset Rubdown - “Idiot Heart”

See Sunset Rubdown Live:
18 Sept - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
19 Sept - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
20 Sept - Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner
21 Sept - Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird
22 Sept - Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
24 Sept - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
25 Sept - Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe
26 Sept - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
27 Sept - Austin, TX @ Mohawk
29 Sept - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre
30 Sept - Norman, OK @ Opolis Productions
01 Oct - Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
02 Oct - Iowa City, IA @ The Picador
03 Oct - Madison, WI @ The Annex
04 Oct - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

Visit Passion Pit and Sunset Rubdown on MySpace.

Above slideshows created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

photos by Matt, words by Mike