I've struggled with the decision not to post links to these two shows that I recorded. On one hand, certainly more than the 600 folks each night that got to attend the reunion shows should be able to hear them. On the other hand, I don't want to give someone a reason not to purchase these shows when they are officially released (presumably by Shake It). Instead, I'll take the opportunity to post some pictures and share some memories in an effort to memorialize the weekend.
This was a hugely anticipated event; not only by me but seemingly by folks all across the US. I know or met people those nights from Washington, California, Colorado, Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. I'm sure other states were represented too. It seemed there were more folks there from outside of Cincinnati than were local. No matter where they came from, all had a great time!
I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but this was the first time I saw Ass Ponys live. During their heyday, I was busy attending soccer matches, basketball games or cross country meets and otherwise being super dad to my three daughters. I didn't get out much during that time. I did pick up each of their new discs as they came out (and played them endlessly), and accumulated a boat-load of their live recordings during those years. Just as the kids got to an age where I got a part of my life back, Wussy was taking off and I got into them - big time.
I've also struggled with how to describe my experience over the reunion weekend. Obviously it was a good time and the music was fantastic- that goes without saying. I guess the word that comes to mind most often when I think of this weekend is magical- as pansy as that sounds. Friday night was surreal, from the opening notes of Hey Swifty to the last lines of Little Bastard. In its entirety, night one's set list was:
1. Hey Swifty
2. Ape Hanger
3. Grim
4. Earth To Grandma
5. Azalea
6. Pretty As You Please
7. Kung Fu Reference
8. It's Summer Here
9. Redway
10. Butterfly
11. I Love Bob
12. Banlon Shirt
13. Last Night It Snowed
14. Stupid
15. Shoe Money
16. Donald Sutherland
17. Astronaut
18. Dried Up
19. Ring A Ding Ding I'm Rotten Inside
20. Sidewinder
21. Your Amazing Life
22. Gypped
23. Wall Eyed Girl
24. Little Bastard
They did take a short break after Banlon Shirt because, "We're old". Banlon Shirt night one was probably the musical highlight of the weekend for me. That is such a intense song. Also top of my favorites from night one were Redway and Butterfly, with honorable mention going to Wall Eyed Girl.
Night two's set list in its entirety was:
1. Hey Swifty
2. Ape Hanger
3. Grim
4. Earth To Grandma
5. Azalea
6. Pretty As You Please
7. Kung Fu Reference
8. Nothing Starts Today
9. Redway
10. Butterfly
11. (Baby) I Love You (Baby)
12. Banlon Shirt
13. Last Night It Snowed
14. Stupid
15. Shoe Money
16. Donald Sutherland
17. Mr. Superlove
18. Dried Up
19. Ring A Ding Ding I'm Rotten Inside
20. Sidewinder
21. Place Out There
22. Gypped
23. Wall Eyed Girl
24. Little Bastard
25. encore break
26. I Love Bob
27. Your Amazing Life
Chuck seemed more relaxed night two, as he spent more time chatting with the crowd and telling more song intro stories. Randy goofed off a little more this night than the previous. I've heard the Ring A Ding Ding story many times (the Wussy Duo regularly plays it), but I'm amused anew each time I hear it. It was great to hear Mr. Superlove on night two, but when Chuck introduced (Baby) I Love You (Baby) by simply saying, "I'm from a cancer family", I thought I was going to ball- again, pansy, I know.
Swim Team opened the festivities Friday night and did a fantastic job, as did Vacation on Saturday night. You should check them out!
Enough rambling. If you could have been there and you weren't, shame on you! If you couldn't be there, I understand WNKU will broadcast at least part of the pro-recorded audio over the Holidays, and some variant thereof will be officially released, presumably by Shake It, in the new year.
The above fantastic photos courtesy of Richard Tarbell. Check out his site
HERE.
Cincinnati City Beat reviewed the show
HERE, and summed it all up quite well!
In addition to the really cool poster limited to 100 (above) that was sold at the show, they also sold a set of four buttons, with a miniature flyer from a past Ass Ponys show, and a cool t-shirt (limited to 200) modeled here by Wussy's Lisa Walker. Supposedly, the shirt is patterned after the very first Ass Ponys shirt that was designed by Chuck's daughter when she was quite young. When asked why there were only three people in the design, she indicated it was because nobody ever sees the drummer.
For the reunion, they did take one promo photo of the band because Chuck didn't want the band represented by a 20 year old photo. Here it is in color and black and white.
Finally, after the show, the band was awarded a medal memorializing the reunion weekend. I'd like to share a special THANK YOU to Chuck Cleaver, Randy Cheek, John Erhardt and Dave Morrison for a totally wonderful weekend!
Attending Ohio State in the mid/late '80s allowed me to see all the good bands in all the good clubs. Scrawl was one of those bands, and anywhere they played was one of those clubs. Fast forward thirty years. Scrawl, (and any other band Marcy Mays and/or Sue Harshe are playing in) is still one of those bands, and we can credit Marcy for bringing back the feel of campus in the '80s/'90s with her club, Ace of Cups. When I had the opportunity to see Scrawl open for my current favorite band (Wussy), I knew it would be a great double header. I was not mistaken. Their post-punk/riot grrrl sound has fared well throughout the years, and they sounded really good this night. The reaction of the sold out crowd, many of which arrived early enough for Scrawl's opening set, seemed to agree. 
and John Smallwood
