For years San Diego has been rife with talent. From decade to decade, there has always been an insurmountable amount of musicianship spewed out by the Southern California sun. So is it surprising to find Jesse Hofstee, Hillary Laughery and Dylan Stallard filling the void left behind by their predecessors? The trio makes up Lead Pony, a band that delves deep into a psych/blues-rock aesthetic, delving deep into a space its found comfort within. That’s not to say Lead Pony only has one trick, allowing room to deliver its own pop sensibilities.

Last month the band shared the title track of its debut album Vultures, set to be released on July 14, 2023, soaked with a laid-back sensuality and filled with dissonant guitars and an infectious rhythm. Yes, the challenge was accepted and the band may once again lead the way to make San Diego a musical hotbed.

Lead Pony follows up with the video for the new single “Strangers.” The song is filled with enchanting pop sensibilities within a drifting atmosphere while the video fits the mold, as people dance carefree along a sky-filled busy street. For lack of a better word, the song is lazily beautiful and continues to capture Lead Pony’s aesthetic that’s all it’s own.

“‘Strangers has been floating around for a while but was rewritten and took on a new life during our recording sessions with Trevor Spencer. It describes a wild night at a party, with the chorus, ‘Life’s a party’, but it’s not sung in a celebratory way. It’s about the human disconnect that social media has facilitated, the pressures that come along with it, and the false representation that it often can portray. You could post a picture of yourself looking like you’re having the time of your life at a party but in reality, you could be drinking alone. It’s a party song for the strangers.” – Jesse Hofstee

The band hits the road next month with a handful of tour dates listed below.

Tour Dates:
07/13 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box
07/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Harvard & Stone
07/26 – Oakland, CA @ The Golden Bull
07/27 – Sacramento, CA @ Torch Club
07/28 – Eugene, OR @ Hybrid
07/29 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
07/30 – Portland, OR @ High Water Mark
07/31 – Astoria, OR @ The Haunt
08/03 – Long Beach, CA @ The Hive