Talk about having a tough choice to make for a show to highlight! This past month I took in performances by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Jake Shimbakuro, Dawes, the Everyone Orchestra performing a Grateful Dead tribute and the local series Women and…Led Zepplin.
Being blown away by performances at either end of the calendar, I’m highlighting Pigeons Playing Ping Pong on the 5th and the Everyone Orchestra on the 28th, both at the Charleston Pourhouse. Neither are household names but both are extraordinary performers. Pigeons (4P) are from Baltimore, Maryland and have been together for a decade, gaining an ever-larger audience as they constantly tour and move up the lineup at summer festivals. Their music is funk and rock with such an infectious beat and high energy level it makes you dance! They gave the audience two and one-half hours of originals mixed with a few covers- and leave you exhausted but happy. Vocal duties are aptly handled by Greg Durmont and they have an amazing young guitarist, Jeremy Schon. Along with Alex P on drums and Ben Carrey on bass, this quartet is fun to listen to and dance with! Check out their latest album, “Pizazz,” or previous releases, “Pleasure, Psychology and the Funk EP.” All were self-released, including the live album, “The Great Outdoors.” If you hear that they are playing in your town, I would get a ticket before they sell out as they have here in Charleston twice in the last seven months.
The other show that moved the needle for me and many of my friends in attendance was the Everyone Orchestra. The title is given to an ever-changing lineup of musicians selected from the jam band and funk world and is led by conductor Matt Butler. This is the kind of show that falls under the radar as the name of the band escapes most concertgoers. I have seen this tour in Charleston twice in the last two years and only the conductor/MC remains a constant. Even if they come to your town next week, chances are the lineup will be somewhat different than it was the week before. Musicians come and go, but the spirit of improvisational rock remains the main thread of any performance. On this visit to Charleston, they decided to give us an evening of Grateful Dead classics on the opening night, hence the name Everyone Dead. Led by John Kadlicek, former lead guitarist and vocalist from Furthur, they perform energetic versions of the Dead’s music. Along for the ride, this night was Aron Magner, keyboardist of the Disco Biscuits, Jeremy Schon of the 4P (above), George Kekas, bassist of the Revivalists, Jeff Mosier, electric banjo from the Aquarium Rescue Unit and Matt Butler on the drums.
When you’ve heard one GD cover band, you want to hear the others, too! For me, the first set highlights were renditions of They Love Each Other, Althea, Bertha, New Minglewood Blues and the set closer Dear Mr. Fantasy>I Know You Rider. During their second high energy set, they gave us Deal, Black Muddy River, Friend of the Devil, Me and my Uncle, He’s Gone and Brown-eyed Women. Rather than an encore, after band introductions, they closed with Franklin’s Tower. If you’re not a Deadhead, the song list won’t matter much. Great performances of favorite tunes have always proved to be the difference between a good and great show. On this Thursday night in an intimate setting, we were treated to a great performance. I highly recommend taking in this troupe if they come to your own in the future. You just might become a fan!
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Do You Believe in Magic 