Pony Boy – Apartment

I recently came across the music of Pony Boy, a California Bay Area band who play some fantastic mellow indie pop. The track I heard off Soma FM was “3-Day Heat Wave” which piqued my interest enough to check out their website. Say, isn’t “Pony Boy” from the “Outsiders”…

I had originally thought that all their music might be like the song 3 Day Heat Wave which mixes mid-tempo indie pop guitar arpeggios with random chatter in the background (some of which sounds like a San Jose radio or TV station). It is remarkable how some of the lead guitar work really reminds me of Merge bands like Spent or Seam. I had forgotten how that type of guitar works so well in indie pop.

But the best was yet to come with their other song “Apartment” a charming and chiming drone that sets up shop with simple guitar and drums and a melody similar to Sebadoh’s “Brand New Love”. Although in retrospect, the structure of the song reminds me more of slow burners Bedhead and Pedro the Lion. But they don’t mess around with layers of instruments; they simply don’t need to. There are some sweet and beautiful harmonies in this song that got me really excited. Yeah, harmony can do that to me. You know sometimes you listen to college radio and you’re wondering “This is all fine and dandy, but when are they going to play something GOOD?” Well, this is something good.

The band members are Corey, Kari, Gabe and Ben (though I don’t know yet who plays what instrument). Their forthcoming EP will be called Stay Out Of Trouble.

Sample tracks from Pony Boy
Apartment – Stay Out Of Trouble
3-Day Heat Wave – Stay Out Of Trouble

by Bryan