Only releasing their latest studio album 'Stung!' less than a week prior, WA-based musical powerhouse POND dropped by Adelaide's Lion Arts Factory to put on a headline performance for the ages.
The practically sold-out show (27 June) saw the band debut a number of fresh tracks live for the first time ever, and was an opportunity for them to delight the crowd with their formidable back catalogue of monumentally epic tunes.Performing with a stripped-back production – no visuals and little in the way of dazzling lighting – allowed the full sonic landscape of POND's music to really translate.
Fortunately it was recreated in a live setting not only fully faithful to their albums, but with exceptional clarity, allowing long-term listeners to experience firsthand the complexity of the music generated in real time by the band's five members.
Arguably one of Australia's most important and exciting musicians, Jay Watson (aka Gum) began the show on synth and keyboard duties, switching to guitar and then drums as the set progressed.
POND - image © Mike Lockheart
Hearing his input on the sound in a live setting was akin to watching a veteran record producer calling the shots in a studio – indeed something that occurred during this show, with adjustments requested by Watson that made significant differences to the sound.
Little in the way of verbal communication took place between members on the stage, but camaraderie and showmanship was more than delivered by magnetically charged frontman Nick Allbrook.
Allbrook's personality and musical chops were magnificent in equal measure. Far from hogging the spotlight, it's fair to say he completely stole the show, and presumably performs each and every night with the same charming intensity and charisma.
At times, seemingly possessed by the music, he illustrated stories of longing for love, rejection and self-doubt, occasionally sardonic, but always cheerful and sparkling, with humorous interludes for good measure.
POND - image © Mike Lockheart
Indulging in some of the luscious, synth-generated textures of latest material from 'Stung!' such as its title track and the song 'Neon River', 'Human Touch' from album '9' featured Jay Watson on drums and was a huge departure, leaning into more of a stoner-rock doominess – the same could be said for the brooding and intense 'Aloneaflameaflower' too, which built up with the same looming darkness as Black Sabbath might.
The former track allowed Allbrook the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Adelaide crowd, as he spent much of the song in the crowd, singing into the beaming faces on the floor.
Upon returning to the stage for a chaotic close to the song, he reached for his effects pedals, which seemed to instigate a sonic carnage of modulated noise.
POND - image © Mike Lockheart
The chaotic crescendo of 'Aloneaflameaflower', a song that featured mainstay guitarist Shiny Joe Ryan take up the cowbell (to huge cheers) elicited huge smiles from the band themselves too.
Perhaps the standout moment of the evening was title track from 2017's 'The Weather', which saw Allbrook take up lead guitar duties for a stirring climactic guitar solo. Pulsing and frantically moving about the stage as he did so, it was clear that music just flows through this man – visibly captured and being transported by it in front of our eyes.
The calibre of talent of the entire band however is beyond top tier, and the opportunity to realise the full scope of their discography, one can only come to the conclusion that POND must be one of the most criminally underrated bands of all time, especially live.
That said, the entire 2024 Stung! tour is sold out, so those masses in Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle who know, certainly know. POND are supported by rising local acts in each of their respective cities on the tour.
POND - image © Mike Lockheart
In Adelaide, jazzy post-punk collective Coldwave opened the concert with a powerful, if abrasive performance of glitchy, dystopian sounds and energy.
More photos from the concert.
