I went to a punk show for the first time in a while and man was that a refreshing experience! The venue wasn’t your typical house show set up. Instead of a crowded, dingy unfinished basement vibe – complete with exposed wooden beams and wires hanging just out of arms reach – the show was taking place in the common space of an apartment building situated in one of the more industrial looking corners in Brooklyn. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t some posh take on DIY culture. I thought I broke the glass counter of the makeshift bar they had in the back of the space (I didn’t) and I even though I don’t smoke I still came home smelling like a combination of stale sweat and cigarette butts.
The sights and sounds took me back to my younger years, back to when I was emotionally wild but moved gingerly and with caution. After all, there is no better soundtrack to adolescence than the emotional bluster and power chords of punk rock. It was music that could simultaneously engender empathetic and aspirational feelings. Did I fall in love with every girl I would see? Maybe. Did I ever express even the slightest inkling of these deeper emotions? Probably not. Did I always want to and would it tear me up inside? Hell yeah.
Over analytical kids like my yesteryear self could learn a thing or two from Pony Time. The lyrics to Geordie would lead you to believe that vocalist/guitarist Luke Beetham and drummer Stacy Peck are type of folks who’ll stumble through their feelings, at least the ones they choose to put out there.
For you I’ll lie, for you I’ll die,
For you I’ll steal, for you I’ll kill,
wanna try again, so I guess I’ll ask you out tomorrow!
Wanna try again, so I guess I’ll ask you out tomorrow!”
But bear this in mind: Beetham and Peck are both grown ass adults and they know how to show a little bit of flex. There’s no need for excessive progressions or too many chords in a tune like Geordie when it has so much oomph to it. Think of a catchy Wavves track without the overt drugginess and the emotional distance that can come with it. This is a celebration of being young and dumb, of the times when one realizes that they are the new owners of some pretty intimidating physical tools while lacking the emotional acumen to be able to use really them for anything. The whole thing moves along with a thunderous skronk. The guitar riffs are brawny and hypnotic while the bashed out drum patterns keep everything bolted down. And just like our wonder years, it’s over way too soon. Don’t worry, this song is something you can keep reliving over and over again without looking too immature.