The Ponys (band)
Encyclopedia
The Ponys are an American
indie rock
/garage rock
band from Chicago, Illinois.
Jered Gummere, in early 2001. Gummere was concurrently in the punk
band, Guilty Pleasures, at the time of The Ponys’ formation. He eventually left to devote himself entirely to The Ponys. Gummere recruited members of the band, his first choice being girlfriend Melissa Elias whom he met while she was attending Illinois State University
in his hometown. Together they experimented with indie
/postpunk styles.
The two began to write songs, and were joined by ex-Mushuganas drummer, Nathan Jerde. The Ponys began touring the Chicago club circuit and would then record their first singles on Contaminated and Big Neck records. Concerned their sound was lacking, Gummere asked Ian Adams, a member of Happy Supply to join the band.
After releasing a few more singles, the Ponys signed with In the Red Records
(based in Los Angeles
), due to widespread circulation. The band was set to record their first album, Laced with Romance
, in Detroit with producer Jim Diamond.
and Spin.
The Ponys toured to support their album, with bands like The Unicorns
, The Fall, and The Fiery Furnaces
.
, who had previously worked with artists such as PJ Harvey
, The Pixies, and Nirvana
.
The Ponys began recording in late 2004 and were finished in four days. The album held a much cleaner tone than the first, but still retained the recognizable live sound that they were known for. Later that year, Ian Adams left the band, tired of touring and was replaced by Brian Case of 90 Day Men
. Celebration Castle was released in early 2005 and the band continued touring.
and signed with the New York-based indie label Matador Records
. They recorded their third album, titled Turn The Lights Out, in the fall of 2006. The album was released March 20, 2007.
Guitarist Brian Case currently plays in Disappears
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
/garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band from Chicago, Illinois.
Early days
The Ponys was formed by singer/guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Jered Gummere, in early 2001. Gummere was concurrently in the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band, Guilty Pleasures, at the time of The Ponys’ formation. He eventually left to devote himself entirely to The Ponys. Gummere recruited members of the band, his first choice being girlfriend Melissa Elias whom he met while she was attending Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in his hometown. Together they experimented with indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
/postpunk styles.
The two began to write songs, and were joined by ex-Mushuganas drummer, Nathan Jerde. The Ponys began touring the Chicago club circuit and would then record their first singles on Contaminated and Big Neck records. Concerned their sound was lacking, Gummere asked Ian Adams, a member of Happy Supply to join the band.
After releasing a few more singles, the Ponys signed with In the Red Records
In the Red Records
In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
(based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
), due to widespread circulation. The band was set to record their first album, Laced with Romance
Laced with Romance
Laced with Romance is the debut album from American indie/garage rock band, The Ponys.-Track listing:#"Lets Kill Ourselves" - 3:33#"10 Fingers 11 Toes" - 3:34#"Sad Eyes" - 4:00#"Little Friends" - 3:28 #"Fall Inn" - 3:35...
, in Detroit with producer Jim Diamond.
Laced with Romance
Their initial release, Laced With Romance, met with moderate critical success http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/p/ponys-laced.shtml http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21111/Ponys_Laced_with_Romance. The album reached media from local indie-zines such as Horizontal Action, to mainstream-America music publications like Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and Spin.
The Ponys toured to support their album, with bands like The Unicorns
The Unicorns
The Unicorns were a Lo-Fi/Indie Pop band from Montreal, Canada formed in December 2000 by Nicholas Thorburn and Alden Penner , who were later joined by Jamie Thompson in December 2003.-History:...
, The Fall, and The Fiery Furnaces
The Fiery Furnaces
The Fiery Furnaces are a U.S. indie rock band formed in 2000 in Brooklyn, New York. The band's primary members are Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger. The siblings are originally from Oak Park, Illinois, a near-western suburb of Chicago.- Band biography :...
.
Celebration Castle
Despite some members wanting to leave due mostly to exhaustion, The Ponys continued and began to record their second album. Wanting to record locally they met with Chicago-based producer Steve AlbiniSteve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, who had previously worked with artists such as PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
, The Pixies, and Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
.
90 Day Men
90 Day Men is a progressive rock band formed in 1995 in St. Louis, Missouri and later based out of Chicago, Illinois. Their name is a slang term used by corrections officers to refer to prison inmates who are slated to undergo psychiatric examination.-History:...
. Celebration Castle was released in early 2005 and the band continued touring.
Turn the Lights Out
Since recording Celebration Castle, the Ponys have left In the Red RecordsIn the Red Records
In the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label....
and signed with the New York-based indie label Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
. They recorded their third album, titled Turn The Lights Out, in the fall of 2006. The album was released March 20, 2007.
Guitarist Brian Case currently plays in Disappears
Disappears
Disappears is a rock band from Chicago formed in 2008. The band plays a mixture of shoegaze, krautrock and garage rock.The band was formed by Brian Case and Graeme Gibson and fleshed out with guitarist Jonathan Van Herik and bassist Damon Carruesco. They played Pitchfork Music Festival in 2009.In...
.
Studio albums
- Laced with RomanceLaced with RomanceLaced with Romance is the debut album from American indie/garage rock band, The Ponys.-Track listing:#"Lets Kill Ourselves" - 3:33#"10 Fingers 11 Toes" - 3:34#"Sad Eyes" - 4:00#"Little Friends" - 3:28 #"Fall Inn" - 3:35...
17 February 2004 In the Red RecordsIn the Red RecordsIn the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... - Celebration CastleCelebration CastleCelebration Castle is the second album by American indie/garage rock band, The Ponys. The band began recording in late 2004 and were finished in four days...
3 May 2005 In the Red RecordsIn the Red RecordsIn the Red Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, CA formed in 1991 by Larry Hardy. It is known for hosting garage punk related bands on its label.... - Turn the Lights OutTurn the Lights OutTurn the Lights Out is the third album from American indie/garage rock band, The Ponys. It was released on the 20th March 2007. It was the first album from the band to be released on Matador Records, having being previously signed to In the Red Records....
20 March 2007 Matador RecordsMatador RecordsMatador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
Other
- Wicked City (2002, Contaminated Records, 7")
- Pop Culture (2004, Maybe Chicago?, Criminal IQ Records, CD)
- Another Wound (2005, Sweet Nothing, EP)
- Deathbed +4 (2010, Matador Records, EP)
TV appearances
- Beautiful NoiseBeautiful Noise (TV series)Beautiful Noise is an HD television music profile and performance series produced in Canada by Original Spin Media. The series premiered on Rave HD in the United States in the summer of 2006. The programs debuted in Canada on Sun TV in January 2008 and CBC Bold in March of 2009. The series is...
- Entourage, Season 4, Episode: Dream TeamEntourage (TV series)Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
Current members
- Jered Gummere - guitar, vocals
- Melissa Elias - bass, vocals
- Brian Case - guitar
- Nathan Jerde - percussion