Pony Club (band)
Encyclopedia
Pony Club are a Dublin-based Irish band
, primarily a vehicle for Mark Cullen. Other members include his brothers, Darren and Jason, as well as Martin Healy and David Morrissey, both formerly of A House
, and Rob Cumiskey of The Kybosh
.
, Dublin to London
in the 1990s
after having signed to A&M
under their then moniker, Bawl (which also featured Stephen McBride on bass).
Bawl had released a series of singles on their own label, Dependent Records, and in 1996 released an album, Year Zero on A&M. This attracted critical attention and some “the new Smiths” hype (the Cullens cited their mother singing Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
at the kitchen sink as an influence) but disappointing sales. For legal reasons, the band had to change its name to Fixed Stars and signed on with Mercury
. They released several singles as Fixed Stars, but broke up in 2000, having been dropped before releasing their album.
Ian Broudie
of the Lightning Seeds
had produced some of the Fixed Stars singles, and Mark Cullen continued to work with Broudie, writing songs for the Lightning Seeds album Tilt
, and contributing with Broudie to the soundtrack of Purely Belter
. Cullen and Broudie continue to collaborate on "songs for other people", and Cullen has written for Kylie Minogue
.
, natural home for many Irish indie acts. As Pony Club, Cullen works with a variety of musicians, still including his brothers, and, recently, Martin Healy and David Morrissey, of Setanta labelmates A House (John Carrol, A House's manager, had also managed Bawl) and Rob Cumiskey of Dublin band, The Kybosh
.
So far, Pony Club have released three albums, the first two on Setanta. Home Truths (Allmusic review: 3.5/5 [ link]) was named album of the year for 2002 by Dan Cairns of the Sunday Times, and resulted in Cullen being offered a support slot on Morrissey
's American tour. For financial reasons, the band were unable to take up this offer, but they did get to support him at his concert at London's Royal Albert Hall
that year. The second is Family Business (Allmusic review: 4/5 [ link]) from 2004.
Following the demise of Setanta, the third Pony Club album, Post Romantic, was released in November 2008 by Hum records.
Cullen has been called one of Ireland's top songwriters of the last decade. He receives particular attention from critics for the quality of his lyrics, which are often compared to those of Jarvis Cocker
for their power of observation and acerbity, as well as tributes for his songwriting from artists such as Morrissey and Terry Hall
.
The London band New Young Pony Club
called themselves "New Young" to distinguish themselves from Pony Club. In response, Cullen has joked that he is happy to be known as the Old Decrepit Pony Club if needs must.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, primarily a vehicle for Mark Cullen. Other members include his brothers, Darren and Jason, as well as Martin Healy and David Morrissey, both formerly of A House
A House
A House was an Irish band from the 1980s to the 1990s, recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of [frontman] Dave Couse ... bolstered by the [band's] seemingly effortless musicality". The single "Endless Art" is one of their best known charting successes. A House were managed...
, and Rob Cumiskey of The Kybosh
The Kybosh
The Kybosh are an Irish rock quartet, made up of brothers Rob Cumiskey and Donal Cumiskey, Brian Higgins and Anthony Doyle based in Dublin, Ireland...
.
Bawl and Fixed Stars
Cullen and his brothers moved from FinglasFinglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
, Dublin to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the 1990s
1990s in music
For music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
after having signed to A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
under their then moniker, Bawl (which also featured Stephen McBride on bass).
Bawl had released a series of singles on their own label, Dependent Records, and in 1996 released an album, Year Zero on A&M. This attracted critical attention and some “the new Smiths” hype (the Cullens cited their mother singing Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
"Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" is a song by The Smiths, recorded in autumn 1985 and first released on their 1986 album The Queen Is Dead. It was also released as a single in Germany.-Composition and recording:...
at the kitchen sink as an influence) but disappointing sales. For legal reasons, the band had to change its name to Fixed Stars and signed on with Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. They released several singles as Fixed Stars, but broke up in 2000, having been dropped before releasing their album.
