Film Music Report Review Harlem Shakes

A Harlem Shake

I spent my Saturday, May 30, 2009; driving along the coast (well part of the drive) to experience Passion Pit at the Glass House in Pomona.  I prefer Passion Pit’s EP- Chunk of Change to their new album Manners.  There is this grimy, home made, fervor in the EP.  The album sounds like a record label got to it and cleaned up the grimy, rough sound.  Their live show was good, but not as good as the opening band the Harlem Shakes.  

Film Music Report Live Music Review Passion Pit

Passion Pit did not interact with the audience, barely interacted with each other, and the set sounded like they played right off the album, in an exact order.  The band did not allow any differentiation from the album.   Not to mention after the performance the only band member that made himself available to the fans was Ian.  The rest acted too important for their fans.  A major turnoff.  It almost seems like the band got too big in their heads already, which is a pity.  I would have enjoyed Passion Pits live performance if there was more of a jam and if they fed off each other and the audience.

Good news is that the Harlem Shakes from Brooklyn, New York blew me away.  Literally.  I would have preferred for Harlem Shakes to headline and Passion Pit as an opener.  I had listened to their new album Technicolor Health (thanks to a little birdie I call Pirate), but I was confused.  I wanted to keep listening to their album, at the same time, I had no drive to listen to their album.  Their album seems a bit muddled, but upon seeing them live, their album makes sense.  The album is missing the live aspect and live noise.  The mixture of saxophone, keyboard, guitar, vocals, drums and bass turned out to be clear and absolutely lovely to listen to live.  I highly recommend anyone who has their album to experience the band live.  Harlem Shake’s interaction with the audience, the jamming, the pure excitement and love of their music, and the want to share their art had shown through during their live set at the Glass House.

Film Music Report Live Music Review - Harlem Shakes

Special thanks to Ian from Passion Pit and Fredrick from Harlem Shakes for agreeing to recording a radio ID for KCSB 91.9!

Alexandra Lederman,
Film Music Report Writer