November 19, 2012 14:35

Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos: 'We feel we have to prove ourselves more in the UK'

Singer clarifies summer statement saying he was scared of playing for Brit crowds

Photo: Dan Dennison/NME

Ahead of their gigs in Birmingham and London, Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos has clarified previous comments about British crowds who think they're "too cool".

Speaking to NME in August before this year's Reading And Leeds Festivals, the singer suggested he was intimidated by British audiences.

In an interview with NME Radio this week, however, he cleared up the comment, saying what he really meant was that British crowds were just more used to seeing good bands perform than fans elsewhere in the world, and were therefore harder to impress.

He said: "You Brits are the cool kids who know what's up and coming, that's what I meant. I wasn't saying we're actually scared of English crowds, just that it can be intimidating," he said. "Particularly in London."

He went on to say that due to the number of British bands playing in the UK, he, like many other US artists, can feel surplus to requirements when they tour. "There's such a great scene here, when we are in the UK we can often feel like we're not needed. We also feel like we want to really reach people in the UK and get people to understand what we do. I guess we try to prove ourselves more here, whereas in other places like the US, Japan, Mexico or wherever, we feel like we've already done it."

The singer adds: "When we come to London we feel we have to prove ourselves, but I don't know why we feel like that because everyone is so kind to us."

Passion Pit play Birmingham's HMV Institute tonight (November 19) and the London HMV Forum tomorrow (November 20).

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