New Young Pony Club

Oxford Art Factory, Wednesday August 6 

By Lyrian Fleming

Getting ready for a gig on a Wednesday night is always a bit of a challenge. Being a ‘school night’ means the reckless abandon that can sometimes carry you through a weekend show is often curtailed, and it’s more about striking a balance between losing yourself in the music while not completely taking off in case landing the next morning is too painful. I imagine it must be harder for the band to get the crowd going too. At least that’s the benefit of the doubt I’m giving the New Young Pony Club after their set at the Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday night.

The New Young Pony Club took to the stage with a backdrop of glittering silver, and lead singer Tahita scowling at the crowd with what we could tell was attitude. Everyone was dancing and raring to go, with the warm up disco tunes getting people in the mood… the only problem was that by their second song there was a stillness about the crowd I wasn’t expecting. Nor was the band, I suspect, given Tahita’s comment to the crowd ‘you’re not here to go shopping!’.

I don’t want to harp too much on the lack of energy though. It’s been a big week for NYPC which saw them play at Splendour in the Grass, in Melbourne, and then Sydney back to back. The good moments, though rare, sparkled and their hit Ice Cream saw the band playing with abandon carried through by strong guitar and vocals. Their best song of the set, FAN, showed that the band can slow down the pace and still perform a cracking song. Their other hit The Bomb got the crowd singing along and even jumping to the beat with enthusiasm. It was a shame it took almost their whole set to rev the crowd up, but at least they got there.

All in all the New Young Pony Club showed they know their way around disco pop songs well enough. If you like your disco tunes easy on the ear with no major surprises – these guys are for you.