 indie rock photography by jasper coolidge     
Ponywhip 04.08.11
@ Fontana's NYC It's nights like this and bands like Ponywhip that make the unique career of being a venue booker and a band photographer really really worth it. Last May, when they were still called The Jamies I asked them to grace us with a three week residency after having seen them once based mostly on the strength of the energy they brought to our room (the fact they were all girls and had an awesome band name didn't hurt). Their songs were catchy but so raw as to just about scratch the surface of their explosive potential. There are so many bands where I think - if they just keep at it and not let work, life, and attrition get in the way - they just might have something. So in the year since, The erstwhile Jamies have kept at it - with absolute aplomb - and gotten a new (male, and great) drummer and morphed due to legal issues into the fearsome Ponywhip. They were generous enough to give back to all of us who contributed to their Kickstarter EP fund with loads of swag, free copies of said EP, and one of those celebratory shows that can mark a band's first giant step to making it - that elusive Sissyphusian concept that's both the bane and raison d'être of every band you know. This show was one that all bands and fans aspire to reach where bands and fans conspire to feed energy to and off of each other resulting in an alchemy of sound - rock, cheer, repeat. For me this occurred during the final chorus of their unbelievably EPIC beyond words cover of 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. It feels great in an MSG at the end of a band's career and on many levels even better in a Fontana's at the beginning. ponywhipband.com |
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