Winnipeg alt-rock band Show Pony consists of vocalist Mannon Smalley, guitarists Thomas Cram and Brett Hesford, drummer Nick Kula and bassist Hailey Hunter. The group formed when Kula and Smalley were playing in other bands that often played together. Both of those bands disbanded around the same time, and Smalley suggested to Kula that they start their own band together. 

Soon after, they connected with Cram through his connection with Kula on Instagram, leading to the formation of the group. 

The group values high-energy performances, hence the name Show Pony. Their musical influences draw from older styles such as ’70s punk and rock and roll, as well as modern alternative acts such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Starcrawler. 

“We love loud, aggressive music, so we try to take that and combine it with more modern stuff to give more of a classic sound with a bit of a modern take,” Cram explained. 

When composing their music, Show Pony takes a collaborative approach, which varies from song to song. Usually, one member presents a small idea that they then develop as a group.  

“It can come from a lot of different places […] ideas can come from anybody,” said Kula. 

On Dec. 2, the band released their second single, “Makes No Difference.” The song’s chorus had originally been conceived as a bridge to a different song. 

“I actually had written the chorus as a bridge to a separate song, and the band had agreed, ‘That bridge is really great. The rest of the song, I think you can do better, but that bridge is really great,’” Smalley said of the song. 

The original song had been about betrayal, and this theme was carried into “Makes No Difference.” They aimed for the song to be “cinematic.” 

“We wanted the instrumentation to paint this picture of riding a motorcycle through the desert outside Las Vegas in the ’80s,” Cram said. 

“Makes No Difference” will be part of the band’s upcoming debut EP, produced in collaboration with producer Ryan Worsley and music engineer Donavan Ostapowich. 

“It was kind of an experiment because we never worked with anybody outside of the band before […] It turned out, I think, really well, and we’re really happy with how it worked out.” Cram reflected. 

The group has two upcoming concerts on back-to-back nights — a cover show at Sidestage on Dec. 5 where they will be covering the songs of Amyl and the Sniffers, and a single release party for “Makes No Difference” at the Park Theatre on Dec. 6. The Calgary-based new wave goth band Uncanny Valley will support them at both shows. 

The group’s fans can expect these concerts to be high-energy, with a focus on live performance. 

“I love a loud, intense rock show,” Cram commented. “There’s just this special feeling of getting your face blown off by a really loud show.” 

When asked what they love about being in a band, the members highlighted their bond. 

“I feel like we are all individuals and we’re all different, but we’re like-minded. It’s fun to bounce off of people like that and to feel understood and feel not judged,” Smalley stated.

Kula agreed, adding, “Obviously, music’s really important in my life, and so, just being around other people that are like-minded in terms of that […] it’s great.” 

Show Pony’s second single, “Makes No Difference,” is now available on all major music streaming platforms. For tickets, visit ticketweb.ca. For more information on Show Pony, follow them on Instagram @showponyband.