Ponytail – 100 Club, London 12/02/09

Oxford Street’s 100 Club has hosted an uncountable number of brilliant musicians over the decades, and to this impressive roster I’d humbly like to add Baltimore’s wonderful Ponytail. Experimental but accessible, ear-ringingly loud but not at the expense of compositional subtlety, they’re one of those rare bands that can be genuinely described as “unique” – and for once that’s not journalistic shorthand for “unspeakably pretentious.”

The two support bands set the mood well. I only caught the latter half of Gentle Friendly’s short set, which involved some arty guitar noodling that gave way to some epic ground-sundering noise that reminded me of Parts and Labor at their most percussive. Then for Future Islands, a brilliantly entertaining electronica act fronted by a hyperactive Jack Black lookalike whose utter disdain for anything approaching restraint was only matched by his amazing ability to perspire twice his own body volume in sweat. You can tell they’re labelmates of Dan Deacon, that’s for sure. But sweeping all away in their wake like a tornado of awesome were Ponytail, whose short-but-oh-so-sweet set put hundreds of higher-profile bands to utter shame.

The first thing that strikes you is the kinetic, irrepressible nature of frontlady Molly Siegel, bouncing endlessly about the stage squealing high-pitched nonsense- she’s a marvel to watch, and even though her breathless, often wordless vocal performance perhaps won‘t appeal to everyone, the energy she delivers it with is hard to resist. But even more integral to the band’s appeal is that behind their ramshackle ethos and lively demeanour, there’s real substance there; intricate guitar lines that’d do Battles proud, some amazing cowbell-intensive drumming and a superb ear for snippets of melodies that coalesce together into a glorious polyphonic stew. Beg Waves was a early highlight, its jangly, tropical-tinged guitars getting ever more frantic as it raced towards its euphoric conclusion; 7 Souls merged lo-fi garage rock with manic yelping that naturally invites, but transcends the obvious Deerhoof comparisons. The London crowd’s initial reluctance to move much was quickly ground down by the band’s relentless enthusiasm, and closer Celebrate The Body Electric even saw a couple of particularly enthused nutters invade the stage for some impressively effusive dancing. The show’s extreme brevity (40 minutes at most) will have irritated some, but it meant that the high-energy, hyperactive performance never outstayed its welcome. Indeed, it’s fitting their last album was called “Ice Cream Spiritual” as it sums the band up perfectly- rich, fulfilling, at times euphoric but probably best appreciated in small doses.

Future Islands on MySpace
Gentle Friendly on MySpace
Ponytail on MySpace