Live Review: Bad Pony, Chase City, Maddy Grace

After being announced as the triple j Unearthed feature artist for last week, local girl Maddy Jane graced the stage with confidence, and treated the small crowd to a taste of her raw and distinct voice. After playing a few originals and covering the iconic Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, the crowd was under her spell and in awe of her talent. Having recently been added to Falls Festival's Marion Bay line-up, Jane informed everyone they should come along, have a dance and say "hey".

Before long another local band took to the stage: Chase City. The boys missed out on supporting Bad Pony during their last visit to Hobart, because frontman Tarik Stoneman was travelling abroad. But tonight they were back and in full swing to up the energy in the room and get the people moving. With some groovy originals thrown into the set, the crowd was warmed up in no time. It was obvious they felt at home on stage at Republic Bar, interacting with the audience and encouraging us to move closer to the front for a quality dance.

When Bad Pony took to Republic Bar's stage for the second time this year, they were just as glad to be back as we were to have them. The Sydney boys are one of a kind and definitely a band to keep an eye on throughout 2017. Their high energy and obvious passion for performing make you remember why you love live music so much. Bad Pony gave the show their all - as they do each and every time - and their energy was reciprocated by the sea of grooving people (of varying ages) in front of them. It was obvious to everyone in the room that they were stoked to be on stage doing what they love and making people happy in the process. It is impossible to stand still at a Bad Pony gig. Their new single, Bottles, released in October, stays true to the band's distinctive sound that fans have come to love, but is also a fresh and fun tune with a real summertime feel to it. Bad Pony are a must for live music fans nationwide.