From Australia to Chicago: Pond Brings Psychedelic Bliss to The Vic Theatre

CHICAGO | The Vic Theatre saw some psychedelic madness this past Friday with Australian five-piece Pond. The group is currently touring the U.S. and Canada for their new album, Stung!, which was released in June this year and is the quintet’s tenth album to date. Pond has performed many times in Chicago in the past, with their last appearance being at Metro in December of 2022. This was the group’s first time at the Vic, and an unforgettable one to say the least. Pond currently consists of Nicholas Allbrook, “Shiny” Joe Ryan, Jay Watson, Jamie Terry, and James Ireland. 

When Pond took the stage, it was obvious how much of a vibe this show was going to be. Opening with “Daisy” from their 2019 album Tasmania, the group immediately put in their all. Afterwards was the introduction to Stung!, playing “(I’m) Stung” next on their setlist, and the fans danced around like it was a classic. Lead singer Allbrook sang and spun across the tiny Vic stage like it was his own, with his vibrant stage presence engaging the audience even further. In fact, Allbrook encouraged people to dance around, and if they look like fools, who cares? 

Allbrook additionally took some time to acknowledge Chicago’s bitterly cold weather. Being from Australia, the group is not used to the cold and windy temperatures that Chicago experiences during this time in the year. Very opinionated on the matter, Allbrook told the audience how cold it was, to which the audience replied with a cheer as Chicagoans love talking about the weather. Even though it was cold outside, the inside of the theater felt the heat of the people moving, causing the crowd, and the band, to forget about the freezing temperature of the outdoors. 

The lighting for this concert really encapsulated the energy and aura of a true psych-rock show, combining visual elements on top of the audio from the band. It was ethereal, yet straight to the point. The audio had the perfect amount of effect to contrast the lighting, and I felt as if I walked into a colorful spiral of pure bliss. It was a magical night of music, dancing, and high spirits with every person that attended. Pond put on a performance like no other, catering to the psychedelia atmosphere they have shaped over the years, and they are truly a band worth seeing if you want to be exposed to a real psychedelic rock show. Check out their pre-show interview here!