Always willing to experience new music, I recently came across Dead Pony, downloaded all I could, and they have been my go-to listen ever since. With that fact when I saw they were also playing in Birmingham, I was in for tickets. I had never been to The Sunflower Lounge, either, which was the smallest room I have been at for a gig in over 40 years. But that’s cool, or at least I wish the room had been more so. Yes, also the hottest gig I have ever stood through (beating The Stranglers at KK’s Steel Mill last year), but there was still an intimacy within the euphoria.

Dead Pony hail from Glasgow and are full of catchy rock tunes and in lead singer, Anna Shields, boast a voice at the top with the best. On guitar we then had Blair Crichton who also writes the bulk of excellent compositions. Completing a classic rock band line-up are Liam Adams on bass and Euan Lyons with the drums.

The band name may raise an eyebrow or two, but I like the reasoning. It stands for the end of innocence and as Anna states in their bio, a pony is what many children aspire to own. But its death signals the end of that childhood.

“A horse – a pony – is one of the most beautiful, majestic creatures on the planet, and there’s something really tragic about the idea of it lying there dead.”

However, while Dead Pony might appeal in the main to younger generations with relevant messages, they also have the attention and love from this (near) 60-year-old.

Sirens signalled their arrival and opening number, Bullet Farm which shot the crowd into top gear from the off. This was soon followed by recent release, Cobra then the title track of their 2022 EP, War Boys. Now, I always say there should be a rule that if you are going to cover a famous track, you need to blow the original out the water. DP do just that to Nellie Furtado’s Maneater. Not an artist I have ever listened to and probably won’t when their songs can be so much better elsewhere.

A couple of new tracks, About Love and Rainbow (from the announced debut album next year) preceded one of my favourites in All Dressed Up for Nothing. To be honest, all the songs are bangers: Sharp Tongues, Mana and Zero simply didn’t let the atmosphere drop. And then you had MK Nothing with the audience lost in the rapture. Finally, 23, Never Me rounded off the set on a high. Fantastic night out. Do check out Dead Pony, you will not regret it.

This was a gig well-received by all in the burning, tight space, and so they should have been. Dead Pony are the business and now need the exposure to be deservedly recognised as something great.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt 

Postscript: Opening for Dead Pony were Oxford’s, South Arcade. Formed in 2021 and fronted by Harmony Cavell, South Arcade ooze energy and rocking tunes. I had never heard of them before but once the evening was over, I downloaded all six tracks I found on Amazon. These included Bigger Than Anything, Danger and Unaware, all played on the night. Unfortunately, I was unable to be there for their quick return to The Sunflower Lounge three days later. But another band to add to the catalogue and one I will see and hear more of in the future.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt