Passion Pit’s “Pretty Penny World Tour” Lights Up New York City [Photos]

Passion Pit brought their “Pretty Penny World Tour” to New York City’s Rooftop at Pier 17 on July 25th for a sun-bathed electric summer night full of good music and equally good vibes.

Arden Jones opened the concert with a bright and bubbly set, captivating the audience with his natural charm and positive energy despite being a one-man show. The Californian is newer to the music scene, and began his set with a bit of nervous energy that quickly settled into a natural charisma as his audience received his performance with enthusiasm. His sound blends indie pop, hip hop, and alternative rock into an easy-listening sound that exudes the laid-back image of a West Coast beach.

Passion Pit, the musical project of Michael Angelakos, took the stage just after 8 pm with plenty of time to pack in nearly two hours of music before the venue’s 10 pm curfew. As part of a slow rollout of new music, the setlist contained a healthy mix of newer songs such as “Brothers to the End,” “Everything’s Stephanie,” and “Once Upon Your Balcony,” alongside all the nostalgic classics such as “Carried Away,” “Take A Walk,” and “Sleepyhead.” Die-hard fans appreciated the inclusion of deeper cuts and fan favourites like “The Reeling,” “Cuddle Fuddle,” and “Where The Sky Hangs.”

Passion Pit’s musical journey is deeply intertwined with Angelakos’ personal struggles, to the point it is nearly impossible to appreciate one without the other. The musician has long been open about his own experience with bipolar disorder and how his mental health is often at odds with the gruelling and public career he finds himself drawn to.

However, Pier 17 saw Angelakos at his very best – in his own words, “the happiest (he’s) ever been” – and it was easily palpable. Even from behind the spaceship-like cage of synths and keyboards that has come to define Passion Pit’s sound, the man’s beaming smile and exuberant joy reached far and wide across a very packed rooftop.

Amongst a marathon set, he found time to earnestly thank the fans that have continued to show up for him, despite the long breaks in touring and music releases required to sustain his mental health. All that said, one thing was abundantly clear to New York City: that Angelakos possesses a special ability to genuinely connect with a sea of faces, and that the city will always be there waiting whenever he’s ready to come back next.