One Trick Pony

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August 2, 2009

I met up with Randolph Williams III and the rest of One Trick Pony (plus a friend they decided last minute could do some shaker, piano, and backups) at their banjo player Josh’s house, nestled between faceless stucco apartments that could be anywhere in the city, but happened to be in Burbank. The house itself had all the characteristics of a Frat house – foosball table, empty beer cans, empty fish tanks, a cow skull, even the roommate with an excessive sound-system watching some terrible Michael Bay movie turned up so loud you could probably hear it across the street. The difference being, of course, that instead of old beer pong tables and ratty couches, the walls were lined with organs, stage pianos, a linear tracking turntable, and a (probably working, though completely obsolete) TV station switchboard.

After a few tall-boys, some shooting the shit, and waiting for the heat to dissipate (or at least, hoping it would), the six of them gathered around the living room and started to play. Immediately you can sense the joy and passion for what they’re doing, which gives a cohesion to the carefully varied instrumentation and melodies that are wonderfully unique yet subliminally familiar, tying in moments that can range from Sufjan Stevens to Andrew Bird to Radiohead. With Williams’ amazing voice, the smart and witty lyricism, and purposeful delivery that winds through sweeping arrangements and creative percussion, One Trick Pony is making some of the most exciting new music coming out of LA.

Not many bands would take the risk of having a friend who doesn’t play or practice with them jump in last minute on a live set like this, but this was right up One Trick Pony’s alley (they’ve been known to play stripped down / acoustic sets on a regular basis around LA, and they’re known for their energy and spontaneity). The night quickly digressed into playing foosball (even in the middle of a song), drinking, and ending with Randy getting a text message that they were listed on Pehrspace’s calendar for that night (which hopefully didn’t end up being true).

They played five ridiculously catchy tunes that night.

Find out more about One Trick Pony @ www.myspace.com/onetrickpony

Camera: Elliot Glass & Allen Kelley
Sound: Elliot Glass
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