Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on December 22, 2025
PPPP 12/19/25. Photo: Andrew Blackstein
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong returned to the hallowed halls of The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY this past weekend for a joyous two-night stand dubbed the “The Festival of Melting Lights.” Timed with the closing weekend of Hanukkah and playfully nodding to the band’s fan-favorite track “Melting Lights,” the December 19 and 20 performances delivered boundary-pushing jams, catalog rarities, and unforgettable collaborations for bustling and spirited crowds at one of rock and roll’s most storied venues.
Night one unfolded as a wide-ranging, high-energy journey through the band’s catalog, blending dance-floor funk with exploratory jams and rare gems. The first set featured a spirited run through “The Town,” “Henrietta,” and “Twitch,” while longtime favorites “You Sexy Thing,” a crowd-pleasing Hot Chocolate cover, and “My Girl,” the beloved Temptations classic, made welcome returns for the first time in more than four years. The band then stretched out “Wireless” and dug deep into “Beneath The Surface.”
The excitement intensified as members of Spafford joined the band on stage, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the weekend. Keyboardist Cory Schechtman added lush textures to “Beneath The Surface,” while guitarist Brian Moss seamlessly added fretboard firepower to “Lightning.” The night closed with an edgy encore of “Miyagi.”
Saturday night elevated the celebration even further, as Great Blue opened the show and longtime friend Peter Anspach (Goose/Great Blue) joined Pigeons Playing Ping Pong for extended and memorable sit-ins. Anspach’s appearance marked another chapter in a career-long mutual admiration society between the artists, who have crossed paths on stage for years. After contributing keys on “Show Me” and “Sunny Day,” Anspach took command of the guitar on “Poseidon,” adding melodic depth and fresh energy that drew some of the loudest reactions of the weekend.
The Hanukkah spirit reached full bloom during the encore when “Scrambled Greg” Ormont delivered his parody debut of “The Jamtronica Song,” a jam-band reimagining of Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song,” performed solo on acoustic guitar. The tune, already a viral hit on social media, flowed into “Hava Nagila” and an electrifying “Water,” to finish the weekend.
Further leaning into unofficial Hanukkah traditions, the band is set to announce a “Wonton Watch Party” on their YouTube channel on Christmas Day. Starting at Noon ET, both shows from The Capitol Theatre will be rebroadcast back-to-back here. In the meantime, fans can watch two full songs from the weekend now: “The Jamtronica Song” and “Show Me” featuring Peter Anspach on keys.
The Capitol Theatre run capped a banner year for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, highlighted by a triumphant fall tour and the release of their acclaimed eighth studio album, Feed The Fire. Released in October via No Coincidence Records, the album was praised for its expansive blend of funk, rock, psychedelia, and improvisational spirit, capturing nearly two decades of evolution while fueling some of the band’s most dynamic live performances to date.
LISTEN TO FEED THE FIRE
PURCHASE FEED THE FIRE VINYL & CD
Before turning the page to the new year, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will close out 2025 with a festive New Year’s Eve run at Denver’s Ogden Theatre, joined by Magic Beans for two nights of high-octane celebration to ring in 2026. The band just announced the costume theme “Gaper’s Gala NYE,” encouraging fans to dress in their loudest outfits. The theme nods to “Gaper Day,” a Rocky Mountain ski-slope tradition born from lovingly roasting tourists aka “gapers”, where bright colors reign, throwback fits are mandatory, and fashion crimes are not only forgiven, they’re celebrated.
Momentum continues into 2026 as Pigeons Playing Ping Pong embark on an ambitious new leg of their Feed The Fire Tour, beginning with a long-awaited Baltimore homecoming at Baltimore Soundstage before rolling through the East Coast and Midwest. The run includes performances with Karina Rykman, Night Zero, and Drunken Doja Monkey, as well as a trio of Florida dates co-headlining with longtime friends Lotus. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit the band’s official website.
PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG 2025-26 TOUR DATES
2025
12/30 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre +
12/31 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre +
2026
1/23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage ?
1/24 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage ~
2/6 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre **
2/7 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre >
2/26 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground {
2/27 – Portland, ME – State Theatre **
2/28 – Albany, NY – Empire Live ]
3/4 – Savannah, GA – Victory North ()
3/5 – Jacksonville, FL – Intuition Ale Works ()
3/6 – Sanford, FL – Tuffy’s (Outdoor Stage) #
3/7 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live #
3/8 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room #
3/10 – Birmingham, AL – Workplay <
3/11 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East **
3/12 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue **
3/13 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall **
3/14 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone **
5/7-5/9 – San Jose del Cabo, MX – Viva El Gonzo
8/6-8/8 – New River Gorge, WV – Domefest
# Co-Headline w/ Lotus
+ w/ Magic Beans
? w/ Houseplant
~ w/ Uncle Kunkel’s One Gram Band
** w/ Karina Rykman
> w/ Big Blitz
{ w/ Night Zero
] w/ Drunken Doja Monkey
() w/ Ajeva
< w/ TBA
