PONY / Star 99

General Admission Standing Room Only

Contemplating the potential exorcism of a lifelong curse has never sounded so sweet. PONY is back with Clearly Cursed, a record that defies the odds of a psychic and transforms their grunge pop to its fullest potential.

As Sam Bielanski (founding member/singer-songwriter) explains, Clearly Cursed is directly inspired by their first visit to a psychic at the age of 21. “She read my tarot cards and told me boyfriend was cheating on me,” Bielsanki says. “That was true. She also told me that I had a dark spirit attachment which she could easily vanquish if I paid her $1500. That was obviously out of my budget so I left and decided I would have to coexist with this dark spirit for the rest of my life.”

Clearly Cursed is Bielanski’s attempt at exorcising those lifelong demons, adding, “I have never had particularly good luck, especially when it comes to my experiences in music, so I feel like I have been forced to come to terms with the fact that I am clearly cursed.”

On Clearly Cursed, PONY’s founding members Bielanski and Matty Morand were joined by touring collaborators Christian Beale and Joey Ginaldi. The four worked with producer Alex Gamble, pushing PONY’s production and songwriting to a musical identity they’ve dreamed of creating since forming more than a decade ago. The resulting sound takes their signature glittery power pop and adds influences like The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Caroline Polachek, Janet Jacket, and more.

This polished but still wonderfully heartfelt version of PONYis best evident on the album’s lead single, “Middle of Summer.” The track about Bielanski and Morand’s beloved cat Frep, who passed away in 2022, is a tender and sincere ode with a dreamy instrumental undercurrent that gives way to an ‘80s-inspired flourishing conclusion. It captures a bittersweet sense of grief while still offering an intimate glimpse at the playful and experimental nature of the band.

Additional highlights include “Superglue,” the crunchy, but catchy album opener that leaves you feeling like the star of a ‘90s rom-com, the jubilant fuzz-laced romanticism and pop of “Swallowing Stars,” and “Brilliant Blue,” a sweeping starry-eyed single that wears its pining on its sleeve.

Clearly Cursed comes following an extensive touring schedule that had PONY playing with acts like Jimmy Eat World, Drug Church, Militarie Gun, Pool Kids, MSPAINT, and more. Clearly Cursed is out February 13 on Take This To Heart Records. This is PONY’s third album, following the previously released TV Baby and Velveteen.

Links: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify

Star 99 has come a long way since these four best friends (Saoirse Alesandro, Chris Gough, Jeremy Romero, and Thomas Calvo) lived together in a disgusting house in downtown San Jose, CA. Their first EP “My Year in Lists”, a nod to the Los Campesinos song, was released in 2021. This first step led to tons of shows throughout the SF Bay Area and multiple west coast tours where they have shared the stage with some amazing bands such as Scowl, Mom Jeans, Spy, Bug Bath, Supercrush, and Slumped. In 2023 they released their debut full length “Bitch Unlimited” on Lauren Records, where the band’s eccentric hard twee sound was fully realized.

Their next full length “Gaman” will explore Star 99’s personality with more intention. By adding multi-instrumentalist Aidan Delaney, the band has once again leveled up their sound and musicianship with this release. Where “Bitch Unlimited” is fast, energetic, and punchy, this new record shows the subtle side of Star 99 while still delivering exciting pop music that their fans have grown to love and expect. “Gaman” is an exploration of the deep feelings that come from relationships with family, friends, and lovers and learning to persist despite hardship. The album was recorded and engineered by Grace Coleman of Different Fur in San Francisco and mastered by Andrew Oswald of Paradise Records.

Star 99 makes music for their friends and families.

Links: Official Website | Instagram | Spotify

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