(photo taken from Static Silence‘s Flickr feed)

If you’re amongst those who missed the very-much-BACK-IN-ACTION PONYS on their recent run of dates with Disappears and Woven Bones, there’s a few more opportunities hear material old and new, just confirmed below.

Fri 8/20 – Magic Stick, Detroit, MI (Fucking Awesome Fest)
Thu 9.30 – Exit Inn, Nashville, TN (Next Big Nashville)
Fri 10/1 – Off Broadway, St. Louis, MO
Fri 11/5 – Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL (with The Hollows)

“Check The Door” (160k mp3)

“Deathbed + 4″ 12″ and digital EP available from The Matador Store

Maybe you just thought The Ponys were returning to the club circuit to rehash old glories and use some old drink tickets. If so, you were WRONG WRONG WRONG. Coming on April 20 (digital) and May 25 (12″ vinyl) is the first new Ponys’ release since 2007′s ‘Turn The Lights Out’, the menacingly awesome ‘Deathbed + 4′ EP. Here’s a sneak preview in the form of “Check The Door” .

“Check The Door” (160k mp3)

upcoming dates :

April
Saturday 27 Seattle, WA The Tractor Tavern w/Disappears
Wednesday 28 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge w/Disappears, Meth Teeth
Friday 30San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill w/Disappears, Spencey Dude and the Doodles

May
Saturday 01 Silver Lake, CA Spaceland w/Disappears, Static Static
Sunday 02 San Diego, CA Casbah w/Disappears, Christmas Island
Friday 28 Austin, TX Mohawk (Chaos In Tejas fest, with A-Frames, Jeff The Brotherhood, Woven Bones)

June
Friday 18 New York, NY Mercury Lounge w/ Disappears, Woven Bones
Saturday 19 Brooklyn, NY Union Pool w/ Disappears, Woven Bones

New Yorkers, your chance to to catch The Ponys comes in June. In addition to the previously announced dates, the band will perform at the Mercury Lounge on Friday June 18  and Union Pool on Saturday June 19 with Disappears and Woven Bones. All dates below:

April
Saturday 27        Seattle, WA       The Tractor Tavern w/Disappears
Wednesday 28    Portland, OR   Doug Fir Lounge w/Disappears, Meth Teeth
Friday 30San     Francisco, CA    Bottom of the Hill w/Disappears, Spencey Dude and the Doodles

May
Saturday 01    Silver Lake, CA       Spaceland w/Disappears, Static Static
Sunday 02    San Diego, CA          Casbah w/Disappears, Christmas Island
Friday 28    Austin, TX                  Mohawk w/Chaos In Tejas

June

Friday 18  New York, NY        Mercury Lounge w/ Disappears, Woven Bones
Saturday 19 Brooklyn, NY      Union Pool w/ Disappears, Woven Bones

photo montage lifted from canderson‘s flickr

(yes…it’s a old photo.  new ones, soon!)

After a handful of don’t-call-it-a-comeback shows around the midwest last Autumn, The Ponys will be hitting the road for the first time in well, far too long, starting next week. We’ll have some news about a forthcoming commercial-available-recorded-product of some sort or another very soon (unless you read about it elsewhere. We’re not the only credible source in the world!)

Fri Feb 05, 2010 Grinnell, IA Gardner Lounge – Grinnell College with Rank Strangers
Sat Feb 06, 2010 St. Paul, MN Turf Club with France Has the Bomb, Bonbay Sweets, Chambermaids
Tue Apr 27, 2010 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern with Disappears
Wed Apr 28, 2010 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge with Disappears, Meth Teeth
Fri Apr 30, 2010 San Francisco, CA Bottom of The Hill with Disappears, Spencey Dude and the Doodles
Sat May 01, 2010 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland with Disappears, Static Static
Sun May 02, 2010 San Diego, CA Casbah with Disappears, Christmas Island
Fri May 28, 2010 Austin, TX Mohawk (Chaos In Tejas)

Hey, look who’s back! New shows, new songs, etc.   If you’re going to the Chicago show, I’ve already got dibs on the Rod Blagovecvich wig.

10/29 – Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI, with Sticks & Stones and Terrible Twos
10/31 – Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL with France Has The Bomb and A/V Murder
11/13 – Magic Stick, Detroit, MI, with The Paybacks, Juiceboxxx, Kommie Kilpatrick

(Brian and Nathan, photo by Joel Didriksen for kingpinphoto)
As heard at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club last Tuesday, The Ponys-in-concert-specialness, courtesy of NPR’s All Songs Considered. 

