Distorted Pony are an American

noise rock Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, artists indulge in extrem ...

band formed in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...

in 1986. The band originally consisted of bass player Dora Jahr and guitarist David Uskovich accompanied by a drum machine. Eventually, they were joined by London May and Theodore Jackson on drums and percussion and Robert Hammer on guitar. The group broke up in late 1993, but they reunited in early 2010 and started to perform reunion shows.

History

Distorted Pony formed in 1986 in Los Angeles, California with Dora Jahr on bass and David Uskovich on guitar. The band initially used a drum machine to handle percussion duties. In 1988, the duo recruited drummer Theodore Jackson and guitarist Robert Hammer. The group's first release was the "Concrete Bruises"

7" single In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...

, which was released in 1990 through Piece of Mind. The single was limited to only 1000 copies. In 1991, the band recruited drummer London May. After the release of

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

s and compilation appearances, the group released their debut album ''

Punishment Room ''Punishment Room'' is the debut album of Distorted Pony, released in 1992 through Bomp!. The CD version of the album contains the band's previous release, '' Work Makes Freedom''. The album was recorded in early 1992 with the help of Steve Albi ...

'' in 1992 through Bomp!. The album was recorded in January 1992 with the help of

Steve Albini Steve Albini (pronounced ; born July 22, 1962) is an American musician, record producer, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman and Flour, and is a member of Shellac. He is the founder, owner and principal en ...

. The band recorded another album with Albini the following year before breaking up in August 1993. The album, titled ''

Instant Winner ''Instant Winner'' is the second album by Distorted Pony, released in 1994 through Trance Syndicate. By the time of the album's release, the band had already parted ways the previous year. The ''Dallas Observer'' called the album "impossible to ...

'', was released

posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award - an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death * Posthumous publication – material published after the author's death * ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1987 * ''Posthumous'' (E ...

in 1994 through

Trance Syndicate Trance Syndicate was an independent record label founded in 1990 by King Coffey, drummer of Austin, Texas band the Butthole Surfers.Larkin, Colin (1999) "Trance Syndicate Records" in ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock'', Virgin Books, , p. ...

. The band reunited in 2010 and began to perform reunion shows with Eddie Rivas of Los Angeles noise rock band Leopold. In the summer of 2018 Distorted Pony completed a 14 date tour of Europe. In 2020 they played the No Coast Fest in Dallas, TX along with a club show in Austin in the following night. On June 14, 2024 the band released the single "Crisis," their first new release in over 30 years.

Band members

*David Uskovich – Guitar, Vocals (1986 –1993, 2010–present) *Dora Jahr – Bass, Vocals (1986–1993, 2010–present) *Eddie Rivas- Guitar, Vocals (2010–present) *London May – Drums (1991–1993, 2010–present) *Theodore Jackson – Drums (1988–1993, 2010–present) *Robert Hammer – Guitar (1988–1993)

Discography

;Studio albums *''

'' (1992, Bomp!) *''

'' (1994,

) ;Live albums *'' Live in Hamburg'' (2021,

Improved Sequence Improved may refer to: * Improved clinch knot, a knot commonly used to secure a fishing line * Improved-definition television (IDTV) * Improved Touring, a category of classifications for cars in amateur road racing * Improved Orion, an Americ ...

) ;EPs *''

Concrete Bruises Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most ...

'' (1990, Piece of Mind) *''

Work Makes Freedom ''Work Makes Freedom'' is an EP by Distorted Pony, released on September, 1991 through Bomp!. The EP was initially released as a 12" vinyl, however all of the tracks would later appear on the CD version of the band's 1992 album ''Punishment Roo ...

'' (1991, Bomp!) *''Dept. of Existence/Go Kart'' (1993, Gasoline Boost) *''

Concrete Bruises (remaster/reissue for 2018 European tour) Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most ...

'' (2018, Total Annihilation Records/Beauty Fool Records) ;Compilation appearances *''Demolition Scare'' (1990, Demolition) – "Sinner's Prayer" *''The Big One'' (1991, Flipside) – "Jahr Null" *''HURT'' (1991, Braindrops) – "Scratch Out the Sky" *''Ow, Quit It! Vol. 1'' (1992, Volvolo) – "Smittin" *''I Give You the Head of Corporate Rock and Roll Vol. 1'' (1992, Pacifica Radio) – "Sinner's Prayer (Live)" *''The Smitten Love Song Compilation'' (1994, Karate) – "Insatiable Times" *''Destination: BOMP!'' (1994, Bomp!) – "HOD"

References

External links

* * * * {{Authority control 1986 establishments in California American noise rock music groups American industrial rock musical groups Musical groups established in 1986 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Musical groups from Los Angeles Trance Syndicate artists