Pigeons Playing Ping Pong & TAUK Collaborate In Chicago

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and TAUK completed a run of shows together with a collaborative performance in Chicago on Saturday. PPPP also brought out Chicago-based trumpeter Sam Trump and saxophonist Corbin Andrick at various points throughout the show at the Riviera Theatre.

TAUK ended their opening set by bringing out the members of PPPP for a joint performance of the “Space Jam Theme.” Pigeons returned to start their first of two sets, opening the show with “Sports Theme.” The first sit-in occurred near the end of the first set when Trump and Andrick came on for “Whoopie.” The guest horns stuck around for the subsequent live debut of “Elephante,” the lead single off PPPP’s forthcoming studio album, Perspective.

The guest horns were back for the second song of the second set, “King Kong” which encapsulated a cover of Stevie Wonder’s classic “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” The horns left the stage as PPPP’s tour manager Kevin “Chud” McKay emerged to play bass on “Lightning.” Before starting the song, guitarist Greg Ormont noted that the concert was McKay’s last as a member of the band’s crew. After the sendoff, the horns retook the stage to augment “Fortress” and the set closer “Sunny Day,” the latter also featuring TAUK’s Alric “A.C.” Carter joining on keyboards.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong went guest-less at the onset of Saturday’s encore as the foursome delivered “In The Bubble.” The band then welcomed back the horns and all of TAUK – Carter, guitarist Matt Jalbert, bassist Charlie Dolan and drummer Isaac Teel – who joined Ormont, guitarist Jeremy Schon, bassist Ben Carrey and drummer Alex Petropulos for a cover of Kool & The Gang’s “Hollywood Swinging.”

Photos by Russ Boxer

Setlist (via PPPP FB)

Set One: Sports Theme, Somethin’ For Ya > My Own Way, Pop Off, Whoopie*, Elephante*^, Horizon > Whirled

Set Two: Yo Soy Fiesta, King Kong* > Signed, Sealed, Delivered* > King Kong*, Lightning”, Fortress*, Sunny Day%

Encore: In The Bubble, Hollywood Swinging*$

Notes:

• * w/ Sam Trump and Corbin Andrick on trumpet and saxophone
• ^ First time played live
• “ w/ Kevin “Chud” McKay on bass; w/ “Kevin” lyrics and “Chud” chants
• % w/ AC on keys (TAUK)
• $ w/ all of TAUK