David McComb and the Red Ponies
Chronology

(1991 - 1994: London - Melbourne)

David McComb and the Red Ponies April 1994: (Joanna Alach), David McComb, Bruce Haymes, Michael Vidale, Graham Lee, Peter Luscombe and Warren Ellis.
Photo credit unknown (via Warren Ellis, Twitter), likely in Gent, Belgium on 27-Apr-94.


Chronology: a chronological overview of known concert dates (some with setlists and/or ads), 
dates of studio recordings, all line-ups, assorted trivia and other tall tales 
related to the Australian band David McComb and the Red Ponies.
Date format is DD-MMM-YY.

-Information in grey italics is uncertain-

1990-1991 The year in which David McComb -after the Triffids disbanded- attempts to start a solo career in London.

Brief history: "I seem to have spent two years in London speaking on the telephone to lawyers; and, no matter how much I like England, speaking to lawyers is not my idea of an absolutely fantastic time. So that's why I'm here [in Australia]. It really is incredible, you can't do anything without getting a lawyer in. You can't move. I was trying to get master tapes back from Island [Records] and I just ran out of money paying lawyers. I was after the rights to "Calenture" and "The Black Swan" [Triffids albums] and the solo single ["The Message"]." David McComb interviewed for Party Fears zine January 1992.

Studio line-up #1A (London, 1990-1991): David McComb (vocals,guitar)/ Stephen Street (keyboards), with Martyn P.Casey (bass) and Conway Savage (piano)

	1990-1991 UK London-Mortlake,Steven Street's home studio. Demoing several songs with engineer Steven Street [The Smiths], some of which ended up on David McComb's 3 solo singles "The Message", "Setting You Free" and "Clear Out My Mind".

	1990-1991 UK London-Fulham Broadway,Maison Rouge Studios. Recording "I've Heard Things Turn Out This Way" (for the "Setting You Free" EP) with Martyn P.Casey [Triffids/Bad Seeds] (bass) and Conway Savage [Bad Seeds] (piano). Produced by Victor Van Vugt [Bad Seeds]. "Song Of No Return" with Martyn P.Casey (bass) and Steven Street (for "The Message" EP).

	1991 UK London,Bowl Court Studio. Recording "Don't Go Home With Your Hard On" (for V/A "I'm Your Fan", Leonard Cohan tribute album. David McComb (vocals, guitar), Adam Peters [Echo and the Bunnymen/Sunsonic] (keyboards), Will Sargeant [Echo and the Bunnymen] (guitar), Martyn P.Casey (bass), with and Joanna Alach and Ann Charlotte Vensgaarde (backing vocals). Engineered by Adam Peters.

	19-Aug-91 UK Release of "The Message" EP (The Foundation Label/Island).

Red Ponies live line-up #1B (London, August 1991): David McComb (vocals,guitar)/ Adam Peters (keyboards,cello)/ Gary Sanford (guitar)/ Martyn P. Casey (bass) and Nick Allum (drums).

	19-Aug-91 UK London,The Borderline Review: Scan from Evening Standard, 20-Aug-91. Listing: Scan of listing from Cambridge Evening News 05-Aug-91. Note: First of three concerts. "The Message" EP launch. Adam Peters [Echo and the Bunnymen/Sunsonic], Gary Sanford [Aztec Camera] and Nick Allum [Fatima Mansions].

	21-Aug-91 UK London-Islington,Powerhaus Setlist: In The Pines/ Enemy Mine/ Lonely Avenue/ Islands In The Stream [Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton]/ I Want To Conquer You/ Trick Of The Light/ Don't Call Yourself An Angel/ When You Were Mine [Prince]/ Raining Pleasure/ Heard You Had A Bed/ Lonely Stretch/ What Goes On [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You/ Unmade Love/ Save What You Can/ Temptation Inside Your Heart [Velvet Underground]/ Song Of No Return. Note: Second of three concerts.

	21-Aug-91 UK London-Ladbroke Grove,Subterania Setlist: Lonely Avenue/ Enemy Mine/ In The Pines/ Islands In The Stream [Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton]/ I Want To Conquer You/ Trick Of The Light/ Unmade Love/ Don't Call Yourself An Angel/ When You Were Mine [Prince]/ Raining Pleasure/ Heard You Had A Bed/ What Goes On [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You/ Save What You Can/ Lonely Stretch/ Temptation Inside Your Heart [Velvet Underground]/ Dead Flowers [Rolling Stones]/ Song Of No Return/ I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine [Bob Dylan]. Note: Third of three concerts.

	xx-Sep-91 David McComb returns to Perth, Australia.



1992/1993 The years in which David McComb relocates to Melbourne, assembles a new line-up of the Red Ponies and records his "Love Of Will" album.

	xx-Mar-92 David McComb moves to Melbourne, Australia.