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie
Ian Broudie is a British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer from Liverpool, England. After emerging from the post punk scene in Liverpool in the late 1970s as a member of Big in Japan, Broudie went on to form the short-lived groups Original Mirrors and Care in the early 1980s as well...
of the Lightning Seeds
Lightning Seeds
The Lightning Seeds are an English alternative rock and pop band from Liverpool, England formed in 1989 by Ian Broudie , formerly of the Big in Japan band....
had produced some of the Fixed Stars singles, and Mark Cullen continued to work with Broudie, writing songs for the Lightning Seeds album Tilt
Tilt (Lightning Seeds album)
Tilt is the fifth studio album from rock group The Lightning Seeds. It was released in 1999.-Release and reception:-Track listing:All tracks written by Ian Broudie .# "Life's Too Short" – 4:01...
, and contributing with Broudie to the soundtrack of Purely Belter
Purely Belter
Purely Belter is a 2000 British comedy drama film directed by Mark Herman about two teenagers trying to get money, by any means necessary, in order to get season tickets for home games played by the FA Premier League football team Newcastle United.It is based on the novel The Season Ticket by...
. Cullen and Broudie continue to collaborate on "songs for other people", and Cullen has written for Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
.
Pony Club
After the post-Fixed Stars transition period, Cullen then signed as a solo artist, under the name Pony Club, to Setanta RecordsSetanta Records
Setanta Records is a UK Independent record label. The label was at the forefront of the indie Irish music scene in the late eighties and nineties as itchampioned young Irish groups.-History:...
, natural home for many Irish indie acts. As Pony Club, Cullen works with a variety of musicians, still including his brothers, and, recently, Martin Healy and David Morrissey, of Setanta labelmates A House (John Carrol, A House's manager, had also managed Bawl) and Rob Cumiskey of Dublin band, The Kybosh
The Kybosh
The Kybosh are an Irish rock quartet, made up of brothers Rob Cumiskey and Donal Cumiskey, Brian Higgins and Anthony Doyle based in Dublin, Ireland...
.
So far, Pony Club have released three albums, the first two on Setanta. Home Truths (Allmusic review: 3.5/5 [ link]) was named album of the year for 2002 by Dan Cairns of the Sunday Times, and resulted in Cullen being offered a support slot on Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
's American tour. For financial reasons, the band were unable to take up this offer, but they did get to support him at his concert at London's Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
that year. The second is Family Business (Allmusic review: 4/5 [ link]) from 2004.
Following the demise of Setanta, the third Pony Club album, Post Romantic, was released in November 2008 by Hum records.
Cullen has been called one of Ireland's top songwriters of the last decade. He receives particular attention from critics for the quality of his lyrics, which are often compared to those of Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Branson Cocker is an English musician and frontman for the band Pulp. Through his work with the band, Cocker became a figurehead of the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Following Pulp's hiatus Cocker has led a successful solo career...
for their power of observation and acerbity, as well as tributes for his songwriting from artists such as Morrissey and Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
.
The London band New Young Pony Club
New Young Pony Club
New Young Pony Club are an English electronic band from London, consisting of members from London, Hereford, Cambridge and Bromley. Their influences are prominently from post-punk and New Wave....
called themselves "New Young" to distinguish themselves from Pony Club. In response, Cullen has joked that he is happy to be known as the Old Decrepit Pony Club if needs must.
Pony Club Singles & Albums
| Single | Album | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Truths | 2002 | Setanta | |
| Family Business | 2004 | Setanta | |
| Post Romantic | 2008 | Hum | |
| "Diplomat" | 2009 | Hum | |
Bawl Singles & Albums
| Single | Album | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bathroom" | 1995 | Dependent Records | |
| "Girls Night Out" | 1996 | Dependent Records | |
| "Glen Campbell Nights" | 1996 | Dependent Records | |
| "Beyond Safeways" | 1996 | Dependent Records | |
| "Sticky Rock" | 1996 | Dependent Records | |
| Year Zero | 1996 | Dependent Records, A&M Records | |
| "He’s All That’s Great About Pop" | 1997 | Dependent Records | |
Fixed Stars Singles
| Single | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| "Blueprints" | 1999 | Mercury |
| "Every Night" | 1999 | Mercury |
| "Here Comes the Music" | 1999 | Mercury |
| "What If the World Sleeps with You?" | 2000 | Mercury |