The beer selections at the bars we play are a big influence, and the "Voodoo Shrimp" will always be a bitter sweet memory. And then of course, there are the assortment of ex-girlfriends, deals with the devil, repossessed cars, broken promises, broken dreams, broken hearts.
As for musical influences, it's the usual suspects from New Orleans to Chicago, but special mention has to go to: Son House, James Booker, John Mooney, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Robert Johnson, Little Feat, The Band, Jon Cleary, Taj Mahal, The Rebirth Brass Band, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, and, according to Max, our bassist, Judas Priest, but none of the rest of us can figure that one out.
Sounds Like
Uncle Floyd's Special Reserve Voodoo Juice -- best served in an old Mason jar.
Upon first hearing New Pony it's understandable that most assume the band is made up of a group of transplants from New Orleans. The way these guys can tear into vintage New Orleans funk leaves little doubt that they've got some bayou water running through their veins. But the truth is that New Pony is home-grown from Philadelphia not New Orleans. Still, the overall impression from listening to these guys will make you swear they grew up playing in the dark and greasy dive bars of the crescent city. Philly may be bookended by the Delaware and Schuykill rivers, but it's the big muddy Mississippi and the dark waters of the bayou that flows through the heart and soul of this band.
New Pony was formed in Philadelphia early in 2006 when founding member Chris Devenney met bassist Max Guerin at a local music showcase one night in Philly. As Chris tells the story, he was playing there with harmonica player Pete Gaffney, and a drummer came up and asked to sit in with them. The guys said sure and then asked if there was a bass player in the audience to round out the ensemble. Max offered his services and the guys played the impromptu set. After they were done, Chris asked Max if he was available to play with them at the next showcase, maybe do a few rehearsals and see how things sounded. Max agreed to play the gig as a fill-in. Four years and about 200 gigs later, Max is still filling-in. "The joke," says Devenney, "is that Max has never actually said 'yes' to joining the band, he's really just a temporary stop-gap; so before gigs we usually come over and drug him, tie him up, and toss him in the back of the truck. He wakes up when we get to the gig, and he usually just shrugs and says 'well, fuck it, I'm here, I might as well play another one'. This has been going on for 4 years now, and, while kinda' odd, it appears to be working."
So 4 years and 200 gigs. "It might actually be more like 300," says Devenney, "it's hard to keep count." The point here is that the vibe, the energy, the tight rhythmic interplay that characterizes New Pony has been earned night in and night out on the stages on which these guys play. "We're pickier now, but when we started out we never said no to a gig," says bassist Max Guerin, "we would play anywhere, and God knows, we did. 'You'll pay us with chewing gum and beer? Awesome, what time do we start?'." Those days are thankfully gone, but the point is made: this is a live band, and they've cut their teeth the right way by grinding it out night after night. "You can rehearse forever," says Devenney, "but nothing can replace the experience of playing live." There's no place to hide playing live, you can't fake it. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and let it rip -- and remember to enjoy the ride."
Enjoyment is key for this band because it's immediately evident that the guys in the band are having as much fun playing as the audience is having dancing and grooving along. "We just love to play," says Devenney, "it's really as simple as that."
In 2008 keyboardist extraordinaire, Scott Coulter, joined the band. Scott’s playing style brought a fullness and depth to the band’s sound, and his Hammond B-3 sound made it all just that much funkier. "We had been looking for a keyboard player," says Devenney, "we placed ads, held auditions, but nothing was working out." Then serendipty struck. Drummer Stefan Young was playing at Warmdaddy's one night and happeend to hear Scott Coulter playing keys, and asked him if he was looking to join a band. As luck would have it, he was. "The audition part of the audition lasted for about two songs," remembers Devenney, "it was obvious Scott was the guy. So we asked if he could stick around for a few hours for his first practice." His first gig with the band was two weeks after that opening for funk legend Bernie Worrell.
The band as a whole has been together for three years, and in that time they've made their mark. They've opened for national acts such as Sonny Landreth, Dwayne Dopsie, Robert Randolph, and the aforementioned Bernie Worrell. In addition, they've played all of the major venues in Philadelphia and the surrounding tri-state region. In 2009 they began to venture away from their home base of Philadelphia, and 2010 will see them branching out even further and playing in Washington D.C., Baltimore, New York, as well as a number of festivals in Delaware and Maryland.
Their first CD, “More Fire,” which was released to great reviews, offers up a rich gumbo of original New Orleans funk. The CD reveals what audiences throughout the region have already learned, which is simply that these guys can flat out play.
If you want to book New Pony for your bar, concert venue, or a private party, email them here or at new.pony1@gmail.com
Buy New Pony's CD, "More Fire," at CD Baby
Also available now on Itunes!
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
Hi there, New Pony! We'd love to design a custom MySpace profile for you! We also offer full website design, flyer/poster design, and more. Check out our portfolio on our MySpace page.
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How you been? Thanks for checking out my music. If you are in the Philly area this Friday August 28th, I am performing with my band at the Blinkin Lincoln at 9PM sharp. Hope to see you there.
The Domino Effect is a star-studded tribute concert celebrating the life and influence of rock and roll legend Fats Domino. Musical legends from far and wide are gathering in New Orleans for one historic night to pay tribute to Fats and his feats throughout his lifetime. A portion of the proceeds from this music extravaganza will benefit the Brees Dream Foundation bettering local playgrounds and outdoor recreation sites for the children of New Orleans. May 30th, New Orleans Arena.
Come join us Friday May 15th @ 9:00 PM @ Club Risque! All Out Friday Night featuring Dive, Even The Res, and Spy The Thinker - $10 gets you into the show upstairs and the gentleman's club downstairs. For updates check www.myspace.com/risquelive.
Tonight and every Wednesday night at 8pm we have open mic hosted by Daddy Says So. Not only that but it is ladies night with $1.50 well drinks for the ladies. So don't miss out on the hottest Wednesday night around here at Generations. (formally the Little Inn) 9 State rd Media Pa 19063
Hey Guys, I saw you on April 11 at the Rotunda. You were totally unbelievable. I'd ben wanting to see you for a long time, and I am indeed now a fan!!! Your drummer is sick, and I learned a LOT from watching him play. Thank him for me.
