Music Preview: The Ponys + Chin Up Chin Up Tonight @ The Mohawk

Chicago's The Ponys traffic in post-punk and dark overtones, and have been tirelessly touring the club circuit for years. The band have recently opened for both Spoon and Bloc Party, but are now headlining their own fall trek through the South. Their latest work Turn The Lights Out is perhaps The Ponys' most conventional rock album (compared to less polished and "produced" earlier efforts), and the resulting professionalism seems to accent the band's sonic strengths. There's still waves of guitar sound and distortion and such, but it is all done with both precision and purpose. The new songs were enthusiastically received at a myriad of shows The Ponys played at SXSW 2007, and should see a similar audience response tonight.

Opening tonight are another Chicago band, Chin Up Chin Up. Our interest was piqued after hearing their impressive debut album We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers in 2004, and their reverb-heavy, anthemic indie pop sounds should provide a fast start to the evening and excite followers of bands like Band Of Horses and The Arcade Fire. What's more, tonight's show is free and the weather is great, so there's no excuse not to turn up.