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Pony Up!

MusicBlog

"placenta of the universe"

Location: Montreal

Website: http://www.ponyup.ca/

Bio: "Pony Up bring a sense of humour, sexuality, lightness of touch and profound innocent musicality to what they do." -Ben Lee
"More or less the Beatles ... (more) in Hamburg." "irreverent, industrious and exciting as hell to follow." - Elliot Aronow (Spin Magazine)
Feeling they had abounding musical talents to unleash on the world, Pony Up - Montreal's preeminent all-female pop conquerors - formed at the behest of bassist Lisa J Smith and her new-found friend, guitarist Sarah Moundroukas. To complete the band, Lisa recruited two of her oldest friends in the world: drummer Lindsay Wills - with whom she had collaborated musically before - and Lindsay's kid sister, Laura Elizabeth. Lisa saw great potential in Laura, mostly because of her musically inclined parents, and her desperate need for attention. Laura was convinced to join the band (and learn the keyboard) by the promise of a secret band-handshake. And so Pony Up was formed, on New Years Eve 2002.
Through the course of the 3 years it took to write, record and release their self -titled EP, the girls toured North America extensively, honing their stage show and polishing their chops. By the time the Pony Up EP was released in January 2005, the band's songwriting and musicianship had evolved to the point that their live sets rarely included more than one song from that EP. As a band having outgrown their recorded output, back to Montreal's legendary Hotel2Tango Studios they went to record their first full-length, with the help of local go-to recording genius Howard Ian Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade) and American import, engineering hot-shot Brian Paulson (Beck, Wilco).

Although made up of slightly darker tones and slower beats, Make Love to the Judges With Your Eyes, Pony Up's debut full-length release, shows the band has not lost their pop sensibility or confessional lyricism. With songs sung by either the straight-shooting, classic-pop lover Laura, or the more enigmatic, less-than-conventional Sarah - both backed by the Pony Up choir - Make Love to the Judges With Your Eyes is the sound of a band hitting its stride.
"Make Love to the Judges With Your Eyes" was released May 9, 2006, on Dim Mak Records.
Dim Mak Releases:

DM066: Ben Lee/Pony Up! 7"
DM064: Pony UP! "S/T" CDEP
DM099: Pony Up "Make Love To The Judges With Your Eyes" CD
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