Pinback
I arrived at Bimbo’s 365 just before Pinback took the stage. This allowed me to easily snag a front row spot not only because I was early, but the crowd seemed dismal compared to my high expectations. Granted once both Rob Crow, Zach Hill and the gang took the stage, the audience grew and became quite lively once familiar tunes made their obvious appearance. The main thing that made me skeptical about Pinback’s live show was how their whispering melodic bass/beat arrangements were going to translate live? If you’re familiar with the band, you associate their music with intimacy and probably parties where someone has a hookah.
Pinback
Pinback
Simply put, Pinback is fantastic live. But most surprisingly, fun. You don’t exactly think of such a band as the kind that would be both dance-worthy and satiristic and still able to stay true to their unique style. But they pull it off and very well. After all, Pinback sounds like no one else.
2007’s Autumn of the Seraphs made its fair share of appearances, but it was the song Good to Sea that seemed to capture the crowd’s attention. This is mainly because of the silly projections that were flawlessly synced up to the band’s music. For instance, Good To Sea found two people dressed as Rob and Zach lip-syncing to the song and dancing around an open field. I was beginning to realize that Pinback’s uniqueness is not limited to their music. Oh and a new track was played but no word on a new album from the guys that night.
Pinback
Pinback
Some of their most intelligent material definitely comes from 2004’s Summer of Abaddon and 2001’s Blue Screen Life. Both of which got their fair share of play with plenty of cheers for Blood’s on Fire, Fortress (Rob actually started dancing to this…which got him pretty winded), Non Photo-Blue, AFK, and of course, Penelope. The classiness of Bimbo’s 365 set the stage well for this inimitable act and their one of a kind sound.
Pinback
Pinback
In fact, to add to the already brilliant show, Bay Area favorite (and our favorite) string metal band Judgement Day came out (well, the curtain was pulled back for them) to perform Grey Machine and a handful more during the encore. Granted they didn’t open the show (it’s always a pleasure to see J-day play), it was a perfect addition to these well arranged songs.
So yeah, if I had any doubts before this show, they disappeared and were properly squashed once I left the venue that night. It’s clear that Pinback are still an impressive force in modern uncategorizable rock music.
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Pinback – From Nothing to Nowhere from Autumn of the Seraphs (2007)
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Pinback – Penelope from Blue Screen Life (2001)
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