Home News Tours Bands Join Us About

Pinback

Current Members

Armistead Burwell Smith IV, Rob Crow

Pinback combine ethereal pop harmonies with tranquil rhythms and beautifully hypnotic vocals. Marrying the stylistic expertise of 3 Mile Pilot and Thingy this band's music is extremely touching and dreamy.

In January of 1998, San Diego's Pinback was formed as a part-time recording project by Armistead Burwell Smith IV ("Zach") and Robert Rulon Crow Junior. While 3 Mile Pilot, Zach's previous band, had just fell into a long hiatus, Rob was able to utilize some down time in his perpetually busy musical schedule and Pinback was allowed to evolve into a more serious project. Adding drummer Tom Zinser (also of 3 Mile Pilot) and taking their creative time, Pinback recorded, mixed and mastered every song on their self titled record at home on Zach's personal computer, which makes the record that much more amazing.

After playing only three shows, Tim/Kerr Records of Portland, Oregon immediately recognized the musical prowess beauty of this band and signed Pinback for worldwide distribution rights. Unfortunately, their recording agreement with T/K immediately became problematic and six months of legal grappling ensued. Finally released from contract, Pinback were immediately signed to Ace Fu Records in New York for world wide manufacturing and distribution, and licensed to R&S, Belgium for European manufacturing and distribution.

The two years following the release of the duo's self-titled debut proved to be extremely productive for the band. Their fan base grew rapidly and the band embarked on two American West Coast tours and two European tours. Their hard work began to pay off. In February of 2001 National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" ran a glowing four minute audio review of the CD. Immediately, the disc was within the top ten bestsellers on Amazon.com and the band continued to gain significant momentum. In August of 2000 the Tree Recording Company from Chicago had released a four song EP by the band entitled, "Some Voices." With virtually no promotion the EP promptly charted at #42 on the CMJ Charts. By October of 2000 Urban Outfitters added the CD into rotation at all forty-two stores nationwide for seven months of in-store play. The word continued to travel about Pinback and in March of 2001 the band was spotlighted on the home page of Napster.com as a "Featured Artist," right during the peak of Napster's controversial media coverage. Fortunately, all of the attention the Pinback received since their debut did not affect the band's songwriting writing agenda. In June of 2001 Rob and Zach finished recording, mixing and mastering (once again on Zach's personal computer) their long awaited second full length record, Blue Screen Life,undeniably the band?s strongest work to date.

As with previous Pinback releases, the duo's propensity for thoughtful instrumentation and dense layering of melodies is remarkably unique and nothing short of beautiful. Every song on Blue Screen Life holds muted harmonies, hypnotic rhythms and lush orchestration that subtly resonate long after one listen. The multi-instrumentalist duo trade vocals with comfort, poise and precision. Yet, despite all of the underlying complexities in Pinback's music their songs somehow always seem sincere, honest and simply dreamy.

Blue Screen Life, which has been re-released by Ace Fu Records on an aesthetically pleasing double vinyl format, shows Pinback at their most creative, mature and effective. It is truly a masterpiece that is both energetic and subdued and will undoubtedly continue to earn Pinback many more admirers as well as imitators.

Since 2001, Pinback has continued to tour extensively and have released Offcell, a five song EP available in America on Absolutely Kosher Records and internationally on Touch and Go. Offcell is a peek into the future direction of one of modern music's most creative and innovative talents.

Audio

Latest Releases

News

Tours

Pinback is not currently touring. Check the Tours Section for previous Pinback tours.

Contact

Band Contact
Pinback
http://www.pinback.com/
http://www.myspace.com/pinback
http://www.purevolume.com/pinback
Radio Contact
Cool Badge (for UK radio)
russell@coolbadge.com
Publicity Contact
Miranda Lange
Miranda@tgrec.com
Touch and Go Records

Press

No press items about Pinback were found.