Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Welcome Rob Marscher In Philadelphia

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong concluded their two-night run at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia on Saturday. The Baltimore-based quartet welcomed Star Kitchen keyboardist Rob Marscher to close out the first set.

PPPP — guitarists Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon, drummer Alex Petropulos and bassist Ben Carrey — kicked off the first frame with a four-song seamless section which included “Fox and Toad,” “Time to Ride,” “Penguins” and “Totally.” Pigeons kept up the segues with two songs debuted in 2020 “Move Like That” and “Weightless” before Pizazz (2017) opener “Funk In Funk” encompassed PPPP’s fourth cover of Pink Floyd’s “Young Lust.” The band then welcomed Rob Marscher from Philly-based supergroup Star Kitchen on keys for set-closer, “Snake Eyes,” from PPPP’s 2020 album Presto.

Pigeons returned to new material to open the second set with “Skinner,” which the quartet unveiled at Peach Fest 2021. Standalone versions of “Walk Outside” — off the band’s 2016 album Pleasure — and another new tune, “My Own Way,” debuted at The Capitol Theatre in October, followed. Pleasure’s “Kiwi” then led into the conclusion of “Time To Ride.”

Next, “Undivided,” another 2020 debut, segued into the classic “Schwanthem,” which in turn headed into a cover of Haddaway’s “What Is Love.” PPPP last played the song made famous by SNL’s “Night At The Roxbury” skit at a livestream benefit for The 8×10 in their hometown of Baltimore on November 22, 2020, as per Phantasy Tour. A return to “Schwanthem” wrapped up the second set. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong retook the stage to encore with the staple “High As Five.”

Setlist (via PPPP Instagram)

Set One: Fox And Toad, Time To Ride* > Penguins > Funkijam > Totally, Move Like That > Weightless > Fun In Funk > Young Lust > Fun In Funk, Snake Eyes^

Set Two: Skinner, Walk Outside, My Own Way, Kiwi* > Time To Ride, Undivided > Schwanthem > What Is Love > Schwanthem

Encore: High As Five

Notes:

Sold Out Show

* Unfinished

^ w/ Rob Marscher (Star Kitchen) on keys