Song Spotlight: Passion Mango's Boy (a night at Zebulon)

Passion Mango (the stage name for Connor Wilkinson) was the opening band for Hotel Mira's headlining show at Zebulon. Both are Canadian bands (though Hotel Mira's Charlie Kerr currently resides in Los Angeles). It was a time for the Los Angeles music scene to go out and support their northern neighbors. If interested, I wrote a review of the night over at US Rocker Music, which you can read here.  

Passion Mango at Zebulon

The music is dream pop perfection combined with an engaging onstage performance. That engagement was seen from the very start when Wilkinson entered the stage and started to high five fans at the front of the stage. "I've fallen in love playing live music while on this tour," he told the audience at one point. Throughout the set, the band members interacted in fun moments. This was not a set where band members stood in a box and played walled off from their other band mates. 

Amusing moment of the set occurred when Wilkinson began thanking various people, including some in the audience. He just so happened to ignore a friend who had jumped up on stage for a brief cameo on vocals. She gave the universally known look of why am I being unrecognized for my contribution. (I did try doing a search for her so I hope she isn't offended that I'm not mentioning her by name.)

Passion Mango at Zebulon

Per the band's website bio, they say the following about their music, "Passion Mango uses themes of disillusionment and the optimistic hope of love to create dreamy in-the-feels music that makes you want to cry during one song and dance to the next."

The song spotlight goes to the band's final song of the setlist, "Boy." It is by far their most played Spotify song. The song shifts away from dream pop and goes in an alt rock direction. Sure, it starts off with a dreamy opening and murmured lyrics, but then the wall of guitars and bass explode and Wilkinson momentarily drops to his knees as if in deep emotional pain. 

Passion Mango at Zebulon

Genius states that the song is about a "complex relationship dynamic." 

Will I ever know
I guess I won't

The song makes reference to a moment in that relationship. Perhaps that moment is a drug overdose or maybe that moment just felt that scary. At first, it would seem that other person does nothing to help, but then eventually provides that assistance. Is this a caring relationship or was the assistance done just as a moral obligation?  

Passion Mango setlist: He, Skateboard, Do You Want The Truth / Kilby, Surf scum, Apology, Old friends, No Need, Pretend, Steal Train, Clean Slate, Boy.