SWANZEY, N.H. — With a name like Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, a rock 'n' roll band better be a little quirky, and a lot of fun.
And it doesn't hurt if they're also very good. The Pigeons are playing for the second straight year at the Northlands Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Cheshire Fairgrounds, a few miles south of Keene. Based out of Baltimore, Md.
, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has a unique and versatile sound that brings the party to the stage with danceable electro-funk grooves and infectious positive energy. "Funk is the quick pitch," said Pigeons guitarist and vocalist Greg Ormont last week, when asked to describe the band's musical personality. "But ultimately, it's dance music, whether that's got an island vibe or a heavier rock vibe.
It's a lot of funk, a lot of electronica tinges here and there. Most of all, we're going to have you dancing. We're not purely a funk band, but we are certainly high energy and psychedelic.
" Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is scheduled to take the Echo Stage Friday at 6:30 p.m., about 90 minutes before headliner Goose plays the Mountain Stage for two sets.
Jam-grass favorite Greensky Bluegrass headlines Saturday's lineup. Other bands scheduled to perform across three stages during the festival include Eric Krasno & Friends, Spafford, Dopapod, Sierra Hull, Bearly Dead, Jatoba, Hayley Jane and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. Special guests will include Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman, two members of the Tr.