LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong in Boston, MA (10.25.25)
Night two of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s three-night run at the Paradise Rock Club was a sold-out, sweat-drenched celebration of groove, goofiness, and musicianship. The Baltimore-based funk-jam quartet transformed the tiny Boston venue into a full-on dance party, radiating the kind of positive, unpretentious energy that has made them one of the most beloved live acts on the scene today.
From the opening notes of “Hell Yeah”, the crowd was locked in, ready to move. The band’s interplay was tight yet free, weaving in and out of grooves with ease and humor. “Somethin’ for Ya” and “Feed the Fire”kept the funky flames burning, with frontman Greg Ormont bouncing across the stage, his trademark curly mop shaking in rhythm with every guitar lick and vocal ad-lib.
Midway through the first set, the band welcomed a special guest — Tomo Fujita, a Berklee College of Music professor best known as John Mayer’s former guitar teacher. Fujita immediately elevated the show with his fluid, expressive playing during “In the Bubble.” Watching him trade licks with Ormont and Jeremy Schon felt like witnessing a guitar conversation in fluent funk-speak. The chemistry was undeniable, and Fujita fit right in with the Pigeons’ high-energy antics.
The set continued with a deep dive into the fan-favorite “Poseidon,” complete with a playful tease of Hendrix’s “Third Stone from the Sun.” But the biggest moment of the first half came with their buoyant, joy-filled cover of The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” The crowd sang every word, hands in the air, as the band seamlessly segued back into “Su Casa” to close out the set — a masterclass in fun and flow.
Set two kept the momentum rolling. “Dawn a New Day” brought some soulful warmth before giving way to the bouncing rhythms of “Skinner,” featuring opener Chalk Dinosaur sitting in. But it was Fujita’s return that really lit up the room. His guest spots on “Overtime” and a thunderous, tongue-in-cheek rendition of Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla” (complete with the band singing “Tomo Fujita!” in place of the monster’s name) were undeniable highlights. Fujita was everywhere — shredding, grinning, and even playfully dueling with both guitarists as the crowd roared.
After closing the set with “Day in Time,” the Pigeons came back out for one more — a silky, feel-good “Water” encore, once again featuring Fujita, who clearly wasn’t ready to call it a night.
By the end of the show, the floor was a sea of smiles, sweat, and satisfied fans — the essence of a Pigeons Playing Ping Pong concert. Funky, silly, and virtuosic all at once, night two at the Paradise showed a band in peak form, always leaving fans with a positive and truly fun experience.
Photos – Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA on October 25th:
