Ponytail

Attention, all you Ritalin-addled freaks bopping about Romper Room to the noise rock tantrums of Deerhoof, Japanther and the mighty Lightning Bolt -- have we got more neon-stained awesomeness for you! Ponytail are an indie quartet from Baltimore whose caffeinated jammers conflate juvenile zest and violent psychotic episodes. With mike in hand, lead screamer Molly Siegel throws herself into what can only be described as ungodly seizures and manic outbursts. Her mates, meanwhile, flip out with vengeful glee. Yet don't assume Ponytail are nothing more than sonic chaos. Drummer Jeremy Hyman and guitarists Ken Seeno and Dustin Wong (also of Ecstatic Sunshine) have gelled into a crack unit capable of following up spazz-inspired breakdowns with proggy grooves and intricate melodies. What sets Ponytail apart from Lightning Bolt is their apparent love for ska and pop punk, elements of which are littered throughout the group's first two albums, Kamehameha and Ice Cream Spiritual! That's pretty darn cool. You don't hear many noise rockers flirting with these styles; they're a bit too serious for such silly shenanigans. But hey, fun is what Ponytail are all about.