Pigeons Playing Ping Pong to ring in 2019 at Stage AE

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong never cease to amaze fans, especially when it comes to their thoughtfully orchestrated Halloween and New Year’s Eve performances (this year’s 4-night Halloween run took on the theme “Red Hot Sergeant Peppers“). This year, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will ring in the new year at Stage AE in Pittsburg, PA onMonday, December 31st. They have tapped the horns from The West End Blend–the band generally performs as a 4-piece, so this is extra special–to join for a full-fledged night of funky tunes surrounding the theme “New Year’s stEve.”

Music by Stevie Wonder and other famous Steves (think Stevie Nicks, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steven Tyler, Steve Wormwood, etc.) is expected to weave its way into the band’s own catalog for an unforgettable night of music. The Magic Beans offer support on the bill.

Blending infectious funk grooves, psychedelic jams, and experimental electronics, the Baltimore four-piece’s latest album is a buoyant, blissful reminder of just how much fun music can be. Eschewing the traditional funk band lineup that typically includes keyboards, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong constructs effervescent soundscapes with just two guitars, bass, and drums, crafting their music with a sophisticated ear for both open space and dense layering.

“We pour every ounce of ourselves into every note when we perform live,” says Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s frontman Greg Ormont. “When we’re recording in the studio, we try to maintain that euphoria while finding a way to pack it into a tight, focused vessel. Each song becomes like a spring-loaded can of worms: there’s all this energy boxed up in a neat little package, and then when you come see us live, the cap comes off and the contents fly out in every direction like fireworks.”

While the new album is certainly a “creative advancement” (Billboard) for the group, this band is known for their road-tested live performances. This summer alone, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong made debuts at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, as well as Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre to crowds in the thousands. Whether it be an original tune from one of their four records, an inventive cover of a song from the Disney catalog or an hour-long completely improvised set, there’s no saying what the quartet will bust out when they take the stage.