“Playground of Sound performs a mix of original songs and blues covers. Pingitore's muscular blues riffs frame the band's sound. Reichert's jagged, raspy vocals add a street-smart, blue-collar feel. Pingitore says he's been sharing songwriting duties with Queram. "Frank is a lyrical genius," he says. "I've never put that much effort into developing my lyrics." "I don't have any particular place I go to write songs," adds Pingitore. "It just happens. We'll be playing and sometimes a song just comes together." For Pingitore, his band members help distinguish the Playground of Sound from other bands in which he's played. "You can spend more time with your band than with your family," he says, "so relationships are important."
— Rich Albertoni, The Isthmus
“When they started up I was immediately impressed, tight covers, amazing guitar from this young man, lightning fingers and those transitional step pedals were put to use – you can see how he loves to play with them to bring you the good sounds. Joel Pingitore looks so young that it makes his music seem more amazing when it comes out. Another Joel, Brantmeier, in this case on drums – very nice. Maybe it was where I was sitting but I could feel the music from his drum set as well as hear it. The tall bass player, Frank Queram is solid, and got to really take off at the end. what ties it all together is Brad Reichert’s bluesy vocals. He can reach right into your heart with that voice and play with your mood. If you are anywhere this band is going to play – stay there till they do cause you don’t want to be passed by by these guys. I really wish I could have seen the whole show, as I only heard a couple of they’re own tunes, the covers they cover are right on...”
— Navarro Stream, Worldwide Hippies
“These talented musicians based out of Madison, WI formed The Playground of Sound in 2008 and have played 100’s of shows in Wisconsin and Nationally. Joel Pingitore play’n lead guitar, a little guy that brings the sound and skills out of that axe like legends that came before him. Bradley Reichert, who was stunned at my psychic ability to know his name (I read it off his shirt…lol) handles the vocals with his soulful and powerful voice. Then you have Joel “The Beatman” Brantmeier pounding them out on drums, as he was tear’n up his kit that night. Frank Queram, their solid bass man,... is quite the funk master.”
— Richee Lee, Saddle Tramp Magazine
“Joel Pingitore isn’t wasting any time. He has been performing with his most recent group, The Playground of Sound, for only six months and they’re already booked and/or played 150+ shows. The band is fresh of a stint of gigs at Bike Week in Daytona Beach. In an e-mail interview Pingitore admitted he wouldn’t mind a show every day.“Naturally,” He also conceded, “it’d be fantastic to be ‘The Next Big Thing.’” With an energetic six month old band that’s already working on an album and playing outside the state, however fantastic the dream, they seem to be aiming for it. On a more realistic, and partially realized note, Pingitore also said “I’d like to see [the band] as a nationally touring act.”In the mainstream, Pingitore is a bit of an anomaly. While there are bluesmen a dime a dozen in their 40’s, most guitar slingers Joel’s age are fret-tapping, metal head shredders.”
— Dan Vierck, Maximum Ink
“The Diggs becomes a PlayGround of Sound Sunday. The Madison-based blues-rock quartet, PlayGround of Sound, features Joel Pingitore on guitar. Made up of vocalist Brad Reichert, bassist Frank Queram and drummer Joel “Beezy” Brantmeier, PlayGround of Sound do a great job of laying down the funky blues rock base leaving plenty of room for lead guitarist extraordinaire Joel Pingitore to blow minds with his incredible guitar playing. A quick listen to the tracks on the band’s myspace page confirms Pingitore’s list of influences – Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Chris Duarte, and Buddy Guy, to name a few. With spot-on covers of his heroes, and original material inspired by the aforementioned guitar gods, it’s no surprise that Pingitore is the new king of the hill on the playground.”
— Dubuque 365
“As soon as he (Pingitore) started playing intricate riffs with the guitar BEHIND him, I started paying closer attention. Then he did a couple of Hendrix songs and I couldn’t get his opening of “Voodoo Child” out of my head. I can’t wait to catch this band again!”
-Gabby Parsons Music Director WMMM-Madison,WI
“Bassist Frank Queram and drummer Joel “Beezy” Brantmeier are a superb rhythm section, meshing like the gears of a finely tuned Chevy 396 engine! The talent of Pingitore could not be overshadowed that foggy Friday evening. Most of the bar patrons were entranced by the sounds that poured from his instrument. He is a natural and master of the guitar.”
-The Americana Gazette
“Pingitore’s spectacular guitar playing is packed with emotional authenticity. His guitar wails, laughs, screams… Pingitore doesn’t have to say anything, his guitar does all the talking”.
-The Kenosha News
“If you like guitar, Pingitore is special…”
-The LaCrosse Tribune