Karen Ponzio Photos
Pond View.
Holberton School was the place to warm up on a chilly Wednesday night as local rockers Pond View took to the stage for the latest District Arts and Education livestream show.
District Executive Director A.M. Bhatt offered his welcomes and thank yous to the Facebook audience. He acknowledged Scott Amore — “our sound, video, and booker” — and added, “you know he does three for him and one for me, and tonight is one for me: loud, aggressive music.”
Bhatt talked about the District’s high school programs that were currently going on — including courses in virtual reality, video making, design, and website development — that are free to New Haven high school students, as well as a monthly educator’s forum and a Tuesday Tea, which Bhatt said he had been running for 17 years “in one form or another.”
“It is a long-term experiment in community formation,” he said. “It’s not complex: we serve tea, usually a snack, and it is a place for community to gather and just have conversations.”
After speaking about those programs, Bhatt said, “that’s all I got. Pond View!”
And the band took over, lighting up the rest of the evening with its unique sound, self-described on Spotify as “rock music for moms.” Hey, this mom, who loves her music loud, more than approved.
“Pond View: Here it comes,” said vocalist and guitarist Luke Kraszewski after he and the rest of the band — Corey Farnsworth on lead guitar, Josh Sansone on bass, and Matt Nagy on drums — said “hi” and “what’s up” to Facebook.
They got right into the music and the fun, exploding into a song that could have gotten a crowd up on its feet and rushing the stage to dance along, if there had been a live audience, though I can’t imagine anyone at home wasn’t moving along as well (as this reporter was), “I don’t need it. I can’t afford it. I can’t need it. I can’t do anything,” Kraszewski sang as he danced and thrashed along with the band to the first song. Many of the band’s selections — such as the songs “4U” and “Two Headed Boy” —its came from their latest EP, Mouthbreather, released this past January.
Though the music hit hard, the band members kept it low-key and sweet between songs. They thanked Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg a number of times. They shouted and said hi to Farnsworth’s mother after Farnsworth said he didn’t want to take his shirt off because she was watching. The band heated up as they played and danced and worked up a sweat, though that did not deter the musicians from giving it their all with each onslaught of sound.
New songs were shared, including the band’s most recent release, “Golden Years,” which highlighted poignant lyrics — such as “will you ever learn how to love yourself?” and “I wanna live before the golden years are gone” — as well as the band’s powerful sound.
And the jokes kept coming.
“What do you think, am I too sweaty?” said Kraszowski with a smile. “Should I put my shirt back on because I’m so sweaty that I’m covering it up, or do you think I’m sweating just enough?”
“Just enough,” said Nagy. “I think your sweat is just fine, actually,” which caused Kraszowski to laugh and Nagy to chime in with “that’s what the next song is called!” as the band launched into “Just Fine” from its 2020 album Fungus?
After that the band played two more songs, once again thanking Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg as well as DAE. “This warehouse is sick,” added Kraszowski. “I’d like to skateboard on your floor.”
As the band rocked through one last song, and as Kraszowski screamed “gimme more” over and over again, it was hard not to wish for more from this band, who will stay on this reporter’s radar, maybe next time for a show where she can dance along and get sweaty herself with a few socially distanced friends.
District livestream shows continue to be broadcast every two weeks on its Facebook page live at 7 p.m. For more information about future shows as well as any of District’s educational programs please visit District’s website.
We love you Pond Viewâ¤ï¸ðŸŽ¸ðŸŽ¼. I have always dreamed that my son would become the lead guitarist for a Mom band!!! And thank you for leaving your shirt on Corey,,,,,, you'll catch cold😂. Rock on and shoot for the stars,,,, they are closer than you think💫💥