With the Ponys starting a nationwide tour in support of Spoon, we’ve spared no expense equipping front dude Jered Gummere with a live camera that will be webcasting his comings and goings….24/7? Whenever he’s clothed?

(photograph by Colin Smith)

Though staff and management of Matador Records and Filmworks all agree that stealing music is wrong, we have no moral quandry about lifting the following information from The Ponys’ myspace bulletin. Much like Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Fitchburg, MA, it had to be done.

Chicago people- Going away party/show at the Hideout TONIGHT. Ponys, Rabid Rabbit, dj’s…dancing..fun. Saturday the 6th 10PM, be there!
Or if you’re feeling fancy and you love SPOON, there are still tickets available for the Riviera Theatre 10/12.
There are still some tickets available for most of these shows, but buy them now because they are going fast!

WIth SPOON*
Oct 8 Pabst Theatre Milwaukee, Wisconsin*
Oct 10 First Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota*
Oct 11 First Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota*
Oct 12 Riviera Theatre Chicago, Illinois*
Oct 13 Majestic Theatre Detroit, Michigan*
Oct 14 Soundlab Buffalo, New York*
Oct 15 Kool Haus Toronto, Ontario*
Oct 16 Le National Montreal, Quebec*
Oct 17 The Roxy Boston, Massachusetts*
Oct 18 The Livingroom Providence, Rhode Island
Oct 19 Electric Factory Philidephia, Pennsylvania*
Oct 20 Roseland Ballroom New York, New York*
Oct 22 SUNY Private Event Purchase, New York
Oct 23 9:30 Club Washington DC*
Oct 24 Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina*
Oct 25 Atlanta-TBA
Oct 26 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tennessee*

The Ponys have been rocking it worldwide since the release of their excellent "Turn Out The Lights" last March and they are taking some well deserved time off before they hit the road again this fall with Spoon, well at least some of them are.  Jered is hitting the West coast as a member of White Savage.  Don't miss it.

From The Ponys myspace bulletin:

Hey my other band White Savage will be on the west coast next week. Come visit me. Jered

Aug 14 2007    Bunkhouse Saloon w/ Static Static    Las Vegas

Aug 15 2007    Spaceland W/Static Static Los Angeles

Aug 16 2007    Tribal Cafe W/ Static Static    Los Angeles

Aug 17 2007    Bottom of the Hill W/ The Go, Bellavista, Thee Makeout Party    San Francisco

Aug 18 2007    The Hemlock Tavern W/ The Terrible Twos    San Francisco

Aug 20 2007    Slabtown w/ Bouquet, The Limbs    Portland

Aug 21 2007    Comet Tavern W/ Intelligence, Pyramids    Seattle

Check out White Savage this past Spring at SXSW

White Savage on myspace:  www.myspace.com/destroyyrstyle 

As killer as last Saturday night's Bowery Ballroom Ponys / Jay Reatard show was, it is pretty hard to compete with a bowling alley where the bands play right in the middle of the lanes. With that in mind I had no problem getting in the van for the trip to senic Asbury Park New Jersey.  I picked up Paul Sommerstein, ESQ and we raced, Corzine style, down the Garden State Parkway to the up and coming neighborhood of Asbury Park.  Once there we didn't waste too much time getting down to business on the lanes.

The first game was just me and Jered and we both we're having trouble getting into the zone.  Jered has a great style: launching the ball into the air at first with lots of spin on it producing a killer hook, but he just couldn't get it down and many a ball ended up in the gutter in the first game.  If he had it down I'd of been done for, but my basic style prevailed.  The second game brought Paul and Meslissa into the action and upped the stakes when Paul produced two awesome (and huge) home made buttons.  Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, winner gets to choose their pin. Jered clearly had me beat until the 10th frame when I channelled my love of Aerosmith into two consecutive strikes. Woo-hoo!

In our defense the Asbury Lanes, although totally cool, isn't really conducive to competitive bowling, but it sure was a good time.  And speaking of a good time, althogh these remaining Ponys / Jay Reatard shows are not happening in bowling alleys you should by all means try to attend.

23 Jul 2007  Washington DC,  Black Cat
24 Jul 2007 Columbus, OH  Skully's
25 Jul 2007 Newport, Kentucky, Southgate House

August 11- Chicago, IL @ West Fest
September 8 – Madison, WI @ University of Wisconsin

October
10-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
12-Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
13-Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
15-Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
16-Montreal, QC @ LeNational
17-Boston, MA @ The Roxy
19-Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
20-NY, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
24-Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
26-Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom

All of the October dates are supporting Spoon.