Red Ponies line-up #2A (Melbourne, 1992 - December 1993): David McComb (vocals,guitar)/ Graham Lee (pedal steel/lapsteel guitar)/ Martyn P.Casey (bass)/ Bruce Haymes (piano,organ)/ Warren Ellis (violin) and Peter Luscombe (drums,percussion)

	1992-1993 AU Melbourne-Abbotsford,David's home studio. Recording "My Friend Sleep" (for "Setting You Free" CDEP) with Phil Kakulas (double bass), Graham Lee (guitar) and Rob Snarksi (guitar/vocals). Recording "Lullaby" (for "Clear Out My Mind" CDEP) with Phil Kakulas (double bass), Graham Lee (guitar). Recording "White Nights" (for "Clear Out My Mind" CDEP) with Phil Kakulas (bass), Rob Snarksi (guitar/vocals) and Warren Ellis (violin).

	Jun/Aug-1993 AU Melbourne,Platinium Studios. Recording "Love Of Will" album. Engineered by Nick Mainsbridge, assisted by Kalju Tonuma. Additional musicians: Barry Palmer [Hunters & Collectors] (guitar), Phil Kakulas (double bass), Robert McComb (backing vocals), Rob Snarski (backing vocals), Daniel Denholm (keyboards), Joanna Alach (backing vocals).

	08-Oct-93 AU Release of "Setting You Free" CDEP (White records).

	29-Oct-93 AU Melbourne-Richmond,Central Club Hotel [with Ed Kuepper and the Serene Machine] Setlist: I Can't Stand It [Velvet Underground]/ Clear Out My Mind/ Trick Of The Light/ Setting You Free/ In The Pines/ Lifelike/ Raining Pleasure/ Inside Of Me/ I Want To Conquer You/ Unmade Love/ What Goes On [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You [Aaron Neville]/ Heard You Had A Bed/ When You Were Mine [Prince]. Ad: Scan from The Age newspaper 29-Oct-93. Listing: Scan of listing from The Age newspaper 29-Oct-93. Video: Private video by Dave Harris (SeasonRecords). Note: Debut concert by the Melbourne line-up. With guest guitarist Robert McComb. Warren Ellis has to leave midway in the set for another commitment ("a lewd pantomime ensemble", according to McComb) at the Universal Theatre in Fitzroy.

	03-Nov-93 AU Melbourne-St.Kilda,Esplanade Hotel-Gerschwin Room Ad: Scan from The Age newspaper 29-Oct-93. Note: Second concert by the Melbourne line-up.

	10-Nov-93 AU Melbourne-St.Kilda,Esplanade Hotel-Gerschwin Room Listing: Scan from The Age newspaper 05-Nov-93. Note: Third concert by the Melbourne line-up.

	24-Nov-93 AU Melbourne-Collingwood,Prince Patrick Hotel Listing: Scan from The Age newspaper 19-Nov-93. Note: Fourth concert by the Melbourne line-up.

	10-Dec-93 AU Melbourne-Prahran,Continental Café A Night of Dylan Ad: Scan from The Age newspaper 10-Dec-93. Line-up: Vocalists: Chris Wilson [Crown of Thorns], Ross Wilson [Mondo Rock], Tess McKenna, David McComb [Triffids,Black Eyed Susans], Dan Warner [Warner Brothers] with The Band: Jeff Burstin [Black Sorrows] (guitar), Robbie Gapen (bass), Bruce Haymes [Bachelors from Prague, Red Ponies] (keyboard) and Peter Luscombe [Black Sorrows/Red Ponies] (drums).



1994 The year in which the "Love Of Will" album is released and the Red Ponies tour Europe with Hunters & Collectors. Dirty Three starts to happen and Warren leaves the Red Ponies.

Red Ponies line-up #2B (Melbourne, January-June 1994): David McComb (vocals,guitar)/ Graham Lee (pedal steel/lapsteel guitar)/ Michael Vidale (bass)/ Bruce Haymes (piano,organ)/ Warren Ellis (violin/accordeon) and Peter Luscombe (drums,percussion)

	14-Jan-94 AU Melbourne-Collingwood,Prince Patrick Hotel [with the Body Electric] Listing: Scan from The Age newspaper 14-Jan-94. Note: Michael Vidale [The Bushwackers/Jimmy And The Boys] replaces Martyn P.Casey on bass, who's recording/touring with the Bad Seeds.

