New Young Pony Club @ Dublin Port
By: Sharon Burke
Posted: November 19, 2009 – Dublin, Ireland
Following a slightly dry spell, London's well-known New Wave five piece made a comeback in Dublin as part of the Coors Light Peak event in Dublin Port.
With a stage presence similar to that of bands like The Sounds or CSS, New Young Pony Club are a reminder of 2006's New Wave movement which expired, well, many moons ago. The band has played little part in London's music scene for quite some time, after surrendering to various side projects. Drummer Sarah Jones currently tours with Bat for Lashes alongside Charlotte Hatherley, although she did join the band in Dublin, perhaps for old times' sake.
However, reminiscing aside, praise must be given to New Young Pony Club for their performance at Dublin Port during the blistering arctic temperatures. As their audience battled with the cold that comes on the house with every outdoor event in November, and tried to dislodge frozen fingers from their complimentary beers, the band gave it their all in a dry-ice filled performance. On closer examination, one witnessed bassist Igor blowing on his hands in an attempt to make his fingers form chords, and the newly-blonde Tahita shuddering inside her short shorts and scanty shirt. With every breath blown out by the chanting audience, a white mist rose and surrounded the stage in an ethereal cloud. Fair play to the much-inebriated gentlemen who danced around with drumsticks and without shirts, a well-known recipe for hypothermia.
Following worthy support from Irish artists R.S.A.G. and Codes, New Young Pony Club launched into tunes from their debut album Fantastic Playroom. The act was short and sweet, perhaps a little too fleeting, but the band managed to dazzle as they once did. Grappling with the harsh conditions, Tahita belted out "Get Lucky" and later performed a bright rendition of "The Bomb" which was met with enthusiastic shrieks from the naked people at the barriers. In a performance that proved they haven't lost their live spark, the band serenaded their Dublin fans with the single "Ice Cream" which Tahita punctuated with her trademark shimmy and hair-fling.
New Young Pony Club came with a communication for their audience: "I can give you what you want/ I can make your heart beat short". This promise was duly fulfilled and in spite of wintry temperatures, even those without clothes left feeling jovial and refreshed by the uplifting lyrics and promise of a free bus journey back into town.
Video: "Get Lucky" by New Young Pony Club
