The Ponys

With way more post-punk garage-rock bands already on the menu than a hipster could hope to digest, you’ll have to clear room for the Ponys as they step up with ditties so ridiculously catchy that you’ll beg for Chumbawumba to clear your mind. Ah … now that’s better. This Windy City quartet doesn’t shy away from P. Diddying old acts by embracing a buffet of ’60s and ’70s punk, garage and soul. And loud drums. But despite the group’s lack of an original sound or a handle on the English plural form, the band’s debut album, Laced With Romance, kicks Merriam-Webster’s ass. Beginning with the lawsuit jingle “Let’s Kill Ourselves,” frontman Jered Gummere answers the question of what Robert Smith would sound like hopped up on yellowjackets and Jagerbombs. Laced With Romance barrels forward with dreary lyrics held hostage by driving guitar riffs that inspire that “hey, this sounds like that one song” feeling. “Fall Inn” manhandles the hook from the Crystals’ “Then He Kissed Me” in a way that would make anyone want to start a stripped-down rock band. Who knew three chords could be so fun? Thank you, AC/DC, thank you.