Dead Pony have seemingly come out of nowhere. It may be that we’re witnessing a very fast start to something worth keeping track of, or our finger has been off this particular pulse.
My first experience of them was opening for ex-Blue Sky Archives keyboardist and singer Lauren Mayberry’s new venture Chvrches (who appear to also be going places) at their double nighter in the iconic Barrowlands. It was a case of instantly being taken aback by the noise these four locals were able to make. It was a glorious mash up of rock and electronic music that had a lot more edge and grit than the headliners that night.
Since then they’ve released new single – ‘Cobra’ – and were last-minute saviours at TRNSMT festival when they opened the main stage.
Now they’re hosting the night at the stunning St Luke’s venue and it’s unsurprisingly sold out. On paper, this is a local gig. Three bands from Glasgow playing a venue in Glasgow to people from Glasgow. The air feels different prior to anyone hitting the stage, though. Although already making big steps in the world of openings and support slots, this is the show that’ll prove if Dead Pony can headline with the big boys and girls.
The night was very ably started by Pink Limit. A four-piece rock n roll band who create a noise that a five or six piece would be proud of. Huge sounding, albeit short set. With St Luke’s filling, no one is upset to see these guys on the stage.
Second is Soapbox. To be honest, they should have probably been first. One of the most Glaswegian Oi punk bands I’ve come across. They’ve been on the local radar, hitting all the main venues although their style might limit them as to how big the stages get in the future. There’s not a drop of polish to Soapbox as janky guitar and bass with vocals that can only be described as spoken (or shouted) word.
Soapbox fall between the anger of the OG punk bands such as the Pistols and the vocal musicality of Rage Against The Machine. Not quite touching either boundary. In all honesty, listening to this band online before the show prepared me to dismiss them. I wouldn’t listen to their recordings… but would I go see them live again? Probably. There’s something so charismatic about the lead singer it makes you want more. Kind of like what it would have been like watching Alexei Sayle in the ’80s.
The atmosphere is instantly electric when the air raid siren sounds to announce that Dead Pony are taking to the stage. Their first track ‘Bullet Farm’ is a perfect pop rock number that demands you start jumping. It’s probably the poppiest number they have which can’t help but draw comparisons to Republika and Icona Pop.
The rest of the set pushes things more into the territory of The Prodigy but with the aggressive overtones pointed away from the audience. Where The Prodigy’s music is squaring up to the crowd, Dead Pony is reaching out and bringing the crowd with them. It’s Dead Pony with their fans, against the world tonight.
It’s obvious Dead Pony love the fans they’re taking on the ride with them. Singer Anna constantly reaching out to them and seen giving selfies before they go on stage. Hopefully this sticks with the inevitable rise that’s coming their way.
Photos by Catching Light Photography