The Ponys | ms

Ass Ponys formed in late 1988 in Cincinnati OH, comprising Chuck Cleaver and Dan Kleingers of Gomez (US), Randy Cheek of The Libertines (US) and John Erhardt. By 1993, the band had released two albums on the Okra label (Mr. Superlove and Grim) and Dan had left the band, being replaced by Dave Morrison. The band had toured with Pavement in support of Grim, and had also played opening slots for Yo La Tengo and others. While they had planned on releasing their third record themselves as Okra had folded by this point, things didn't work out that way. Cassette...

As year 2000 drew to a close, singer/guitarist Jered Gummere and bassist Melissa Elias decided it was time. They recruited drummer Nathan Jerde and THE PONYS started playing around Chicago, eventually recording two singles in 2002. These found their way into the hands of In The Red's Larry Hardy, who signed the band, prompting them to add Ian Adams on keyboards and guitar, so as to better duplicate their layered recorded sound live. THE PONYS' debut LP, Laced With Romance, was recorded with Jim Diamond in Detroit and released in February 2004 to great acclaim, NME calling it "a dirty-sounding...