Live Review: Ponyland, The Emerald Beyond, Cosmic Egg Review @ The Studio, Hartlepool (13.04.24)

Image by Amanda Gallagher

Opening the show were Teesside-based support Cosmic Egg, easing us in with an ethereal blend of melodica, synths, live bass and spoken vocals creating a planetarium-like experience into outer space. Revving things up next with a gem of a performance were The Emerald Beyond, perfectly blending synth, guitar and drums to create commanding rhythms that whipped up the audience in a mindblowing krautrock/psychedelic experience – the perfect warm-up for Newcastle’s Ponyland, galloping on with the first performance of their tour to promote second album Hare Brains.

Opening with The Zone, Ponyland were an explosion of psychedelic anarchy for the eyes and ears with Frankie’s energising vocals, all the band members wearing colourful masks and two drummers facing off in an explosive battle, creating a powerful and diverse sound with echoes of punk, jazz and rock. Giant Mutant Pigeon had the crowd in a frenzy and Chum saw the audience members participating in all the fun wearing a giant rabbit’s head and circling in dance. Together with performing a couple of tracks from their first album Mora Mora, Ponyland treated us to a cover of M.I.A.’s Born Free, which was the perfect addition to their repertoire. Climaxing with DysFUNctional, we were all chanting “don’t be the same” and left wanting much much more. A truly energising release for everyone in attendance!