Album review: WILD PONIES – Radiant
No Evil Records [Release date 10.06.16]
Essentially a Nashville-based duo of Doug (guitars and vocals) and Telisha (bass and vocals) Williams, Radiant is Wild Ponies sophomore release, coming on the back of their well-received Ray Kennedy-produced debut Things That Used To Shine (2013).
Having plunged full time into music as an acoustic duo Doug & Telisha, the couple released two independent albums before arriving in Nashville and hooking up with Kennedy.
But Radiant finds Wild Ponies branching out – Doug hung up his acoustic in favour of plugging in throughout set, there is song writing collaboration with Amy Speace, Sally Barris, Jeff Barbra, Robby Hetch, Amelia White and Mariah Moore, and with just four players Megan Jane (drums) and Fats Kaplan (strings and steel) there’s a surprising amount of ‘rocking out’.
‘Born With A Broken Heart’ opens the set in quite some style, echoing The White Stripes with some powerful guitar playing and Telisha’s imposing vocals. It’s a format revisited to good effect the on commanding Jimmy Page-style ‘Graveyard Train’.
There’s mainstream crossover appeal in the shimmering ‘Radiant’, the Western vibe of ‘Tower And The Wheel’, and ‘Unplug The Machine’ which echoes Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ (with a touch of REM), and more traditional country fare in the form of ‘Mom And Pop’ (on which Doug takes lead vocals), ‘The Night We Never Met’, and the closing duet ‘Love Is Not A Sin’.
Whether Radiant signals a long term direction of travel remains to be seen Wild Ponies are already planning an all acoustic project. But for now, there’s something here for everyone. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)
Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections