Passion Pit readies 2009 tour, announces remix contest

photo by Elizabeth Weinberg

File it away: the Cambridge, Mass. electro-pop rockers Passion Pit are poised to be one of 2009's biggest breakout bands. Back in August, the five-piece troupe released its EP, Chunk of Change, which features the jubilant single "Sleepyhead," a song more infectious than the common cold. Think MGMT, but multiply its main ingredients (synths, catchy hooks, falsetto, hand claps) to the nth degree, and add an intro from Jack Kerouac and incomprehensible auto-tuned background vocals. Confused? Just listen (below).

Passion Pit's made waves touring with French avant garde pop star Yelle and by gracing the stages of this year's CMJ Festival in New York, receiving positive notices in the media along the way. The band's currently prepping its full-length debut, due early next year.

In the meantime, Passion Pit's taken a page from Radiohead and announced a communal remix contest. The rules: fans can download the parts to "Sleepyhead" here, and send their works of art to nobigdealbk@gmail.com no later than Dec. 2. Type "Passion Pit Remix" in the subject line. May the best remixer win.

Finally, the band announced a handful of tour dates to jump start the new year, in what will surely kick off an eventful 2009:

December
5 - Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Glasslands
31 - Allston, Mass. @ Great Scott New Year's Eve Blow Out

January
22 - Montreal, Quebec @ Divan Orange
23 - Ottawa, Ontario @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
24 - Toronto, Ontario @ The Horseshoe Tavern
26 - Pontiac, Mich. @ Crofoot
27 - Chicago, Ill. @ Schuba's
28 - Cleveland, Ohio @ The Spot (Case University)
29 - Cincinnati, Ohio @ Northside Tavern
30 - Columbus, Ohio @ Summit

February
2 - Baltimore, Md. @ Ottobar
3 - Washington D.C. @ Black Cat
7 - Northhampton, Mass. @ Iron Horse Music Hall

Look forward to a Passion Pit feature coming to these interwebby pages soon.

Listen to Passion Pit's "Sleepyhead":

Related links:
Passion Pit on MySpace
High Gravity: New Discoveries: Passion Pit, Weyerbacher Pumpkin Ale and Freaks & Geeks
Ctrl-V: Dance the Pain Away: 5 Songs to Assuage Your Bailout Blues

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