FUSE TV - Passion Pit’s Firefly Performance Cut Short

While the Firefly Music Festival was an overall success, sound issues plagued several acts over the course of the weekend. Faulty mics spoiled otherwise solid sets by Public Enemy and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  

On Sunday Passion Pit also had problems with their vocals, but in this case the culprit wasn’t technical… it was allergies.  

Clearly the Firefly fates have it in for Passion Pit. Last year the band had to cancel their performance at the fest so that frontman Michael Angelakos could undergo treatment for his bipolar disorder. This year they at least got to take the stage, but only for an abbreviated set.  

Diving right in with “I’ll Be Alright,” “The Reeling” and “Carried Away,” the band – and in particular drummer Nate Donmoyer and bassist Jeff Apruzzese – displayed a powerful musicianship that explodes in a live setting much more so than on record. Only after slowing things down for “To Kingdom Come” did Angelakos confess to the crowd that he needed help singing, because allergies had caused him to lose his voice. He also referenced last year’s cancellation by saying he “can’t catch a f-cking break with this festival.”  

From that point on, the vocal issues became more noticeable with each passing song. High notes were especially problematic. Yet he soldiered on, and the crowd rallied behind him, willing him to make it through the show.