Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Launch New Year’s Eve Run In Asheville

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong commenced their New Year’s Eve run in Asheville, North Carolina on Thursday. The Baltimore-based funk quartet delivered a mix of new songs and classic favorites for the NYE run opener at Asheville’s The Orange Peel before the band wraps up tonight with their “Arena 54 NYE” event at ExploreAsheville.com Arena.

Guitarist Greg Ormont led PPPP through “Feelin’ Fine” to open up the festivities in Asheville. The band debuted the tune during their 2020 Homesfest virtual event in their hometown of Baltimore. Staples “Bad For You” and “Fortress” followed ahead of a pairing of classic “Melting Lights” and another new tune, “Twitch.” Next up, “Landing” launched a set-closing segment that grooved into “Also Sprach Zarathustra” which featured some fantastic fill work from drummer Alex Petropulos. Another new tune, “Donkey Hotel,” closed out the first frame.

Guitarist Jeremy Schon delivered the opening strains of “Porcupine” to kick off the second set with a bang. The band explored an atmospheric jam before blasting off. PPPP then kept up the new material with “Hit The Ground Runnin,” sung by bassist ​​Ben Carrey. The new tune then led into the disco-tinged favorite,” Horizon.”

The quartet kept the disco going with Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” ahead of the instrumental “Avalanche” to cap off the substantial mid-set seamless section. PPPP brought the second set to a close with the staple, “Upfunk.” Pigeons Playing Ping Pong retook the stage to encore with more new material, “Day In Time.”

Watch pro-shot, full show video below:

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set One: Feelin’ Fine, Bad For You, Fortress > Melting Lights > Twitch, Landing > Also Sprach Zarathusta > Donkey Hotel

Set Two: Porcupine, Hit the Ground Rinnin’ > Horizon, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough > Avalanche, Upfunk

Encore: Day In Time