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WXPN's Free At Noon: Tori Amos and Passion Pit

Presented by WXPN at World Cafe Live - Philadelphia

August 15, 2009

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Listen in to WXPN Saturday at Noon to hear the legendary Tori Amos perform to a sold out audience before her show at the Tower Theater that night, and WXPN Artist to Watch Passion Pit.

For over twenty years, Tori Amos has been one of the most inventive and distinctive artists in contemporary music. Her haunting piano playing and stirring vocals mixed with lyrics about life, love and womanhood have earned her a following unlike any modern musician.

Amos broke through in the early 90s, making her mark at a time when grunge and rap were at their peak. She also earned notoriety for being one of the few emerging female musicians to use piano as her primary instrument. Throughout her career, Amos has pushed the boundaries of contemporary music, creating albums using everything from electronic elements to alter-egos.

Amos returns to the scene with her tenth studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. As the title of the album suggests, Amos' new work flirts with the darkness. Dark piano and guitar abounds as electronics sizzle alongside.

Sometimes eccentric, sometimes controversial, Tori Amos has always been her own person, creating music that is uniquely hers, no matter what.

Listening to Boston's Passion Pit is a lot like going out dancing — it's easy to get caught up in the music and lose yourself. But the group has more to offer than simply catchy hooks. Their brand of shiny electro-pop combines bright, danceable aesthetics with emotionally-charged lyrics that makes Passion Pit an irresistible treat.

The band first attracted fans after the release of 2008's Chunk of Change EP. Originally recorded by vocalist and keyboardist Michael Angelakos as a Valentine's Day present for his girlfriend, the six-song record took off at Emerson college (where Angelakos was attending) and became a hit. With the help of the track "Sleepyhead", the release picked up steam, garnering attention from outlets like MTV and BBC. The exposure paid off, helping the group earn a record contract with Frenchkiss Records in the U.S. and Columbia UK overseas.

The result is Manners, Passion Pit's upbeat and highly danceable new release. Angelakos' impressive falsetto shines through the sparkling and eclectic rhythms provided by keyboardist Ian Hultquist, bassist Jeff Apruzzese, drummer Nate Donmoyer and synth/samplist Ayad Al Adhamy.

Passion Pit has been making waves within the music community, opening for bands like Death Cab for Cutie. In June, WXPN named the band their Artist to Watch. They are keeping busy through the rest of the year, with a packed slate of shows that will take them across the country and overseas, no doubt creating excitement and plenty of fun along the way.