	21-Jan-94 AU Melbourne-St.Kilda,Esplanade Hotel

	12-Feb-94 AU Melbourne-St.Kilda,Prince of Wales Hotel Australian Bob Dylan Convention Listing: Scan from The Age newspaper 11-Feb-94. Line-up: David McComb, Angie Hart [Frente!], Barbara Waters [Crown Of Thorns], Shane O'Mara [Rebecca's Empire], Rebecca Barnard [Rebecca's Empire], Caroline Kennedy [The Plums] and the Working Class Ringos.

	xx-Mar-94 AU Release of "Clear Out My Mind" CDEP (White records).

	03-Mar-94 AU Melbourne-Fitzroy,The Punters Club [with Times Bakery] Listing: Scan from The Age newspaper 25-Feb-94.

	04-Mar-94 AU Melbourne-Collingwood,Prince Patrick Hotel [with Maurice Frawley and the Working Class Ringos] Listing: Scan from The Age newspaper 04-Mar-94.

	xx-Mar-94 AU Release of "Love Of Will" album (White records).

	11-Mar-94 AU Sydney-Rozelle,Three Weeds Hotel [with Grant W.McLennan] Setlist: I Can't Stand It [Velvet Underground]/ Clear Out My Mind/ Setting You Free/ In The Pines/ A Trick Of The Light/ Unmade Love/ Lifelike/ Raining Pleasure/ I Want To Conquer You/ When You Were Mine [Prince]/ Heard You Had A Bed/ What Goes On [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You [Aaron Neville]/ Passing Through/ Inside Of Me. 12-Mar-94 AU Sydney-Rozelle,Three Weeds Hotel [with Grant W.McLennan] Ad: Scan from Sydney Morning Herald 11-Mar-94. Note: "Love Of Will" album launch.

	14-Mar-94 AU Melbourne,ABC studios,Triple J FM radio Live At The Wireless-session Setlist: Clear Out My Mind/ Setting You Free/ Lifelike/ Unmade Love/ I Want To Conquer You/ Passing Through [Leonard Cohen]/ In The Pines()/ Lonely Avenue()/ I Can't Stand It [Velvet Underground]()/ Raining Pleasure/ Everything Fixed Is Killed(). Note: Session engineered by Chris Thompson. (*) songs recorded but not broadcast. With guest guitarist Robert McComb and Noelene Griffiths (backing vocals).

	17-Mar-94 AU Melbourne-St.Kilda,Esplanade Hotel-Gerschwin Room [with Dragon Fly] Ad: Scan from The Age newspaper 11-Mar-94.

	08-Apr-94 UK London,Dave McComb's place. Note: I just arrived in London. Jet lagged and sick to the core, still drunk from the flight. I was doing my first European tour with Dave McComb. I had a violin and a bag full of Marks and Spencer’s underwear and socks. My jeans and T-shirt having the first wash in maybe two years I was sharing an apartment with Dave. I walked into the living room in my new underwear and he was glued to the TV. ‘Fuck. Kurt Cobain is dead Woz‘. We sat and watched in silence." Warren Ellis on Instagram.

	16-Apr-94 DK København,Pumpehuset [support for Hunters & Collectors] Note: Start of their (only) European tour.

	19-Apr-94 SE Malmö,KulturBolaget [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: (A.o.) Memories [Leonard Cohen]/ A Trick Of The Light/ Clear Out My Mind/ and more...

	21-Apr-94 SE Stockholm,Gino's [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: Unmade Love/ Clear Out My Mind/ Setting You Free/ In The Pines/ A Trick Of The Light/ I Can't Stand It [Velvet Underground]/ Lifelike/ Raining Pleasure/ Memories [Leonard Cohen]/ I Want To Conquer You/ Heard You Had A Bed/ How Could I Help But Love You [Aaron Neville].

	22-Apr-94 NO Oslo,Rockefeller [support for Hunters & Collectors]

	23-Apr-94 SE Hultsfred,Metropol [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: (A.o.) Memories [Leonard Cohen]/ and more... Note: "When we played in Hultsfred in Sweden on our '94 tour of Europe Warren Ellis played a version of "Memories" that was so impassioned that he broke his fiddle. Dave hopefully asks the audience if anyone has any glue. The fiddle was temporarily repaired the next day by a craftsman in a violin shop in Stockholm. He had a leather apron and looked like an elf. He admonished Warren and told him he must respect the violin." Graham Lee's recollections from thetriffids.com

	25-Apr-94 BE Studio Brussel FM radio,Update Setlist: David McComb interviewed by Jan Houtkiet. Note: Date is broadcast date.

	25-Apr-94 BE BRT Radio 1 FM,Cucamonga Setlist: David McComb interviewed by Hilde Walschaerts. Note: Date is broadcast date.