Jered and Melissa at Pitchfork, July 15, pic swiped from Kirstiecat's Flikr page

20 Jul 2007 Cambridge, MA, Middle East (upstairs)
21 Jul 2007 New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
22 Jul 2007 Asbury Park, New Jersey, Ashbury Lanes
23 Jul 2007  Washington DC,  Black Cat
24 Jul 2007 Columbus, OH  Skully's
25 Jul 2007 Newport, Kentucky, Southgate House

(Melissa and Jered, Doornroosje, May 25, photos taken from dennisthemper's flickr page)

June

20 – Metro, Chicago, IL (with Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Eff Cancer Benefit)

July

06-Winnipeg, Manitoba – Winnipeg Folk Festival
15-Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Festival
17-Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
18-Toronto, ON – Lee's Palace *
19-Montreal, QC- Club Lambi *
20-Cambridge, MA – Middle East (upstairs) **
21-New York, MY – Bowery Ballroom **
22-Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes**
23-Washington DC – Black Cat **
24-Columbus, OH – Skully's **
25-Newport, KY – The Southgate House**

*with Deerhunter/Jay Reatard
**Jay Reatard

(photo by Tom Rippe, used without permission)

Asked if we support college and non-commercial radio here at Matador, we would have to reply "yes". And, of course, if that means plying college MDs with free goods, tickets and expensive gifts to pump up chart positions, we'd emphatically reply "hell yes!!"

Well, The Ponys are about to put a little more rock action in their support. The Free Yr Radio campaign is putting together a series of in-stores to help in the support of the local college radio stations across the US and next Tuesday April 24th the band are going to be rocking Urban Outfitters (where else?) in Lawrence, KS in support of the very fine radio station KJHK.

THE PONYS LIVE IN-STORE

Urban Outfitters

1013 Massachusetts Street Lawrence, KS 66044

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The show begins at 6pm and your free invite can be printed at www.freeyrradio.com/kjhkguest.

Make sure you show up early and have your invite in-hand as the show is first come, first served and you MUST have an invite.

Other bands participating include Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Man Man, The Rapture, Tapes n Tapes and more. Additional cities and in-stores can be found here: http://www.freeyrradio.com

I could tell you about how awesome The Ponys sounded at their Bowery Ballroom gig on Monday, but why bother?  I'm an interested party obviously, so if I call them the best parts of the Rolling Stones, Television, and Thurston Moore-penned Sonic Youth sewn together in a Frankenstein's monster-sized dose of R-O-C-K in the USA, it's just not going to have the same impact as when Billy Blogger steals that line in three weeks.  

Instead, I'll let a picture do the talking.  Ladies and Gentleman, let your eyes drift upward to the image of Ponys mainman Jered Gummere howling out "Turn The Lights Out" while covered in silly string.  Note how he's playing the keys so hard his right hand is apparently generating a circle of light.  Bear in mind that this was only three songs in to the set, and the evening only got more rockin' from there.

To help us celebrate this week’s release of The Ponys’ 'Turn The Lights Out', our friends at Daytrotter posted a very nice feature on the band which, of course, also includes four live tracks recorded for the soon to be infamous Daytrotter Sessions.

(an ambitiously blonde Jered, as illustrated by Daytrotter's Johnnie Cluney)

Recorded a few weeks back in beautiful Rock Island, IL, the band tore up some two-inch tape with four absolute keepers (and you can keep them, since they are available as mp3 downloads).  And the real sweetness comes with a scorching version of ‘Poser Psychotic’.

The band just left Austin where they logged the most shows for any single Matador artists at SXSW this year and are currently back out on the road with the Black Lips. If you missed that shindig in Texas and you’re are missing the band on this go-around you might want to check yourself out some live tuneage here.

We're just 8 days away from the retail event of the spring…my mom's birthday! (hey mom!).  Coincidently, March 20 also marks the release of the 3rd album from THE PONYS, 'Turn The Lights Out'.   And with the band playing far too many SXSW shows this week, what better song from the album to preview than "Poser Psychotic"? (mp3)

It's the rock biz' version of Spring Break, except Spring Break doesn't have enough cachet to lure Donnie Davies. And while Matador isn't doing a zillion dollar "showcase" (damn, we hate that word) this year, we are lucky enough to  witness several of our brightest lights making multiple appearances in Austin next week…on their own dime!

