Electronic, funk to take over 123

Was FallFest too big for your taste? Perhaps you’re craving a more intimate musical setting featuring unique artists?

Tonight’s 123 Pleasant Street lineup may be just what you need to satiate your sonic desires.

Morgantown’s most popular local music destination will be playing host to two genre-bending acts, Zoogma and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

Zoogma is a four-piece electronic rock band hailing from the American south. The group is making the stop at 123 as part of their east coast-based tour.

"Zoogma delivered sets at Wakarusa and Electric Forest that have been the talk of the electronic festival community," said Adam Payne, event promoter. "This summer pushed them to the next level of artists in their genre, and their new release ‘Wet Hot American Mixtape’ is recieving rave reviews."

To be fair, "electronic rock" is way too broad a term to describe the band’s diverse sound palette. This is a band that jams, improvises and incorporates elements of hip-hop and constant dance beats.

This is not just another Macbook-wannabe disc jockey outfit, if you couldn’t tell by the group’s Facebook fanbase, which totals more than 15,000.

These guys make mature electronic music with a distinct sense of melody throughout, utilizing not only live drums and guitars but also synthesizers and live sequencing.

The boys of Zoogma bring to the table a refreshing songwriting-based approach to their tunes rather than simply the "hook-and-drop" method of so many other popular acts today.

The group manages to do this and still maintain a distinct calm and atmospheric feel to its tunes. This style culminates in an almost unheard – but definitely present – chilled-out Pink Floyd vibe.

When all that is combined with a mind-bending experience of a light and stage show, concertgoers are in for a treat.

Also taking the stage Wednesday night is a four-piece band from Baltimore, MD.

The hilariously-titled Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are a righteous funk band, blending together psychedelic, relaxed soundscapes with moments of bombastic, pompous groove that even dabbles with elements of jazz.

With their fast-paced, groove-steady drumming, prominent bouncing bass lines and serene guitar work, people who are not so knowledgeable about funk may be reminded of a less-mainstream version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Attendees can expect a live show featuring original tracks, covers, instrumentals and heavy improvisation jamming.

Fans of the band, aptly titled "The Flock," know they can also expect to be floored by superior musicianship.

You will jam, you will dance and you will definitely chill; a point exemplified by a previous trip to 123 by the band.

"Pigeons Playing Ping Pong really took a sold out Fletcher’s Grove crowd at 123 Pleasant Street by surprise last semester," Payne said. "This band has established a solid foundation in Morgantown, and that has earned them a return headline spot on Sept. 20 as well."

If there was a single word to sum up the band’s music it would simply be fun. The group has recently been gaining momentum in the music world, recently landing several high profile festival spots.

Go and see these pigeons before they leave the local-circuit barn for good.

Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased online at 123pleasantstreet.com or at the door, depending on availability. There will be $2 rail drinks available from the bar.

Concert goers must be 18 to attend the show and 21 to drink.