Baltimore noisemakers Ponytail will bring their unhinged live show to Australia for the first time this summer. With breakout second album Ice Cream Spiritual released earlier this year on Popfrenzy Records, the four-piece is well-equipped for a memorable virgin voyage.

Set to take on Pyramid Rock Festival and the Purple Sneakers NYE shenanigans, Ponytail guitarist Ken Seeno waxes lyrical about the good times to come.

You formed as an experimental band for a class project in 2005. Was there a defining moment when you realised Ponytail was more than just a hobby?
I think for me it was our first European tour. When we arrived in London, we played our first show that same night. We were exhausted, jet-lagged, confused, and nervous. The reaction overwhelmed us. It felt unbelievable that people knew who we were and were excited. The feeling persisted and it has humbled us!

This year, you kicked off your first headlining tour in Washington D.C. What was it like performing for your – œhome’ fans?
D.C. is a great place for us to play. A lot of great venues and it’s so close and easy that we never get stressed out going there. The crowd’s reaction in D.C. always brings smiles to our faces. So pumped! Thank you, D.C.

Following the release of your latest album, Ice Cream Spiritual, you are embarking on a trip to Australia. What are your expectations on touring outside of the USA?
Few expectations! We don’t know what to expect. If things have travelled like they have to Europe for us, I think it’s going to be a blast. European tours are incredible. I’m expecting heat, the beach, late nights, and I’m hoping for friendliness all around. The people from Popfrenzy (our Australian label) are really nice and they have promised a good time. I can’t hardly wait!

How would you describe your – œon stage’ dynamic in comparison to rehearsal? Apart from natural adrenaline, do you perform your music differently?
We pretty much practice with the identical amount of volume and energy as we perform, ha ha. We used to practice in a tiny little windowless room and it would get so HOT in there we’d have to come out onto the sidewalk and get fresh air. We looked insane!

Do you have much idea of what to expect from your first tour to Australia?
We’re going to be there for New Years so I’m expecting some party times!

After releasing your first album, Kamehameha, you were awarded the Citypaper – œBest Band of 2008’ award. Do you believe that Ice Cream Spiritual meets this same standard?
I think at the time Ice Cream Spiritual was our baby and matched everything we put into it. It has had a wonderful life – travelled around the world! Wow! It’s hard to believe. We are working on a new record and we have really high hopes for it. I can’t say much more about it than that, but the new stuff has been really fun.

Ponytail is becoming renowned for its unique sound. Being a four-piece band, do you write all your songs collaboratively? If so, how do you undertake this process?
Yes, we try to stay as democratic as possible. Writing is very slow because it almost always takes all four of us working together to compose new material. It’s hard sometimes, but I think that tension is really rewarding when our songs come together from four perspectives.

Having such a unique sound, do you take inspiration from any other bands or artistic influences?
We have so many constantly shifting influences…too many to list. All four of us are very different people with very different taste. It is always shifting. I think we are always pulling the band in different directions and that’s where our sound comes from. It’s where we overlap.

With the band expanding in popularity every day, what can we expect from Ponytail in the future?
1,000 Dolphins, Mirrored perspectives, A.R.T., Love, Laughter, and Song.

Ice Cream Spiritual is out now on Popfrenzy Records. Ponytail plays Pyramid Rock Festival on Phillip Island and the Purple Sneakers NYE House Party at Manning Bar.