Pinback

Hailing from San Diego, Pinback is a band comprised of two principal players: Armistead Burwell Smith IV (Zach) and Rob Crow. Pinback started as a part-time endeavor back in 1998, when Zach's band Three Mile Pilot went on an extended hiatus and Rob found time away from his other musical interests (mainly Thingy and Heavy Vegetable). After recording their self-titled debut, released by Ace Fu in 1999, Pinback became a fully realized project.

The next few years saw an increase in Pinback activity. In 2000, Tree Records released the EP Some Voices, and Ace Fu released Pinback's second full-length, Blue Screen Life, in 2001. Between record releases, Pinback toured as a full band, hitting points across North America and Europe. Additionally, Pinback offered up many tour-only EPs, consisting of various combinations of live tracks, alternate takes, and unreleased songs. In 2003, Absolutely Kosher released the EP, Offcell.

In 2004, Pinback unveiled Summer in Abaddon, their debut record for Touch and Go. It was recorded by the duo in Zach's home studio over the course of 2003, and it truly captures Pinback's essence. Although it may seem like gentle pop music at first encounter, its brilliance is slowly revealed upon repeated listens. Songs are buoyant and lively at times, melancholy and dark at others, and always resonate with an underlying intensity. Between two musicians, Pinback lays out beautiful melodies that are deceptively complex, layering sounds and instruments upon one another and trading contrasting vocal parts with ease.

Rob continues to work on a myriad of solo projects, but Pinback perseveres, bigger and better than ever. Expect their new record in 2007, with total world domination coming shortly after.