Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Ring in New Year with Magic Beans in Denver

After turning in time at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., Dec. 19-20, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong arrived at Denver’s Ogden Theatre for their final performances of the year. The stagings commenced on Tuesday, Dec. 30, wrapping after the clock struck midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 31. During the two-night event, the Baltimore band brought out guests, introduced new material, and dusted off old, and culminated the run to close after a collaborative effort with the Magic Beans dubbed Magic Pigeons. 

The pre-NYE festivities led with “Hell Yeah,” which bumped into “Julia.” The latter brought out the event’s initial guest, Magic Beans drummer/percussionist, Will Trask, who remained on stage during “Beanstalk,” the night’s return to “Julia,” and ensuing songs: “Right Track” and “High Wire.” The previously mentioned tune also welcomed the arrival of Casey Russel on keys–another member of the Magic Beans clan. 

Turning the second half of the concert, PPPP brought Trask back for the onset of the frame, “Mine” and “Avalanche.” Similarly, Russel also returned, adding to “Fade Fast,” before the headliners dominated a sequence that included “Melting Lights” into “King Kong.” During the night’s encore, Alex “Gator” Petropulos sang Joe Walsh’s state-naming song, “Rocky Mountain Way.”

Night two, which represented the band’s official New Year’s Eve appearance, was marked by a pair of bust-outs during set one: The first cover of The Surfaris’ “Wipe Out” since Dec. 13, 2018, followed by a return to Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” later in the frame, and dusted off for the first-time since July 27, 2024. 

Their follow-up was marked by the midnight arrival of “Auld Lang Syne,” and flowed into a segment of back and forth with members of Pigeons and Magic Beans represented and delivering covers, including debuts of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You,” Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues,” Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle,” as well as a bust out of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.”

The encore presented elongated takes on “Horizon” and “Dawn a New Day,” to cap the holiday experience. Following their time in Colorado, PPPP will take time away from the stage, resuming their live schedule on Jan. 23 at the Baltimore Soundstage. Tickets are on sale now.