Alt-Rock in Oakland: Pond + 26fix | New Parish | Oakland CA | 05.15.24
ARTICLE CONTRIBUTED BY GABRIEL DAVID BARKIN | PUBLISHED ON MAY 8, 2024
We’re going a tad off-brand here, but BISS-listers who like a taste of alt-pop-psychedelia (Tame Impala, Flaming Lips) might want to jump into Pond. The Australian quintet played New Parish in Oakland Wednesday night with opening act 26fix.
Pond
The house was packed with a diverse cast of Gen Z’ers, and for good reason. First, Pond delivers a powerful punch on stage with their sonic and melodic songs. Their music is edgy enough to be distinctive but doesn’t veer too far from avenues trodden by Oasis, Muse, and Utopia. The sound is lush, proggy, and full of bravado. Check out their new single “(I’m) Stung,” for instance, and tell me it doesn’t remind you of Todd Rundgren.
Pond
But Pond’s not-so-secret weapon when they hit the stage is singer Nick Allbrook. While his voice is interesting and dynamic on record, his stage presence is something to behold. Sure, the guy can sing. But he also commands attention with his well-honed rock star strutting and posing. He frequently leans directly into the audience, reaching out to grab someone’s hand and making sure to sing a line or two to every rail-rider.
Nick Allbrook of Pond
The dude even crowd surfs. After one circuit through the crowd, he thanked his literal supporters, “I put my skull in your hands, and you never fail. I’ve never once had my skull cracked open.”
Nick Allbrook of Pond
Guitarist “Shiny” Joe Ryan” thanks 26fix for opening, saying the foursome are “the nicest people we could possibly have on the tour.” Just an hour earlier, 26fix, a.k.a. singer-songwriter Erika Goodwin, lauded the headliners: ” We were really scared to talk to them [when we started this tour], because they’re our heroes.”
“Shiny” Joe Ryan of Pond
26fix, which for touring purposes is a quartet, played a tight half-hour set of pop with hints of punk and an abundance of atonal guitar chorus effects. Listening to her latest single ” Stone Killer,” Goodwin comes off a bit Madonna-esque, but in performance she channels a combination of 90s riot grrrl swagger and post-millennial style.
26fix
And kudos to 26fix for selling cassette tapes of her music at the merch booth!
26fix
26fix
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Review and photos by Gabriel Barkin | www.gdbarkin.com | IG: @gabrieldavidbarkin