Pinback at the Detroit Bar Last Night


Pinback
July 1, 2010
Detroit Bar

The Hype: San Diego-based indie stalwarts Pinback have emerged from some time away to kick off a brief West Coast swing they are calling Pinback Presents the Rob and Zach Show. No touring musicians, no overdubs, just two members (Rob Crow and Zach Smith) playing stripped-down versions of their nervy, math-rock tunes. The duo is working on an as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2007's Autumn of the Seraphs. Their latest album is due later this year and will be released by Temporary Residence Ltd. It remains to be heard whether they continue down this austere path in the studio, but their rabid fanbase has remained committed through the group's restless stylistic shifts over the past decade.

]

Opening act Little White Teeth, also from San Diego, take a more traditional slant on indie-pop. The four-piece played moody mid-tempo grooves, echoing Sebadoh in their gentler moments. Drummer Yuko Sugiyama busted out the melodica for their fifth song “Superstitious.” They'll be supporting Pinback for the remainder of the tour.
Personal Bias: I actually enjoyed much of Pinback's work, particularly Blue Screen Life. However, this was my first time seeing them live. I went in with high expectations, which were not met. Perhaps my feelings regarding their live performance would be different if I were to see them again with a full array of instrumentalists.
The Crowd: Two females were groping each other behind me, and engaged in some serious tongue action. Surfer bros, indie rockers and party girls were singing along and drinking as much as the band. If not more.
Overheard in the Crowd: See above.
Random Notebook Dump: Crow described the song “Trainer” as being about an idea he had for a movie collaboration between Herschell Gordon Lewis and Jean Cocteau. Crow had trouble pronouncing “Cocteau.”
Pinback Setlist:
Lyon
Clemenceau
Charborg
Soaked
Some Voices
Penelope
Trainer
Sherman
This Red Book
Walters
Bbtone
Shag
Non Photo Blue
Good To Sea
Fortress
Your Sickness
Encore:
Loro
Tripoli
X I Y

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *