The Ponys Return to Chicago After Two-Year Hiatus

You wouldn't know it was the Ponys' first hometown gig in over two years based on their performance on Halloween. By the time the Chicago garage rockers kicked into their third song, 'Let's Kill Ourselves,' at the Empty Bottle, every member appeared to be drenched in sweat. Guitarist/vocalist Jered Gummere seemed particularly possessed, flailing in front of his amp like a teenager and blasting his guitar so loud that it almost drowned out his vocals and Nathan Jerde's drums. For a band that needed to take a break because of exhaustion, the Ponys were clearly reenergized.

"Basically, we were kind of burned out and had been on the road for four years straight," Gummere told Spinner of the band's hiatus. "Unfortunately, we also had some real life things to deal with, and it went from taking time off to taking almost two years off."

Dressed in pro-wrestler costumes and playing on a cheapo stage-turned-DIY-wrestling-ring -- at one point, Jerde body-slammed Gummere from his drum kit -- the band pummeled through a nice mix of their last eight years' worth of material, playing songs from their most well-known release, 2007's 'Turn the Lights Out,' as well as early fan faves like opener 'Wicked City' and 'I Wanna F--- You.'

The band also played two new songs, and Gummere told us they started recording a new EP for Matador a few days ago. "I think they have more of a rhythmic feeling," he said of the new tracks. "There will probably be s--- tons of guitars still, but I feel like a couple of the new songs have some space and they're kind of mid-tempo and a little creepy and depressing." One of the songs we heard is definitely in the latter camp -- and fit the night's Halloween vibe perfectly.