There is a moment in time when a band transcends the small-club circuit and begins its inevitable ascent toward rock’s upper echelons. Glasgow’s Dead Pony did exactly that at a completely sold-out Corporation in Sheffield. Having tracked their live trajectory on several occasions over the last few years, it is clear that this wasn’t just another tour stop; this was, without a shadow of a doubt for me, the single best performance I have ever seen the band deliver.
Dead Pony have clearly started to forge major new ground. The days of catching them in half-empty rooms are firmly in the rearview mirror; they are selling out venues, commanding much larger capacities, and drawing an increasingly passionate following. This momentum was validated globally recently when legendary music producer and YouTube commentator Rick Beato spotlighted them in his Top 10 video celebrating the best new rock bands breaking through right now. Seeing their high-octane energy translate to the live stage, it’s incredibly easy to see exactly what caught Beato’s ear.
Setting the stage for the night were two fantastic opening acts that ensured the energy was maxed out from the very second the doors opened. Local alt-rock heavyweights Air Drawn Dagger delivered a great set blending their signature mix of angst-ridden melodies and heavy riffs that instantly won over the early crowd, unfortunately i didnt get to photograph the band tonight having arrived just after the band’s 7.30pm set started.
Preceding them were the brilliant Overgrown, who kicked off with an intense, raw, and atmospheric performance, proving exactly why they are a band to watch in the underground rock scene, with an already huge social media and streaming platform following. Both acts brought their absolute A-game, priming the room perfectly for what was to come.
From the moment they walked on stage, Dead Pony lit up the room. The Corporation can sometimes be a tricky room to mix, but the sound quality was superb, balanced, and fiercely heavy without losing an ounce of clarity.
The band members proved themselves once again to be exceptionally accomplished musicians. Guitarist and primary composer Blair Crichton laid down a relentless wall of guitar and intricate, nu-metal-tinged programming, anchored flawlessly by the lock-step rhythm section of Liam Adams on bass and Euan Lyons behind the drums.
The setlist was well balanced, heavily leaning into the adrenaline-fueled tracks of their latest material. Opener “EAT MY DUST!” and the blistering “EVERYTHING BURNS” whipped the crowded room into an immediate frenzy. The middle section kept the momentum high with fan favourites like “BOOM!” and the crowd participation during “RAINBOWS”.
A personal highlight was a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “YOU OUGHTA KNOW”. It is an incredibly difficult track for any band to take on and frontwoman Anna Shields absolutely commanded it. She handled the shifting vocal dynamics with effortless control, moving from a venomous, rhythmic whisper to an explosive, soaring rock belt that left the entire room stunned. It was an outstanding showcase of her talent and cemented her status as one of the most compelling new female vocalists in the modern rock scene.
Closing out the main set with the massive hooks of “COBRA” and “MANA”, followed by an encore that left the room begging for more, Dead Pony proved they have outgrown the constraints of small-venue indie-rock. They possess the songs, the musicianship, the stage presence, and the sheer sonic power to fill arenas. On the basis of this flawless Sheffield showcase, Dead Pony are undeniably destined for much bigger stages in the years to come.
To see why the band has captured the attention of major international music critics, check out the video for their latest single, Dead Pony – Eat My Dust!, which demonstrates the heavy, riff-driven sound that Rick Beato praised in his channel’s breakdown of the best new rock acts.
