Pigeons Playing Ping Pong performed at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Ore. last night. The band is currently touring to support its forthcoming LP, Perspective, due out on April 9. The evening featured sit-ins by Everyone Orchestra’s Matt Butler and former vocalist of The Motet, Lyle Divinsky.
The show began with an explorative jam to set the night's tone, followed by a high-energy take on “Somethin’ For Ya.” The prior seamlessly blended into “The Town,” which debuted on March 12 at The U.C. Theatre Taube Family Music Hall in Berkeley, Calif.
A segued trio of “Move Like That” into “Weightless” and “The Liquid” came next. Then, Butler took the stage as the band moved into “Fortress,” off the 2020 LP, Presto. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong then performed a funky rendition of “King Kong” before busting out “Hold On I’m Coming” for the first time since Nov. 8, 2019. The tune featured a guest sit-in by Divinsky, who provided vocals.
Before the first set came to an end, the ensemble broke into “Avalanche,” and an unmistakable ode to Harry Potter with “Hedwig’s Theme,” followed by a return to “Avalanche,” to end the first set. Set two kicked off with “Day In Time,” which fused into a three-part jam beginning with “Porcupine,” into a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell,” off the 1979 LP, The Wall. The band then returned to “Porcupine” to end the monumental jam.
Butler returned to the stage to conduct Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Divinsky through a spectacular jam, dubbed “Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Orchestra.” For their final tune of the second set, the band performed “Fade Fast.” Then, after a brief break, they came back for a masterful take on 2017’s “Doc.”
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will continue their tour tonight in Seattle, where they will perform a two-night stand at the Neptune Theatre. From there, the band will conclude their Pacific Northwest tour dates and shift focus to the Northeastern region of the county. The ensemble will play a double feature at House of Blues Boston on April 1 and 2. Tickets are available and can be purchased here.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
McMenamins Crystal Ballroom– Portland, Ore.
March 19, 2022
Set I: Jam > Somethin’ For Ya> The Town, Move Like That > Weightless > The Liquid, Fortress*, King Kong, Hold On I’m Comin’^, Avalanche > Hedwig’s Theme > Avalanche
Set II: Day in Time, Porcupine > Run Like Hell > Porcupine, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Orchestra, Fade Fast
Enc.: Doc
Notes:
^ With Lyle Divinsky on vocals
* With Matt Butler on percussion
