REVIEW: Pond w/ 26fix | 5.1.24 @ The Basement East [PHOTOS]

Pond
w/ 26fix
The Basement East; Nashville, TN
May 1, 2024

Review by Lansing Brown. Photos by Hannah Laney.

Wednesdays can be odd days for shows. The exhaustion of making it halfway through the week, yet without the hopeful weekend anticipation of Thursday show. They take a bit more summoning of energy. However, as psychedelic rock/pop outfit Pond took the stage Wednesday night at The Basement East, energy was in high supply. 

Before Pond would jolt the crowd awake with psychedelic jumper cables, 26fix trotted onto stage to set the tone for the night. Although supported by a full band on tour, 26fix is the solo project of Erika Goodwin. With only five songs out over the last three years, the Salt Lake City-based artist and company rocked through the rest of her discography, after opening with a new song. 

In between songs, Goodwin pointed out that the band’s van had broken down completely, leaving them stranded somewhere between Salt Lake City and Nashville. After many fixes (hopefully less than 26) and some help from strangers, they made it in town an hour before doors. 

Despite this chaotic adventure across the U.S., like an old school NFL quarterback, the band was right in the pocket for their entire set. They wove out of one song and into the next with jazz-like transitions, playing in the groove with the maturity of experienced rockers. 26fix is led by effortless vocals like bubblegrunge favorites Slow Pulp and feeble little horse, but with the percussive confidence of Bully and The Shins.

“Just Go With It” and “A Pickle,” two songs with light, rhythmic drums, had the crowd bouncing. Midway through, they brought a surf rock sound to town with “Peggy Paradise.” Closing out with the dreamy, energetic “Stone Killer,” 26fix finished their calm, cool, and collected set as harmonizing guitars and shouts of “Alright” spilled off stage and readied the crowd for Pond.

By the time Pond took the stage, the room had filled the other 25% of the way, and a palpable excitement had been building. The last time Pond came to Nashville was 2018 (at Mercy Lounge), so in that sense the excitement had been building for years. In that time, Pond has released two studio albums, one live album, and performed all over the world, growing a fanbase in their own right. Tasmania, released in March of 2019, decidedly leaned more into pop sensibilities, providing a relatively uplifting outlook and encouragement to live life to the fullest. It received positive reviews from Pitchfork, garnering a 7.5 rating, and NME, who awarded 4/5 stars. 2021 gave us 9, staying in the psych rock/pop vein, but taking a foray into dance music. It featured a more narrative lyrical approach. Also earning favorable reviews, 9 was a sign that even 13 years after the band formed, they were still an exploratory act, refusing to be pigeon-holed to “modern psych rock.”

For those of you new to Pond, several of the members have at one time played in the touring band for Tame Impala, Kevin Parker’s psychedelic solo project. Much to the ire of hardcore fans of the band, journalists and interviewers have devoted large portions of their articles/interviews referring to Tame Impala and the connections to Parker. You won’t find that in this review, because if we’ve learned anything from the last six years of Pond, it’s that they are charting their own path.

The band was determined to be anything but tame as they took the stage and flew straight into their newest single “(I’m) Stung.” I’ve always believed a rock show was the most cathartic experience one could partake in, and this song proved a microcosm of this philosophy. Frontman Nick Allbrook showed off his flaring vocals in between powering guitar riffs that belong in a 1970s metal jam, singing off a breakup as nothing but a bee sting. 

It wasn’t a few songs later before they launched into “Neon River,” the other single from their upcoming album Stung!, expected June 21. Allbrook began the song sitting on the floor before leaping up just in time to shout the chorus to a waiting audience. They also offered up the live debut of “Black Lung,” another to appear on the aforementioned upcoming album. The Zeppelin-esque, fuzzy headbanger featured a voice-modulator that Allbrook held to the mic, and overall left us wanting more. Based on the singles and previews, I’m expecting Stung! to be a return to the acid rock and heavy metal blend without entirely leaving behind the pop direction the band has floated towards. 

“Human Touch” saw Allbrook reaching out and clasping hands with fans near the front, brushing fingers, a poetic gesture. At some point, keys man Jamie Terry, only moments after playing a slick bassline, placed one hand on the keys in front of him, playing for a moment before jumping back on bass, gliding to and fro with a fluidity. Drummer Gin Ireland kept the peace and the pace all night long, making complex tempo-changing tunes look natural.

Upon finishing a rousing rendition of “Giant Tortoise,” Allbrook took the microphone to explain that he’s aware of how many musicians live in Nashville, before stating, “This is how you play professional rock. You make one tiny little mistake and you do it all over,” and then launching straight into attempt #2, which was somehow more boisterous the second time.

About halfway through the set I suddenly noticed Jay Watson on synth. His mastery allowed his efforts to almost stay hidden, letting each song flow cleanly while completing that sweetly mind-bending sound that trademarks Pond.

Considering Allbrook began playing in Pond as a 20-year-old, you might be tempted to think the 36-year-old frontman has even 1% less charisma than in his youth. My friend, you would be dead wrong. With Mick Jagger-like movements, he flitted about the stage from the first song through the 15th as though driven by an unbounding, chaotically beating heart, that few possess. Being surrounded by a brilliant cast of musicians in “Shiny” Joe Ryan, Jay “GUM” Watson, James “Gin” Ireland, and Jamie Terry (no cool nickname we’re aware of), gives this band a presence on stage reminiscent of The Who, fully present and bearing a nonchalance to societal expectations.

Not long after closing with “Toast” from Hobo Rocket, the band jogged back on stage after an enthusiastic call for an encore. Allbrook took a moment to share what the night meant to him, reflecting on the cancellation of a North American tour last year because of issues with his visa, saying, “This is extra special. We had so much trouble getting into this country. So this is special,” before rolling into “Hang A Cross On Me,” from the deluxe edition of 9, a track which features Cowboy John, a local Perth legend who would sell his CDs on the streets. Also credited on the 2013 album Hobo Rocket, Cowboy John sadly passed away in May 2023. Allbrook encouraged the audience to “literally pour one out for Cowboy John” as he carefully tipped his beer bottle over onto the stage, paying homage to his friend.

The encore continued with 2009’s “Don’t Look At The Sun (Or You’ll Go Blind),” a funky bass-driven trip as Allbrook crowd-surfed like a pro, before concluding with the stripped down (in comparison) “Medicine Hat.”

As strange as it is to say, Pond, a band 16 years in the making, is hitting their prime. Kicking off this tour with pure gusto, Pond is a true rock band, and a can’t-miss show. Thanks to the aforementioned elements each member brings to the table, a barrage of wailing sound is released upon the crowd, yet with careful precision. And without the brashness of most garage rockers, but instead with a touch of honey. The infectious energy of Pond radiated out from Basement East, spilling into the parking lot. It was a wonderful welcome back party to Nashville, a city Allbrook described as “ludicrously beautiful.” We can only hope Pond returns again, this time sooner than six years.

_

Setlist:

(I’m) Stung
America’s Cup
Sweep Me Off My Feet
Neon River
Daisy
Black Lung
Human Touch
Paint Me Silver
Aloneaflameaflower
The Weather
Giant Tortoise / Torn Asunder
Toast

Hang a Cross on Me
Don’t Look at the Sun or You’ll Go Blind
Medicine Hat