PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG IS...
Greg Ormont - Vocals, Guitar | Jeremy Schon - Guitar, Vocals | Ben - Bass, Vocals | Alex Petropulos - Drums, Vocals, Looks
—
If you ever wondered what “seizing the moment” sounds like personified, look no further than Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, the four-piece musical powerhouse known for their head-turning high-energy psychedelic funk shows. Infectious energy is an understatement.
The Maryland quartet — “Scrambled Greg” Ormont [vocals, guitar], Jeremy Schon [guitar, vocals], Ben [bass, vocals], and Alex “Gator” Petropulos [drums, vocals]—not only squeezes the juice out of every second, but they harness life’s energy within their hypnotic hybrid of funk, rock and psychedelic groove.
With a devout audience, affectionately known as “The Flock,” and a trail of sold-out tours behind them, the band takes a major step forward once again on their seventh full-length offering, Day In Time, released on April 26, 2024.
“This album is a snapshot of our band as a group and as individuals,” notes Greg. “The title serves as a reminder that life moves fast, so we better make the most of each day, make each second count. 15 years as a band have flown by. We started in college and now we’re all growing up, most of us have even become dads recently, so we’re evolving both personally and musically, and we’re happily embracing those changes. That said, we still feel like kids when we’re getting wild on stage and know we always will.”
This forward motion has only accelerated over the years for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. They’ve tallied tens of millions of streams and performed to impassioned crowds everywhere from Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Capitol Theatre to festivals such as Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Jam Cruise, and more. Renowned as a live tour de force, the group notably headlines, curates, and produces their own music and camping festival Domefest—a tradition since 2010. Most recently, they earned widespread acclaim for 2022’s Perspective, a 12-track “funk-filled odyssey” as described by Relix.
However, Day In Time saw them realize another level of cohesion in the studio.
“This album is the most cohesive group of songs we’ve ever had in the studio,” says Jeremy. “On our previous albums, there were usually older songs mixed in with our newer material. However, all the tracks on ‘Day In Time’ really represent our current writing style and where we are as a band today.”
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong heralds the album with their first single, “Alright Tonight.” Ethereal guitar glides across a slick drumbeat, giving way to a chantable chorus, “the feeling is alright, alright tonight.” Meanwhile, the momentum cycles through fiery bass, a frenetic percussive buildup, and a skyscraping guitar solo.
“Alright Tonight serves as a reminder that we can weather any storm,” Greg reveals. “You need to enjoy life’s valleys as much as the peaks, because nothing worth having comes without a little adversity. So regardless of today's forecast, just try your best, go with the flow, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Amplifying the album’s theme of “carpe diem,” the title track hinges on a head-nodding groove punctuated by a hypnotic hook, “It’s time to realize another day in time,” topped off with an otherworldly call-and-response between lead guitar and guest keyboards.
“We only have one shot at life,” he continues. “Before you know it, today is just a memory—another day in time.”
Then, there’s “My Own Way,” with its catchy riff strutting underneath relatable musings. “How often have we all said, ‘I can’t get out of my own way’?’” asks Greg. “We all make mistakes. The real question is, are you going to let your past also bring down your future? I think the song ends with hope that we can overcome anything that’s thrown our way.”
Originally conceived on stage during soundcheck at church-turned-venue The Tabernacle in Atlanta, the groovy “Beneath The Surface” layers a laid-back guitar lick on top of a swaggy rhythm. At the same time, spellbinding vocals instantly mesmerize.
“Jeremy started a spacey groove that was the perfect soundtrack for this beautiful cavernous space, and we all jumped on it,” recalls Greg. “It was sonic territory we hadn’t explored much yet, so we were all fired up to flesh it out after its initial test drive at The Tabby.”
Rounding out Pigeons’ musical range comes the bright and bouncy “Feelin’ Fine,” with its clean guitar wailing towards a powerhouse refrain that’s elevated by heavenly harmonies echoing a theme of perseverance and compassion.
A bevy of friends also joined the party. On the boisterous “Let The Boogie Out,” Here Come The Mummies’ horn section added healthy doses of funk and “truly decided to let the boogie out,” according to Jeremy. Ben “Smiley” Silverstein (The Main Squeeze; Smile High) shines on the titular “Day In Time” with a raucous keyboard solo, while keyboardists Joey Porter (The Motet) and Alric “A.C.” Carter (Tauk) join forces on the soulful “Overtime.” Carter also adds rich depth with keys on “Beneath The Surface,” while Jon O’Hallaron (Chalk Dinosaur) infuses rhythmic keys and electronic flavor on the instrumental standout, “Skinner.” Another first, all four members of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong take inspired solos on the same record.
“With this being our seventh full-length album, we’re more comfortable in the studio than ever, which has given us the freedom to take some bigger swings reminiscent of our live shows.” notes Greg.
In the end, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are certainly making the most of the moment, and they might just inspire you to do the same.
“No matter what you’re going through, you can always listen to music and find a connection,” Greg leaves off. “Whether we’re recording or touring, we’re on a mission to spread positivity, to remind people to enjoy life and embrace each moment. If our music speaks to you, that’s awesome, but honestly we’re just grateful for the continued opportunity to get together, write some songs, and follow our dreams. After 15 years, it’s a feeling that hasn’t gotten old in the slightest.”
“And it never will,” confirms Jeremy.
—
