Two Tone Pony craft authentic Australian music. The 5-piece’s stunning debut album, Born on The Road, paints introspective tales against a country rock canvas.
“This is the culmination of a lifetime of stories: from my childhood, from my personal relationships past and present, and from my deep love of the land and its’ people,” explains frontman, David Kirkpatrick.
In 2019, the singer-songwriter assembled a band to play at his daughter’s wedding… he had no idea it would trigger a deep dive into the sounds of country rock. “I enjoyed it so much I declared I wanted to continue playing in this genre, but I wanted to challenge myself to write my own songs – so Two Tone Pony was born.”
David first recruited brother-in-law, Greg Richardson, to sit behind the kit. The drummer once owned a music studio which played host to Aussie legends like Midnight Oil, Jon English and Mental as Anything, before launching a 30-year radio career with the SBS and ABC.
Next, he called upon former band mate, Graham Puglisi, to round out the engine room on bass. After detouring through a rugby career, professional sailing and a double degree in computer science, Puglisi reconnected with music and lends not only his low end, but his knack for vocal harmony to the band.
Another former band mate, Ian Rhodes, was called upon for six-string, mandolin, harmonica, lead and backing vocals. While enjoying a long career in local and state government – aiding First Nations communities – he would use his extraneous commutes to write songs at the wheel.
Keys player, Glenn Willey completes the roster. In the late 70 and early 80s, he and Kirkpatrick played together in a band, supporting big acts like Cold Chisel, Mondo Rock and INXS. Yet as cover bands began to dominate Sydney’s live scene, he traded the keys for a career in dentistry. As fate would have it, he retired from dentistry around the same time he was invited to jam with Two Tone Pony.
Enlisting the ears of award-winning producer Rod McCormack (Gina Jeffreys, Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey), the five mates set upon finding their sound. Within the storied walls of The Music Cellar, Born on The Road emerged.
With its foot stomping pace and cinematic guitars, the albums opening track, ‘Going Back’, carries big energy from the get-go. Tracks like ‘Caroline’ – a sentimental ode to paddle-steamers – and the deeply personal, ‘Born on The Road’ follow suit.
“I was born in Rockhampton Qld whilst my parents were on tour around Australia, and I spent the first six years of my life travelling with them. This is the most personal song I have ever written, and every word is true,” admits Kirkpatrick of the titular track. “The touring show was made up of musicians and variety performers and this was your family for nine months – an unusual upbringing for a child but one I would never trade”
As the son of Australian county music royalty, Slim Dusty and Joy McKean, music flows in Kirkpatrick’s blood. The storyteller penned 10 of the album’s 12 tracks. Guitarist Ian Rhodes co- wrote live show crowd favourite ‘Slow Lane’ with Kirkpatrick and contributed two contrasting, but wonderfully complimentary songs that round out the album. ‘Curtains’ is a relic from his songwriting archive that turned into a love song. “It hung around the back shelves of my mind like a half-finished veranda extension until I was inspired get it and nail the rest down,” Rhodes laughs. ‘The Hootenanny’ with its quirky lead character Half Acre Jesus and driving rhythm tells the story of the wildest party ever held in Black Sally Lane.
Heartfelt tracks ‘Big Sky’, ‘A Life Well Lived’ and ‘Stormy Weather’ relish in life’s simple pleasures, while ‘The Cost of Love’ and ‘The Flood’ are inspired by inevitable hardship. The latter, a gritty mid-tempo featuring the haunting fiddle tones of Gabi Louise (Wicker Suite), seeks to raise awareness around grief induced by natural disasters. “The Lismore floods of 2022 captured the imaginations of all Australians, but in reality, there have been numerous other communities affected by the worsening climatic changes as well.”
Armed with a truly unique collection of Australian country music, Two Tone Pony are eager to take their music on the road. In coming months, the Central Coast 5-piece will appear at Tamworth’s annual Hats Off To Country festival and headline shows in Sydney and Hardy’s Bay.
With Born on The Road, Two Tone Pony are set to leave an indelible mark on the Australian country rock scene. Their blend of heartfelt storytelling, personal history, and musical camaraderie shines through every track. This band is just getting started, and their journey promises to be as rich and captivating as their debut album.
SHOW DATES:
Saturday 20th July – Hats Off To Country – Moonshiners – Tamworth, NSW
Friday 6th September – Marrickville Bowling Club – Marrickville, NSW
Saturday 14th September – Hardys Bay Club – Hardys Bay, NSW