Holopaw Pony Apprehension

TV Baby, the debut LP from Toronto power-pop act PONY, feels like it’s programmed from a different era. Driven by vocalist/guitarist Sam Bielanski’s sharp vocal tones and flashy, driving rhythm, the band combines cheeky 1980s style with 1990s self-reliance and modern production sheen for an experience caught between worlds. It’s hooky and vibrant, but don’t mistake exuberance for extroversion. TV Baby is an album dedicated to the indoor cats, the introverts, and those who value their independence above anything else.

Annie Ross is a British-American singer and actress, best known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. On this set Annie Ross sits in with saxophonist Pony Poindexter's band during a 1966 concert in Frankfurt, Germany, with delightful results. The sound is impeccable, as the audience is not at all audible during most of the performances, though it is clear from the audio that this is not a studio album disguised as a live one.

This unusual album teams together the altos of Lee Konitz, Pony Poindexter, Phil Woods and Leo Wright (along with pianist Steve Kuhn, bassist Palle Danielsson and drummer Jon Christensen) on a variety of challenging material. There are four pieces for the full septet (including one that pays tribute to both Bach and Bird), a pair of quintet performances and a ballad medley that ends in a complete fiasco (it has to be heard to be believed). Despite the latter, everyone fares well on this summit meeting.

Amidst the isolation of the past 2+ years, PONY’s Sam Bielanski and their partner Matty Morand transformed themselves into songwriting machines. Thanks in part to their pandemic podcast project, 2 Much TV, which challenged themselves to write a new song every single week, they wrote over 100 new original songs - finding inspiration from hours of television, books, and self reflection, and constantly sharpening their songwriting tools with every new melody.