OFFICIAL SXSW EVENTS (ie. those without badges, wristbands and/or having turned up way early might well be SOL)

Thursday, March 15 – Shearwater, Central Prebyterian Church, 200 E. 8th St., 7:30pm
Thursday, March 15 – The Ponys, Emo's, 1am
Friday, March 16 – Times New Viking, Exodus, 10pm
Saturday, March 17 – Dead Meadow – Club Deville, 1am

in addition, the following parties / instores are happening and should be wide open to the public, space permitting :

Thursday, March 15 – The Ponys, KEXP taping (ACL studios), 1pm
Thursday, March 15 – The Ponys, Waterloo Records, 4pm
Friday, March 16 – The Ponys, Emo's (outside), 1:30pm
Saturday, March 17 – The Ponys, Mohawk (outside patio), 2pm
Saturday, March 17 – The Ponys, Red 7 (time TBA)

Friday, March 16 – Shearwater, Mohawk, 5pm

Friday, March 16 – Times New Viking, Long Branch Inn, 2pm

Thursday, March 15 – Dead Meadow, Instant Karma, 1pm
Friday, March 16 – Dead Meadow, Red 7, time TBA (afternoon party)
Friday, March 16 – Dead Meadow, Flamingo Cantina, time tba (afternoon party)
Saturday, March 17 – Dead Meadow, Jamie's Spanish Village, 8pm

Thursday, March 15 – Stuart Braithwaite, appearing as part of the Roky Erickson Ice Cream Social at Threadgill's (time TBA, but it's in the afternoon)

for more info on the day parties, non-SXSW events, we suggest you check out http://www.showlistaustin.com

Sonic Cathedral is a cool place to play and it feels right for the Ponys further onslaught across this city. The ceiling is crowded with yellow balloons with silver strings dangling onto the audiences heads. Nat who runs the club is DJing and shows some fine rocking selections. So do the Ponys. This band kick proverbial ass. They delve into "rocks rich tapestry" ( (c)Julie Burchill circa 1979) but come up weaving their own distinct and visceral sound. There is the sweeping grandeur of "1209 Seminary" and the stately beauty of  "Shine" balanced by the punchy future rock classic "Double Vision". The gig ended ends in a rock and roll maelstrom and yes indeed they "rock like a hurricane" ( (c) Sharon O'Connell circa 2007).  As they leave the stage Nat cues Television, a fitting salute to The Ponys' power and pedigree. 

What nobody told me is how loud they are live. Seriously, they are fucking loud. And I spend most of my time at noise shows.

The Ponys took the stage a little late but promised to 'keep making noise til they pull the plug on us', which was still nowhere near long enough for me. Concentrating mostly on material from 'Turn The Lights Out', songs collided into each other, a blur of feedback, furious riffing, and psychedelic bizness that I don't know the correct term for. And then in the middle of all that, they drop in a jaunty keyboard tune, and before you've even finished scratching your head, they're back to the hard stuff, pummeling you with all sorts of garage-rock goodness. I was beaming from burst eardrum to burst eardrum.

Yes!  A third installment of Matador's Buy Early Get Now pre-order promotion and this time The Pony's were generous enough to give us some fantastic bonus material exclusively for customers that pre-order their new full length album, and Matador debut, "Turn the Lights Out." 

When you preorder the album, you'll get the following:

- Stream of the album
- Exclusive b-side
- Exclusive live EP download (recorded live at Schubas on 1/12/07)

- An Exclusive poster designed by Melissa Elias. (SUPPLIES LIMITED)

Here's how it works:  When you pre-order "Turn the Lights Out," you'll receive information and a unique code via email to download the b-side and the exclusive live EP, and then when release date (3/20) rolls around the posters will ship with the album or you can pick them up at participating retailers.

The b-side and show tracks will be revealed 2/15 on buyearlygetnow.com, the official home of this and all future Matador preorders.  As usual, this offer is available through a wide selection of music retailers, as well as through the Matador Store.  The complete list of participating stores can be found at buyearlygetnow.com

Still not sold?  Sample the goods!  Here's a link to listen to a track off of the rockeriffic 'Turn The Lights Out',  "Double Vision"  

Yay folks, we're as excited as some excitable people – The Ponys are doing three shows in London. This marks the first time I'll have ever seen them live, which by all accounts is quite the experience.

The dates are:

February 20th: Camden Barfly

February 22nd: 'Sonic Cathedral' @ The Legion

February 23rd: 'Dirty Water Club' @ The Boston Arms

You can get tickets here. 

I have a feeling this is going to be one of those 'Oh, The Ponys? Yeah, I saw them in 07 supporting Troubles at Sonic Cathedral. I was there' -type deals, so get your skates on. 

The Ponys performing "Double Vision" live at Schubas on January 12, 2007.  Programming note to the Buy Early Get Now faithful:  We recorded this show and will be offering a portion of it as a bonus download in BEGN #3.  Details forthcoming, but stay tuned here for updates.

 - via Pitchfork.

The Ponys – "Double Vision" (mp3), from the forthcoming stereophonic CD/LP, 'Turn The Lights Out' (March 19, 2007)