Following on from news that Melbourne’s late-night institution Pony announced that they would be closing operations after 12 years of scintillating 2am shows (and many, many bleary-eyed morning afters) from December 2nd, but as FasterLouder reports, the old stallion is planning to go out in style before its finally put out to pasture.
According to the gig listings on the venue’s website, the Little Collins St bar plans to open its doors at 2pm on December 1st, and continue with bands until at least midday the following day in a last mile-end dash to the finish line in a blaze of characteristic debauchery and glory.
The marathon gig, suitably dubbed The Last Ride At Pony, will be “an absolute monster of a show” teases the venue’s operators, “So start working on your stamina and building up your riding callouses…trust us, you’re gonna need them.”
The lineup is to be announced shortly, but you can expect a host of acts helping to “send the old fella off to stud in true Pony low-brow style!” as Pony puts it.
Jon Perring, one of Pony’s three owners spoke about the announcement of Pony’s closure, saying that it was “essentially a business decision based on not being able to agree on a rental that would work for us to operate long term into the future.”“So start working on your stamina and building up your riding callouses…trust us, you’re gonna need them.”
Perring, who also owns famous Melbourne live music venues such as The Tote, Bar Open and Yah Yah’s, managed to negotiate a new lease for Pony that should prove the continued existence of Melbourne’s infamous ‘Bermuda Triangle’ (named after the pronged set-up between late-night hotspots Pony, Cherry Bar in AC/DC Lane and Chinatown’s Ding Dong Lounge).
Camillo Ippoliti, owner of Revolver in Prahran and the CBD’s Cookie and Toff In Town, took up Pony’s lease, stating: “It is likely that after renovations live music will continue.” Ippoliti also possesses the lease to Pony’s neighbour, Bridie O’Reilly’s, noting that the two venues will continue to operate as separate, but complementary entities.
Meanwhile Pony’s booker Andy Moore spoke to FasterLouder about the new leaseholder’s plans to transform the venue, saying fans shouldn’t expect the same grungy, notoriously beer-flecked establishment it once was. “Shit always got loose at Pony and I don’t think we’ll really see that happening again in Melbourne,” said Moore.“Shit always got loose at Pony and I don’t think we’ll really see that happening again in Melbourne,”
“My inbox has been bombarded by bands from Melbourne and interstate lamenting the fact they’ll never get to play Pony again,” he added, calling the venue “a classic room that is too small to have big shows and has a PA that should be in a venue three times its size, where the musicians and the audience have no separation and can smell each other’s breath.”
If that proves to no longer be the case, then prepping the saddle for the Last Ride At Pony may not only every Melbourne live music fan’s last rite and privilege, but also one hell of a music marathon. Best start planning your hangover cures now…
