Show Review of:
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
w/Tauk and ELM
New Years Eve at The 8×10 in Baltimore
By: Amber McDonald
Photos credit Kindones Photography
It’s the last night of 2013, in Baltimore Maryland at The 8×10, you could feel the excitement and the high energy as everyone is ready to get their grooves on. With three different bands and a DJ to bring in the New Year, you knew walking into the venue that you were in for an exciting experience ahead. Not only were people buzzing about what Pigeons Playing Ping Pong were going to bring to the table, but everyone was excited to see TAUK and ELM to help bring in the New Year with Digital Davy, who was spinning in between sets to keep the crowd alive.
For my first time visiting The 8×10 venue, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As soon as I stepped through the doors, I could feel the high energy and great vibes coming from the staff, the music goers and the band members. I knew walking around seeing all the smiling faces of friends and chatting with the bands here and there about their excitement and expectations for the night, we were all in for a very big treat.
- Tauk
Tauk
Having seen TAUK before at Domefest back in April, I knew what they could bring to the show. As they started playing, you could see as the crowd starting moving to the beats and enjoying what TAUK was going to offer to them. As their set continued on, you could see how the band was feeding off the crowd’s energy. The momentum started picking up and the dance floor quickly filled up. I glanced up and saw the drummer, Issac Teel, starting to really bring it for the crowd. His energy and facial expressions had the crowd going nuts and getting them pumped for the night ahead. As their set comes to the end, you think that it’s over and a little disappointed as to how well they were doing then they come back with full blast as guitar player, Matt Jalbert, strings started breaking off and the crowd goes wild with the energy TAUK was giving them to start out their NYE’s nights. I had a chance to speak with Charlie Dolan (bass) and Alric “A.C” Carter (keyboards/organ) after their set and to hear and see it in their faces how thankful they were for the help from Pigeons to show them this scene and help spread the word about their upcoming band was great to see how much it meant to them.
As we wait for Pigeons to come onto stage to bring in the New Year, we have Digital Davy upstairs bringing the beats to keep the crowd alive and dancing. He kept the energy going and people satisfied with some music to keep their hearts pumping and the New Year’s vibe afloat.
Stepping onto the stage in black tuxedo pants and white cut-off shirts and bow ties, the crowd goes wild as they know what was to come. I look around to see what the reaction is and see eyes closed, arms flaring, and heads bobbin’ to the great funk-a-delic sounds of Pigeons. Covering songs such as “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band to giving us a brand new song they have been working on, there was never a moment you couldn’t stop dancing and singing along to their songs with such excitement. The song starts to change and I look around as every single face in the crowd lights up and bodies start grooving to one of my all time favorite songs “Melting Lights”. You could just tell from that very moment that these boys knew what to bring to this high energy sold out crowd.
This Baltimore group always delivers the funk and the dance party never stops. As the time trickles down…5, 4, 3, 2, 1….HAPPY NEW YEAR screams come from all over the 8×10 as Pigeons brings in the New Year with a champagne toast to all their friends, family and fans and it couldn’t have been a better moment to bring in the New Year with these 4 amazing and talented guys. From Jeremy Schon’s amazing guitar beats flowing, to Ben’s awesome bass lines, Greg’s soul full lyrics and voice, and Dan skillful bumpin’ on the drums you know for sure that Pigeon’s can truly feed the soul with the funkiest jams and a great live performance on stage that every music fanatic is looking for every time. As it nears the end of Pigeons second set, they surely wanted to leave the crowd with an experience to remember and keep the crowd alive for the next band to end the show.
It’s 3:00am, and the crowd is still alive and grooving. Taking the stage to close out the New Year’s show is ELM. Coming out with full force, they bring the dance funk with soul and a little electronica. I look back to see the drummer, Steve Gorsuch, laying it down with the beats getting that crowd going again with his wild and high energy spilling out to each music lover. With a couple sit-ins and still a full dance floor, ELM jams out the rest of the New Year into the early hours with the beats on the bass by Colin Rappa, piano and synth getting down Jon Brady, and great vocals and guitar rhythms Jon Wood, you couldn’t have been any happier with how these 4 guys concluded one amazing New Year’s experience.
Overall, I couldn’t have had a better New Year’s experience with such great performances and with such a good vibe from all the people and friends I was around and the amazing staff at The 8×10. It is always such a great pleasure to talk with and see the boys from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. They not only come around and talk with everyone but they make you feel like family and I can’t say it enough how great full I am to have seen these guys grow as musicians and become friends with them. A big thank you to Tauk, ELM, and Digital Davy for bringing in the New Year’s with such great performances and to everyone at The 8×10 for making it a great experience.
