The Ponys
Celebration Castle (In the Red)
Like Austin’s Black Lipstick or much-missed Houstonians Japanic, Chicago’s Ponys sound like they’re having a nice enough time, albeit with a lip-biting determination not to let things boil over. As such, the first songs on Celebration Castle, the continuation-cum-refinement of last year’s debut Laced With Romance, are built to tease, not explode. Decorum only goes so far, however, so as Castle nears its conclusion, the Ponys’ carefully cultivated sense of cool begins to fray – like a party that starts out awkward but gets raucous as the ice breaks. (The lyrics, to a word, could be conversations from this selfsame party.) The harmonica break on “Get Black” is the first sign something’s amiss, throwing over the hipster restraint of “Today” and “We Shot the World” in favor of getting good and sweaty. Retreating a bit, the screams of “She’s Broken” are cast directly against a deadpan incantation of the title, as if they’re apologizing for coming across so nakedly. They needn’t. “Ferocious” has no such inhibitions, or any other, but as the last song it doesn’t need them. By then, the Ponys are obviously ready to hop offstage and start having some real fun. (Emo’s inside, Friday, May 6, with Faceless Werewolves and Camp X-Ray)
This article appears in May 6 • 2005.