This feels like a coming of age period for Pond. “We’re so glad to be back in Brighton, our gigs are always crazy here,” enthused bass/synth player Jay Watson for the band’s largest show in the city to date. Full to the brim, the Thursday night crowd were in jovial mood, with beers flying and the spirit of enthusiasm deafening from the offset.

Despite struggling to shake off the Tame Impala side-project moniker in the early days, the five-piece have come into their own in the last couple of years, particularly since the arrival of the new record. Although it was produced by Kevin Parker, The Weather carries more of a fun-loving style compared to their childhood friend’s band.

But that isn’t to say Pond haven’t evolved. It is a lot more ambitious and narrative-driven compared to previous efforts, with a slight sacrifice for hooks and melody giving way to a multitude of grand soundscapes that take a few listens to get your ears around. The compositions also sound brilliant within a live setting.

Opener ‘30,000 Megatons’ ignited the night with a slow technicolour of synths that morph into an epic crescendo. The temperature in Concorde 2 then began to match the scorching heat outside when they belted out Man It Feels Like Space Again pair 'Waiting Around For Grace' and ‘Elvis Flamin’ Star’.

The former track involved Nick Allbrook experimenting with an early piece of crowd surfing. The frontman holds the key to Pond’s live appeal; part Iggy/part Bowie, his glamorous stage persona is addictive to watch as his diminutive frame bounces around the stage pulling a multitude of shapes and faces. The audience didn’t need any encouragement but he sure gave them some.

However, a highlight of any Pond show is the brilliant ‘Don’t Look At The Sun Or You’ll Go Blind’. Originally an under-produced, three-minute track on debut album Psychedelic Mango, the bass-driven stomper has remained with the band throughout their career and slowly evolved into a staple of their live set. Clocking in at well over seven minutes when played live, the glorious bass guitar line morphs into an electronic groove which is impossible to not shake your hips to.

‘Sweep Me Off My Feet’, meanwhile, is one of the new record’s finer tracks and a quintessential Pond song with its proggy guitar solo and euphoric chorus, whilst recent single ‘Paint Me Silver’ is undoubtedly the most instantaneous track on the record, with the delicious Passion Pit-esque synth line manifesting into a terrific pop composition, which the punters then screamed back in full voice to the Aussie band. Beard, Wives, Denim favourite ‘You Broke My Cool’ and ‘The Weather’ soon followed to make up a thrilling encore which capped off an exciting night.

Ultimately, Pond will never be pinned down or boxed into one genre. They do get called ‘psych’ but they’re more a modern interpretation of a congregation of genres. They are, however, fearlessly loyal to enormous guitar riffs, catchy grooves and, perhaps, most importantly, always look like they’re having fun, which manifests into their fans feeling the same.

Watson, Allbrook and Joe Ryan have again proven that they deserve to be dining at the top table of rock music with their haze of keyboard arpeggios, reverb-soaked snares, echo-infused vocals and delicious hooks.
Paul Hill

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