Make That 2 "Showponies"

One day during the height of the Covid pandemic, Tyler Lindsay found hiimself cutting Aaron Taos’ hair.

Tuesday Lindsay found himself trading lead vocals with Taos during a radio performance — after cutting an EP together.

The haircut took place at State Street’s Skull & Combs. Lindsay and Taos met each other for the first time that day, even though they’d both spent years in the music business in town. They discovered a shared love of music and teamed up as a group called Showpony.

Tuesday’s performance took place on WNHH FM’s “Acoustic Live @ Studio 51” program. The pair performed already released singles from an EP that’s coming out in a few months. They were playing unplugged versions of the songs — Lindsay on vocals and guitar, Taos on vocals — that they usually play with a full rock band. (You can watch the full Showpony perform Wednesday night at Cafe 9.)

The trading of lead vocals reflected Showpony’s DNA. Both Lindsay and Taos had pivoted to rock singer-songwriter solo acts after playing in bands. Inspired by groups like the Last Shadow Puppets, they leaned into the idea of two frontmen, rather than one front person, leading a band and contributing songs.

“Shared duty was really interesting to us,” Lindsay, who’s 35 and lives in L.A., said between numbers on WNHH. Taos, who’s 34 and has returned from L.A. to live here when not on the road, spoke of how the combination of two strong egos and sources of original ideas strengthens the music.

That strength was especially on display when the two would harmonize on the choruses of the songs (called “Alabaster Road,” “Reamins,” and “Shine”). You can watch and hear them perform the songs, and discuss their careers and their commitment to their New Haven roots, in the below video on WNHH FM’s “Acoustic Live @ Studio 51” program.