Early in the second set of Saturday night’s sold-out Pigeons Playing Ping Pong show at The Capitol Theatre, as the band eased into celebratory fan-favorite “Horizon”, the emotion of the moment moved frontman Greg Ormont to speak. “Y’all feel the love in this room right now?” he asked, the cartoonish enthusiasm in his voice briefly replaced by vulnerable reflection.
A string of interactions with the group’s loyal fanbase in recent days had left him feeling nostalgic about what he and his bandmates have been able to build over the course of 15 years. A few days ago, he explained, he found out that two fans had walked down the aisle to a Pigeons song at their wedding. On Friday night, a couple had come to the band’s pre-show meet-and-greet with an envelope containing the results of their baby gender reveal in order to make the band part of their special moment. “That was a new one,” he joked.
Then, at The Cap, while the band was talking to a pair of fans named Carter and Brooke, Carter got down on one knee and proposed to Brooke. She said yes.
When he met guitarist Jeremy Schon on the first day of college, Greg mused, he never expected that that moment would grow into something so meaningful. “[We have] lots of love and gratitude for this life,” he said. “This is a beautiful life for so many reasons.”
When “Horizon” finally picked up in earnest, its simple message—”celebrate the people you love”—was more resonant than ever. The massive web of pull-apart cotton that spread across the entire Capitol Theatre floor as they played, connecting the audience with a literal common thread, only reinforced that unifying notion.
Ormont, Schon, Ben Carrey (bass), and Alex “Gator” Petropulos (drums) were the stars of this show, but they made sure to carve out time to celebrate others during their two set performance. Before playing a note, Ormont took the time to coax out an extra round of applause for NYC native Karina Rykman and her eponymous trio, who opened the evening with an engaging, quasi-hometown performance (stay tuned this coming week for details on her next New York play). During each of two appearances by familiar special guest Tomo Fujita (guitar)—on “Indiglo” > “F.U.” during set one and “Overtime” > “Zydeko” during set two—Greg made sure to shower the esteemed educator and funk virtuoso with requisite praise, leading “Tomo” chants and congratulating him on his first-ever Capitol Theatre performance.
Despite the atmosphere of reminiscence, the quartet sounded its best on Saturday night when its sights were set on newer horizons. “Day In Time”, the recently released title track from the band’s forthcoming LP, made a strong showing during set one, its Foo Fighters-reminiscent arena-rock climax easily landing among the highlights of the evening. Another new song, the unreleased “Feet On The Ground”, defied its title with floating, meditative instrumental interpolations and staggering rhythmic fireworks. Setlist staple “Avalanche” got a rare dose of magic via a well received detour through Harry Potter melody “Hedwig’s Theme”. A uniquely untz-y rendering of The Beatles‘ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” leaned into other beloved songbooks with clever teases of Chicago‘s “25 or 6 to 4” and Led Zeppelin‘s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”.
Whether they were thinking back or looking forward, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong were feeling the love at The Capitol Theatre—another milestone night of feel-good appreciation and creativity for this long-running outfit and its devoted fans, yet still just another day in time for a band that’s been evangelizing joy, kindness, and wholesome fun since the very beginning.
Below, check out photos, videos, and a full setlist from Saturday night’s sold-out Pigeons Playing Ping Pong show at The Capitol Theatre featuring special guest Tomo Fujita and supporting act Karina Rykman. For a full list of upcoming Pigeons Playing Ping Pong tour dates, head here. For a full list of upcoming Karina Rykman tour dates, head here.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – “Melting Lights” – 2/3/24
[Video: sgibson818]
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong w/ Tomo Fujita – “Indiglo” > “F.U.” – 2/3/24
[Video: sgibson818]
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Setlist: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 2/4/24
Set One: Melting Lights > Whirled, Day In Time, Feet On The Ground*, Avalanche > Hedwig’s Theme > Avalanche, Indiglo^ > F.U.^
Set Two: Mine, Horizon, Overtime^ > Zydeko^, While My Guitar Gently Weeps~ > Couldn’t We All > The Liquid
Encore: Ocean Flows
Notes: Sold-out show; *Debut (Original); ^ w/ Tomo Fujita on guitar; ~ w/ “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “25 or 6 to 4” teases
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