Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

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. Renowned as a live tour de force, PPPP has 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. 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.”

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.

“More of the good, less of the bad.” That’s the motto upon which Underground Springhouse have built their sound and style. Exploring reggae, country, and funk influences within a rock ‘n roll context, Springhouse has crafted a genre-bending catalog that takes listeners from beaches to back roads with ear-worm hooks and head-bobbing grooves.

Their debut single, “Joyfell” (2018), has caught the ears of listeners around the country, galvanizing the band to become the touring and recording machine that they are today. Springhouse has since released a full length album, “Underground Springhouse” (2021), and two EPs, “Tom Foolery” (2019) and “I Recall” (2023), as well as a number of one-off singles. Their most recent EP, “I Recall,” features five new songs and showcases the band’s honing of their songwriting craft. On certain tracks the group explores newer influences like bluegrass and Americana, while on others they expand on more familiar styles like reggae and funk. All the while, the band stays true to their motto and their sound by including sing-along choruses and dance-worthy rhythms across the EP.

The band’s consistent recording output and dedicated touring schedule have helped grow their audience from a college town phenomenon into a frenetic mass of music lovers, particularly in the Southeast and along the East Coast, where Springhouse has headlined such venues as Athens’ Georgia Theatre, Nashville’s Exit/In, Birmingham’s Avondale Brewing, New York’s Brooklyn Bowl, D.C.’s Pearl Street Warehouse, Asheville’s Salvage Station, and Atlanta’s Terminal West. Fans should expect the unexpected at a Springhouse concert as no two shows look the same. The band’s fondness for improvisation and segues, and use of mashups and surprise covers make each show a unique experience, and keep fans coming back night after night.

Members Charlie Haas (guitar/vocals), Jackson Thompson (bass/vocals), Max Motley (keyboard/vocals) & Mitch Davidson (guitar/vocals) met in Athens, Georgia while students at the University of Georgia. The band’s lineup solidified with the addition of Jonny Thompson (drums/vocals) in June of 2023. Underground Springhouse is a product of Athens’ renowned music scene, slowly evolving as the group grew from a dorm room project into the polished outfit they are today.