Those of you from Philadelphia probably are quite familiar with the popular annual fall festival hosted by the Disco Biscuits at The Mann Center of performing arts. For those of you who don’t know, City Bisco was held this year on September 27th and 28th in the beautiful setting of Fairmont Park and featured a ridiculous line-up of electronic, jam and hip-hop.
Friday night featured performances from Kill Paris, Treasure Fingers, Big Boi, Method Man and Redman, and of course The Disco Biscuits, on the Main Stage. Playing on the Skyline Stage, was Suspense, Horizon Wireless, Risky Disco and Twiddle all playing against the magnificent Philadelphia skyline just as the stage name claims. On Saturday Kilowatts, Gigamesh, Emancipator and Shpongle opened up for the headlining Disco Biscuits on the Main Stage. Meanwhile, Cosmic Dust Bunnies, Space Jesus, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Pimps of Joytime and Lee Foss ramped up the crowds at the Skyline Stage.
Although the overall festival was quite an experience from the painfully long security lines which offered comedic relief to the unique festival crowd of Biscuit heads; there was one set in particular that made The Music Vibes night. Opening up with a set from 4:50-5:35pm Pigeons Playing Ping Pong took the stage bringing a flock of dancers with them. The band that nests a dedicated fan base of over 7,000 (known as “the flock”) really set the stage for the festival, riling up the crowd with their electro-funk jam tunes. The energy of the band and the crowd during this set was electrifying; the music got arms flapping in the air in some groovy dance moves, swirling, twirling and even aerial flips (without breaching the ground level).
The pigeons are known for their vigorous tour schedule often playing far more than 40 cities and over 150 shows in one year! Just on their fall tour alone they hit 14 states in 26 shows, including their set at City Bisco. The Pigeons currently have their second studio album in the works and the band says, “it’s sounding funktastic! Juggling extensive touring and studio time takes some finesse, but we’re getting it done and cannot wait to get this one pressed and distributed to our friends and fans!!”
The Music Vibes had a chance to catch up with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong after their performance at City Bisco and ask them about their experience playing at the festival:
The band said, “City Bisco was killer!! Playing to a raging crowd while overlooking the Philadelphia skyline is a memory we won’t soon forget. The energy was thumping for our set, and all the other bands killed it on Saturday night. The Disco Biscuits, Shpongle, Pimps of Joytime… everyone crushed! Just a great event thrown by great people… Can’t wait to open for Conspirator this November at the 9:30 Club in D.C. on Fri Nov 15 and at Union Transfer in Philly on Sat Nov 16 w/ Greenhouse Lounge!!”
If you haven’t seen Pigeons Playing Ping Pong live yet, it is a vital experience for funk fans, jam and groove alike! Be sure to catch them at one of their performances on their fall tour! Get your dance shows ready and prepare for take-off on the musical flight of your life!
The Pigeons City Bisco Saturday Setlist {All Originals}:
Fade Fast
Offshoot
Horizon
Time to Ride
Julia
Review and Photography by Rebecca Wolfe
Check out The Music Vibes Preview The Flock Gets Read to FUNK Things Up at City Bisco
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