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Ponytail (band)
Encyclopedia
Ponytail was a 4-piece art rock
band formed in Baltimore
, Maryland
, USA, on the label We Are Free
. Their sound has been compared to Deerhoof
as well as Ecstatic Sunshine, since Dustin Wong was a founder of that band, and due to the band's experimental guitar work and unique vocal stylings. The band has toured internationally, with bands such as Battles, Hella
, Don Caballero
, High Places
and others. They have released three albums, Kamehameha, Ice Cream Spiritual
, and Do Whatever You Want All The Time. They were named "Best Live Band" by Baltimore City Paper in September 2007 and "Best Band" in September 2008
Kamehameha was released in vinyl on Friday, April 17, 2009, on Portland, Oregon-based label Gaarden Records.
In mid-June 2008, Ponytail released their second full-length, Ice Cream Spiritual
to positive reviews. The band has been praised for their energetic, 'sugar
-rush type' performances by BBC
as well as Pitchfork Media
.. Wong left Ecstatic Sunshine in 2009 to fully focus on Ponytail. The band toured internationally throughout Europe
, USA, Australia
, and New Zealand
in promotion of their latest record. The band was also chosen by Matt Groening
to perform at the edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties
festival which he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England.
Ponytail went on hiatus in August 2010. Wong published a solo-album Infinite Love in October 2010. A 40-minute piece cut into 15 tracks and then re-done on a 2nd CD. This instrumental release appeared on Thrill Jockey
. The cover art that was designed by Yamantaka Eye
of the Japanese rock band Boredoms. Afterwards Wong went on tour in the US and Europe.
Although Dustin Wong had announced that Whartscape 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland would be their last show, a new album was announced. The band released their third full-length album, titled Do Whatever You Want All The Time, in April 2011. The band officially broke up on September 22, 2011.
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
band formed in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, USA, on the label We Are Free
WE ARE FREE
WE ARE FREE is the alternative rock music project founded by music producer and instrumentalist Dino Sofos and features various vocalists on songs interspersed with instrumental tracks...
. Their sound has been compared to Deerhoof
Deerhoof
Deerhoof is a musical group consisting of Satomi Matsuzaki, John Dieterich, Ed Rodriguez and Greg Saunier.-Origins:In 1992, Greg Saunier, having recently graduated with a degree in music composition from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, joined a short-lived San Francisco quartet called Nitre Pit, on...
as well as Ecstatic Sunshine, since Dustin Wong was a founder of that band, and due to the band's experimental guitar work and unique vocal stylings. The band has toured internationally, with bands such as Battles, Hella
Hella (band)
Hella is an American band from Sacramento, California. They play a technical blend of math rock, noise rock, and experimental rock. The primary members of the band are Spencer Seim on electric guitar and Zach Hill on drums...
, Don Caballero
Don Caballero
Don Caballero are an American rock group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group took their name from the character Guy Caballero, portrayed by Joe Flaherty, on the sketch comedy show Second City Television...
, High Places
High Places
High Places is a band originating from Brooklyn, NY, recently relocated to Los Angeles, CA. The band is a duo comprising multi-instrumentalist Rob Barber and vocalist Mary Pearson.-History:...
and others. They have released three albums, Kamehameha, Ice Cream Spiritual
Ice Cream Spiritual
Ice Cream Spiritual is the second full-length studio album by Ponytail. The album, which was released June 17, 2008 has been both praised and criticized for the vocal styles of leader singer Molly Siegel, as she doesn't use conventional lyrics. The guitar work has drawn comparisons to math rock...
, and Do Whatever You Want All The Time. They were named "Best Live Band" by Baltimore City Paper in September 2007 and "Best Band" in September 2008
History
In January 2005, the band came together originally as a 5-piece, incorporating Wong, Hyman, Seeno, Siegel and Petruzzo. Wong also started the guitar duo Ecstatic Sunshine around the same time with guitar player Matt Papich. With 'pop music' as an intended destination, Ponytail began practicing together, with Petruzzo leaving in December 2006. Since this time, the band has played without a keyboardist, thus emphasizing guitar work, leading to generally positive reviews. In November 2006, the band released their debut album Kamehameha on the record label Creative Capitalism.Kamehameha was released in vinyl on Friday, April 17, 2009, on Portland, Oregon-based label Gaarden Records.
Ice Cream Spiritual
Ice Cream Spiritual is the second full-length studio album by Ponytail. The album, which was released June 17, 2008 has been both praised and criticized for the vocal styles of leader singer Molly Siegel, as she doesn't use conventional lyrics. The guitar work has drawn comparisons to math rock...
to positive reviews. The band has been praised for their energetic, 'sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
-rush type' performances by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as well as Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
.. Wong left Ecstatic Sunshine in 2009 to fully focus on Ponytail. The band toured internationally throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, USA, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in promotion of their latest record. The band was also chosen by Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, screenwriter, and producer. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell as well as two successful television series, The Simpsons and Futurama....
to perform at the edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
festival which he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England.
Ponytail went on hiatus in August 2010. Wong published a solo-album Infinite Love in October 2010. A 40-minute piece cut into 15 tracks and then re-done on a 2nd CD. This instrumental release appeared on Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey
Thrill Jockey Records is an American independent record label established in 1992 in New York City by former Atlantic Records A&R representative Bettina Richards.-History:...
. The cover art that was designed by Yamantaka Eye
Yamantaka Eye
, real name , born February 13, 1964 in Kobe, is a Japanese vocalist and visual artist, best known as a member of Boredoms. He has changed his name three times, from Yamatsuka Eye, to Yamantaka Eye, to Yamataka Eye, and sometimes calls himself eYe or EYヨ...
of the Japanese rock band Boredoms. Afterwards Wong went on tour in the US and Europe.
Although Dustin Wong had announced that Whartscape 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland would be their last show, a new album was announced. The band released their third full-length album, titled Do Whatever You Want All The Time, in April 2011. The band officially broke up on September 22, 2011.
Albums
- Kamehameha (We Are Free, November 22, 2006)
- Ice Cream SpiritualIce Cream SpiritualIce Cream Spiritual is the second full-length studio album by Ponytail. The album, which was released June 17, 2008 has been both praised and criticized for the vocal styles of leader singer Molly Siegel, as she doesn't use conventional lyrics. The guitar work has drawn comparisons to math rock...
(We Are Free, June 17, 2008) - Do Whatever You Want All The Time (We Are Free, April 12, 2011)
Singles
- Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came from An Angel) (We Are Free. April 29, 2008)
Albums
- New Kind of Imagination, 2004
- Freckle Wars, 2006, Carpark Records
- Way, May 14, 2008, Cardboard Records, Grayson Currin
- Yesterday's Work, Hoss Records
Dustin Wong
- Seasons, LP
- Let it Go, cassette, WTRCL
- Infinite Love (Thrill Jockey, Oct 2010)
External links
- Ponytail Homepage
- [ Allmusic Biography]
- Cool Hunting Video on Ponytail