As the singer/songwriter for High Diving Ponies, Kansas City native Josh Thomas continues to explore what he describes as “post-shoegaze danger pop.” A sound Thomas examined in his former outfit Spidermums and is constructed from a myriad of indie rock influences and a pinch of Phil Spector. The song “Muppets” features a slowly evolving guitar riff with a 90′s angular, early Built to Spill feel and the fuzzy, distant vocal melodies familiar to fans of My Bloody Valentine. The stellar pop-gem “I Smell Like Smoke” could be a Guided By Voices b-side with its addictive lo-fi melody that rises above punky acoustic guitar strumming, while Steve Williams’ cello serves as a stirring break between verses. High Diving Ponies are also capable of stretching their sound. On “Meatheads” the band utilizes all parts to produce a more abrasive sound centered upon layers of washed out distortion.
Not bad for a band that just formed in January of this year. Although High Diving Ponies have not released any records they are playing live. Look for them at Chomp Womp’s Family Night (Eighth Street Taproom) April 6th in Lawrence, KS and at the Shamrock Lounge for the Tornado Bait Festival April 18th in Wichita, KS.
and speaking of Chomp Womp…
With the help of the Chomp Womp crew, Josh Thomas is overseeing the creation of a new zine called ‘Smuts in Love’. 100 copies of the first issue will be placed around Lawrence and Kansas City in early March. The zine comes in the form of one massive 24″ x 36″ page (art on one side, zine content on the other) wrapped origami style into a cd sleeve for a compilation CD.
posted by: Harold Johns III
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Chomp Womp Family Night is at The Eighth Street Taproom not The Shamrook.