Passion Pit tell all after UK tour
It must be pretty tough being a band, when everyone in the whole world decides you’re amazing based on only your MySpace songs and the t-shirt you’re wearing at your first photo shoot (although presumably not as tough as being in a band that everyone decides is rubbish based only on your MySpace songs and the t-shirt you’re wearing).
James Cooper
Passion Pit are that band. They’ve started 2009 as the interesting indie band of the year – touted by the like of the BBC as this year’s MGMT. With their haunting vocals and electronic—tinged pop songs, it’s not hard to see why. But what do the lads themselves think about being able to sell out lots of UK venues with only a (very good) EP under their belt? We asked keyboard and guitarist Ayad Al Adhamy that very question and also some others about The Mighty Ducks…
You’ve just finished a tour of the UK. How was that? Any crazy tales of excess and debauchery on the road?
It was amazing - and sadly no excess craziness - just some terrible luck! We have gotten pretty used it though... We destroyed two van engines, got our diesel siphoned out and our spare tire stolen, blew the power on three stages, went through 4 or so bass heads etc but it was all worth it.
What was it like being hugely hyped by the UK music press? You’re Cargo gig was so full of industry insiders I couldn’t get a ticket even though I interviewed Hockey about an hour before the gig. Does being hailed as the next big thing just end up putting lots of pressure on you?
Not really, and if it does it isn't any different from having pressure from your boss at work. The hype is just something you work with and hope that it does explode in your face! We never planned on being "the next big thing" so I guess we just do what we do and see if people still like it!
Talking of Hockey, what did you think of the guys? They were very nice about you?
They were great, we had a lot of fun with them. We've been lucky in that we have toured with bands that are really easy to get on with. Bear Hands (the opening band) were lots of fun too. We all ended up drinking a lot at the shows together and hanging out.
Still with Hockey, I asked them which their favourite Mighty Ducks movie was (because they’re about Hockey you see) and they didn’t have a very good answer. What about you? Are you D2 fans or do you like the original?
Oh man, I’m going with D2 - the Icelandic team are just so evil! I also liked the knucklepuck move that Keenan (from Keenan and Kel) does. Both are classics that I still watch.
What’s next for Passion Pit? Are you coming back to the UK for some festivals?
Time off to relax and learn some new material then a lot of time in Europe doing the festivals. I'm really looking forward to them...
How come there are so many good bands coming out of America at the moment?
When is there not? I’m unbiased because I am actually a UK citizen so I can say that both countries have its fair share of great and shitty bands. America more of both because of its size, but the ratio between population and great bands is probably in the UK’s favour...
As a band you’ve started using Twitter recently. What do you think about it? Do you think it’s a good idea for bands to give fans so much information about themselves?
Ian is the Twitter expert in the band. I don't really get it, but some people use it so I guess it is important to have. We would twitter things like 'can anyone bring a firewire cable to the Passion Pit show tonight", so it is useful for things!
Michael Jackson’s just announced a load of shows in London. Are you excited about that? Enough to make a trip back to the UK?
Oh hell yeah, if I could get guest list spots for that! I'm a huge Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson fan. And Qunicy Jones! He sure knows how to produce. We are both alumni of the same college and that was one reason I went there...
Since you’ve got pretty famous, what’s the best freebie you’ve ever been given?
Ha ha ... I wouldn't say that at all! We don't really get any freebies yet (people with stuff to give out please take note). I guess once we got clothes at CMJ, but every band got the same stuff and it’s kind of in lieu of payment so it wasn't technically free...
Sleepyhead
myspace - Passion Pit