	25-Apr-94 DE Hamburg,Logo Club [support for Hunters & Collectors] 26-Apr-94 DE Köln,Luxor [support for Hunters & Collectors]

	27-Apr-94 BE Gent,Vooruit [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: Unmade Love/ Clear Out My Mind/ Setting You Free/ In The Pines/ A Trick Of The Light/ Lifelike/ Raining Pleasure/ Inside Of Me/ 20/20 Vision [Joe Allison/Milton Estes]/ Memories [Leonard Cohen]/ I Want To Conquer You/ Heard You Had A Bed/ What Goes On [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You [Aaron Neville]/ Foggy Notion [Velvet Underground]/ Passing Through [Leonard Cohen]/ When You Were Mine [Prince]/ Pack Up Your Troubles/ I Can't Stand It [Velvet Underground].

	28-Apr-94 NL Amsterdam,Melkweg [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: Clear Out My Mind/ Inside Of Me/ Memories/ Unmade Love/ I Heard You Had A Bed/ Pack Up Your Troubles/ and more.. Ad: Scan from Trouw newspaper 28-Apr-94. Note: Above tracks broadcast by Dutch VPRO FM radio.

	29-Apr-94 FR Paris,L'Arapaho [support for Hunters & Collectors]

	02-May-94 UK Glasgow,King Tuts Wah Wah Hut [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: Unmade Love/ Clear Out My Mind/ Setting You Free/ In The Pines/ A Trick Of The Light/ Lifelike/ Raining Pleasure/ Memories [Leonard Cohen]/ I Want To Conquer You/ Foggy Notion [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You [Aaron Neville].

	03-May-94 UK Manchester,University,Student's Union [support for Hunters & Collectors] Note: The Red Ponies had to cancel due to the recording of the "Later with Jools Holland" TV show.

	03-May-94 UK London,BBC 2 TV Later with Jools Holland Setlist: Setting You Free/ Lifelike. Photo: Screen captures from video. Note: Broadcast on 21-May-94 (at 10:25PM). Others on the show: Pretenders/ Evan Dando (performing "Being Around", using David McComb's guitar and backed by Graham Lee on lapsteel guitar)/ Jonathan Richman/ Angélique Kidjo and Erasure.

	04-May-94 UK London,The Forum [support for Hunters & Collectors] 05-May-94 UK London-Shepherd's Bush,Empire [support for Hunters & Collectors] 07-May-94 IE Dublin,Tivoli Theatre [support for Hunters & Collectors]

	08-May-94 IE Belfast,The Limelight [support for Hunters & Collectors] Setlist: Setting You Free/ Heard You Had A Bed/ A Trick Of The Light/ Raining Pleasure/ Memories [Leonard Cohen]/ I Want To Conquer You/ Foggy Notion [Velvet Underground]/ How Could I Help But Love You [Aaron Neville]. Note: End of their (only) European tour.

	23-May-94 [AU Warren, Jim and Mick's band Dirty Three release their debut album "Dirty Three" (Torn & Frayed)].

	29-Jun-94 AU Melbourne-St.Kilda,Esplanade Hotel-Gerschwin Room [with The Dead Salesmen] Ad: Scan from The Age newspaper 24-Jun-94. Note: Free admittance show.

Aftermath: When Dirty Three starts to happen, Warren leaves the Red Ponies. He and Jim White also leave 3 other bands, the Blackeyed Susans, Kim Salmon's Trouble Makers and Charlie Marshall's Body Electric.

Red Ponies line-up #2C (Melbourne, 1994 - 1997): David McComb (vocals,guitar)/ Graham Lee (pedal steel/lapsteel guitar,guitar)/ Michael Vidale (bass)/ Bruce Haymes (piano,organ) and Peter Luscombe (drums,percussion)

	30-Aug-94 UK London,The Borderline 31-Aug-94 UK London-Shepherd's Bush,Empire [support for Midnight Oil]



1995-1997

	23-Mar-95 AU Melbourne-Prahran,Continental Café Ad: Scan from The Australian Jewish News 17-Mar-95. Note: Maurice Frawley and the Working Class Ringos concert, with guests David McComb and Graham Lee.

	21-Feb-97 AU Sydney,The Metro [support for Dirty Three] Ad: Scan of ad, taken from the Sydney Morning Herald 21-Feb-97.

	22-Feb-97 AU Sydney-Narrabeen,Sands Hotel [support for Dirty Three] Ad: Scan of ad, taken from the Sydney Morning Herald 21-Feb-97.

	01-Mar-97 AU Melbourne-Berwick,Lava Lounge [support for Dirty Three, with Sea Scouts] Listing: Scan of listing from The Age 28-Feb-97.

FromTheArchives frontpage Mail me (don't forget to remove the anti spam section). Last modified 18th of November, 2023.

David McComb and the Red Ponies Chronology

(1991 - 1994: London - Melbourne)

David McComb and the Red Ponies
Chronology