WILD PONIES - RADIANT
Telisha Williams Bass & Vocals
Doug Williams Guitars & Vocals
Megan Jane Drums
Fats Kaplin Strings & Steel
Tres Sasser & Brett Stewart BGVs
Produded by Tres Sasser
On Radiant, the rough and tumble new release from Wild Ponies, the duo of Doug and Telisha Williams buck and rumble through 11 songs that pull from all manner of sources, from poetic tweens, Catawba trees, homophobic politicians, dying small towns, to tarot cards. The tie that binds them all together is the thread of moments in life when we are able to transcend our small daily self-interests, and can somehow hold onto those rarified breaths of the deeper human experience. Radiant explores those moments with alternating delicacy and raucous abandon. At times, it’s as though Telisha is sitting right beside you, fingers on your shoulder, whispering in your ear. Seconds later it’s hard to believe this full, confidently reckless sound is coming from only four players (Telisha Williams, Doug Williams, Megan Jane and Fats Kaplin)
Wild Ponies - Things That Used to Shine
Written during a busy year on the road, Things That Used To Shine is an album about leaving somethings behind…and meeting others head-on. It’s also the studio debut of Wild Ponies, a Nashville-based outfit fronted by Virginia natives Doug and Telisha Williams, who have previously toured and recorded as acoustic folk duo Doug & Telisha. Released by the band’s newly formed independent label, DitchDog Records, Things That Used To Shine finds Telisha opening up about the skeletons that have haunted her closet for years. Grammy-winning producer Ray Kennedy (Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams) recorded the album’s 12 songs in three days, running the band’s harmonies through the same pre-amps once used by the Beatles. Casey Driessen, Russ Pahl, Jake Winebrenner and other heavy-hitting roots musicians also make appearances, beefing up the band’s songs with everything from organ to pedal steel.