[photo courtesy of Bob Sanderson]
As with all the bands that were to appear at the amazing After the Jump Festival on Saturday in Williamsburg, we researched Ponytail listening to their songs and reading some reviews. Absolutely nothing we heard or saw could have prepared us for the live experience. This quartet from Baltimore present a truly original and undefinable approach to modern music.
My best comparison would be the early 80’s version of Pere Ubu — except that the singer is a 22-year old women named Mollie Siegel who looks about fourteen, instead of an obese savant. Each of the three musicians were quite proficient but we were particularly impressed with Dustin Wong who plays a frenetic mix of lead and rhythm guitars along with keyboards and backing vocals.
Ponytail are touring extensively in support of their brand new CD Ice Cream Spiritual. These dates include the July 12 ToddP show at the Yard, July 13 at Mercury Lounge, and July and August dates at the Knitting Factory. Visit their MySpace page for more tour dates and details.
We recorded this set from inside the soundboard booth with our DPA microphones mounted to the soundproofed wall above the booth. The sound in this venue is always outstanding and this recording reflects that quality. Enjoy!
After The Jump is a charitable organization of NYC music bloggers who donate all proceeds of their events to the advancement of music in NYC schools. nyctaper requests that if you download this recording, that you support this cause. Selected tracks from the recordings to be featured on this site from the ATJ Festival will be produced into a compilation, with all proceeds being donated to the music programs in NYC schools. When the compilation becomes available, all nyctaper readers who downloaded ATJ sets will be expected to purchase the release.
Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)
Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].
Ponytail
2008-06-21
After the Jump Festival
Music Hall of Williamsburg
New York, NY USA
Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Inside Soundboard Booth
DPA 4021s > Marantz PMD-660 (Oade BCM Mod) > 16bit 44.1kHz wav > Soundforge 8.0 (level adjustments, set fades) > CD Wave > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac
Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-06-23
Setlist:
[Total time 33:21]
01 Late For School
02 G Shock
03 7 Souls
04 Music Tunes
05 Music Tunes Part 2
06 Beg Waves
07 Die Allman Bruder
08 Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From an Angel)
If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Ponytail, visit their myspace page, and purchase their official releases [HERE] and [HERE].
I can’t resist a Pere Ubu reference. Sold!