Ass Ponys was an
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...
band based in
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...
. Their sound combines rock and country into an off-kilter blend of
Americana
Americana may refer to:
*Americana music, a genre or style of American music
* Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States
Film, radio and television
* ''Americana'' (1981 film), an American drama film
* ''Americana'' (20 ...
music. They have gone on national tours with bands such as
Pavement,
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses are an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects.
The group was original ...
, and
Possum Dixon. Among other periodicals, they have been featured in ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'', ''CMJ'', and ''The Cincinnati Post''.
History
The Ass Ponys was formed in 1988 from members of Ohio band the Libertines and Midwestern band Gomez. The group was active for 17 years, releasing six studio albums from 1988 to 2005. The Ass Ponys went on hiatus in 2005, after releasing the compilation album ''The Okra Years'' – four years after their last original material was released in ''Lohio''. More importantly, it appears that core band members are focused on new projects, so new Ass Ponys output seems unlikely any time soon. Vocalist
Chuck Cleaver is focusing his attention on his current band,
Wussy
Wussy is an American four-piece indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2001. The band consists of Chuck Cleaver (vocals/guitar), Lisa Walker (vocals/guitar), Joe Klug (drums) and Mark Messerly (bass). Former members include Dawn Burman ( ...
. Bill Alletzhauser currently fronts the band ''The Hiders''. Randy Cheek plays with The Libertines US, The Fairmount Girls, and The Ready Stance. Chuck Cleaver and Randy Cheek performed together at TedxCincinnati in November 2013. In July 2015, the band announced they would play two shows at the Woodward Theater in Cincinnati on Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7, 2015.
The reunion shows featured the bands Swim Team and Vacation as openers for the Ass Ponys.
Members
*
Chuck Cleaver – vocals, guitar (1988–2005)
*Randy Cheek – bass, backing vocals (1988–2005; died 2024)
*John Erhardt – guitar (1988–1994; 2003–2005; died 2020)
*Kevin Lung – guitar (1994)
*Bill Alletzhauser – guitar, slide, banjo, backing vocals (1995–2002)
*Dan Kleingers – drums (1988–1991)
*Dave Morrison – drums, keyboards, backing vocals (1991–2005)
Discography
Studio albums
*1990 – ''
Mr. Superlove'' (
Okra
Okra (, ), ''Abelmoschus esculentus'', known in some English-speaking countries as lady's fingers, is a flowering plant in the Malvaceae, mallow family native to East Africa. Cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions aro ...
)
*1993 – ''
Grim'' (Okra/
Safe House
A safe house (also spelled safehouse) is a dwelling place or building whose unassuming appearance makes it an inconspicuous location where one can hide out, take shelter, or conduct clandestine activities.
Historical usage
It may also refer to ...
)
*1994 – ''
Electric Rock Music'' (
A&M)
*1996 – ''
The Known Universe'' (
A&M)
*2000 – ''
Some Stupid with a Flare Gun'' (Checkered Past)
*2001 – ''
Lohio'' (Checkered Past)
Extended plays
*1994 – ''Little Bastard'' (
A&M)
*1996 – ''Under Cedars and Stars'' (
A&M)
Compilations
*2006 – ''The Okra Years'' (Shake It)
Singles
*''Little Bastard'', from ''Electric Rock Music'' (#26 on US Billboard Modern Rock)
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
Ass Ponys collectionon the
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...
's live music archive
Chuck Cleaver interviews on Outsight Radio HoursCincyMusic Profile
A&M Records artists
Indie rock musical groups from Ohio
Musical groups from Cincinnati
Musical groups established in 1988
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