Tale of the Show: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong- 01/19/24 + 01/20/24
Take flight with one of the scene’s most active names while looking back at the influences that continue to move us forward
The Set Up: Evolution of Influences
In the decades since the Grateful Dead and Phish curated our journies through the unknown, countless other bands have taken the reigns to find their own spins on the jam band genre. Something I find so fascinating about this particular form of music, is how it can encompass any other genre depending on the group of musicians at work.
The Dead pooled together their musical influences of their time, with folk, blues, jazz, and the new age of rock forged by The Beatles breeding something entirely new, yet familiar to all fans of those genres. Phish took it a step further, combining their love of the Dead with everything else that came along in their lifetime, adding prog and more rocking influences to the equation. But before I listened to the Dead or Phish, I was a 311 fan.
Like the biggest jam bands, 311’s fans would follow them across the country catching dozens and even hundreds of shows over the years. Also similar to jam bands, 311 is a product of multiple musical influences. They blend rock, reggae, and hip-hop into a unique sound while embracing a philosophy of positivity that drew fans like myself to show after show.
Jam bands were part of their stylistic soup, but when it comes to the live show, 311 tends to play their songs by the books. The way you hear them on the album is pretty close to what you’ll see live. Their unpredictability came from a deep catalog of great songs and how any one of them could be on the table in any given night. 311 eventually moved away from their variable setlists in later years, but they continue to put on energetic shows worth seeing.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are not veterans like Phish or 311, but they have spent more than a decade proving themselves as one biggest names in the modern jam scene. While 311 will always hold a special place in my heart, they represent my past. PPPP have a bright future in front of them. I’m looking ahead to watch that journey unfold alongside mine, with these shows proving to be an exciting convergence point on our paths.
Taking Flight on Night One
PPPP has significant history with Richmond. They’ve celebrated New Year’s, Halloween, and 4/20 here at various points in their history. They also headlined the epic Jampacked Festival in 2023, so their Richmond roots go deep. So deep that they decided to kick off their 2024 with a two-night stand at my personal favorite venue in town, The National.
I attended Jampacked, a wonderful day of music and community, but the craft beer sponsors and the 100-degree weather in direct sunlight led to my wife and I feeling quite glazed over by the time PPPP came out for their headlining set. This time, I got to experience their music up close and personal in the best room in town.
The night kicked off with an opening set from Saxsquatch, real name Dean Mitchell, who formerly played saxophone in the Marcus King Band. He now takes his solo show on the road, where he dresses like Bigfoot and covers popular songs in a saxophone-DJ hybrid. It’s an entertaining presentation that got the crowd warmed up for a more extensive musical journey to come.
Once PPPP took the stage, it didn’t take long for them to take flight as they welcomed us with open wings. Greg Ormont immediately called Richmond a second home and they were clearly excited to kick off their 2024 in this beautiful room starting with the aptly titled, “Hell Yeah”.
Set one was packed with fun more than anything else as the room never felt flat on energy, even if it wasn’t a sold-out house. It was a playful and positive attitude all around. The only vibe killers tonight were a group of intoxicated women having more fun with their conversation than the music. A fairly minor encounter at 6/10 on the vibe killer scale.
With a much more intimate setting, I could hear the details of their playing so much closer. I was immediately reminded of 311’s upbeat attitude and funky fusions of style. PPPP grew up on the same musical influences I did, using them to create their own path. I hear the influence from Dead and Phish very clearly, but I also hear 311. The unrelenting positive attitude, the rock-infused funky beats, the upbeat party atmosphere; I’m at a jam show, but I feel like I’ve gone back in time a bit.
Unforeseen circumstances ended my night early after they wrapped up set one. You never know how a night might go as life can be as unpredictable as a great jam. I’m sure I missed a great set, which went on to include a unique sit-in from Saxsquatch, but no matter. PPPP were thankfully coming back tomorrow night.
Bring it on Home
Eager to see more of what they had in store, I decided to change up my routine by relocating from my usual spot by the soundboard to one of the seats on the balcony. This new perspective allowed me to relax and take in the music on a level I didn’t expect. With how happy and laid-back these musicians are, sitting back for full immersion gifted me a complete view of their creativity.
I arrived early to claim my seat, finding a spot tucked in the corner behind a small group of some well-traveled Deadheads. We eventually started talking about our musical adventures, starting with bands like Metallica and System of a Down and later discovering the Dead, and realizing we had been to many of the same shows over the last couple of years. It’s always a pleasure to trade stories from the road with fellow travelers and come across shared experiences. I knew right away the vibes would be safe tonight.
Opening the festivities tonight was Yam Yam. This group still plays under the radar, but tonight happens to be my third time seeing this jazzy quintet, and I doubt it’ll be the last. Unlike the previous night’s fun yet goofy Saxsquatch sighting, tonight’s jams kicked off with a little more style with the virtuous playing of saxophonist Jason Mescia weaving in and out of a soulful and psychedelic backdrop painted by his skilled bandmates. Don’t pass on these guys if they come playing near you. I hope to see them on bigger stages in the future.
When PPPP came back out, they picked up right where they left off and kept the party going. I sat back in my chair and let the funky space surround me. These guys know how to play, and they’re very playful when they do it. For my ears, many modern jam bands lean too hard into electronic styles. PPPP manages to strike a balance of classic funk and modern groves that can simultaneously satisfy everyone who came to dance, and everyone who came to rock.
The highlight of the evening featured the band introducing their inanimate friend, Willie, who had been on stage next to the drum kit all weekend. He appeared to be made of a Gumby cut-out with an expression of someone who was at least three beers deep into a party. Ormont turned the mic over to Willie and his high-pitched voice came through the PA.
The hilarious interaction led to Willie getting on the saxophone for a jam, but Mescia from Yam Yam couldn’t let a sax jam go by without his input. He took the stage for a sax showdown against Gumby’s wook offspring. Willie’s playing was being piped in either from a prerecorded track or someone offstage, but the ensuing saxophone cyclone sent the whole building into a frenzy.
As the fourth and final set of this two-night run settled in, we all dialed in for the home stretch. A sequence of peaks and valleys that never let up on the gas pedal, resembling something closer to a flight from Top Gun rather than a flock of pigeons. Even from my seat near the top, I could feel the fun in the room as we grooved passed midnight. For the encore, I stepped down into the pit get a feel for the floor, and sure enough it was as joyous as ever even after two very long nights of music.
PPPP are a relatively young player in the jam game, but they’re hitting a stride right now that’s surely going to keep them flying for years to come. These nights represent a tremendous step into the new year. PPPP will continue to grow, so will I, and so should all of us. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for each and every one of us for the next show and beyond.
