Pinback is an American

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band from

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists

Armistead Burwell Smith IV Armistead Burwell Smith IV (also known as Zach Smith) is an American composer and musician. He has recorded with multiple bands, including most notably Pinback, as well on his own, under the name Systems Officer. Career Early playing Smith ...

and

Rob Crow Robertdale Rulon Crow Jr. (born February 21, 1971) is an American singer and musician from San Diego, California, known for his involvement with the bands Pinback, Heavy Vegetable, Physics (band), Physics, Optiganally Yours, Goblin Cock, and Thi ...

, who have been its two constant members. They have released five studio albums and several other releases.

History and origin

The band's moniker is a reference to a character in the 1974 film '' Dark Star'' (played by

Dan O'Bannon Daniel Thomas O'Bannon (September 30, 1946 – December 17, 2009) was an American film screenwriter, film director, director and visual effects supervisor, most closely associated with the science fiction and Horror fiction, horror genres. O'B ...

). Audio samples from this film are used frequently in the band's early works. The band's debut album, ''

Pinback Pinback is an American indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow, who have been its two constant members. They have releas ...

'', was released on October 12, 1999, through

Ace Fu Records Ace Fu Records is an independent record label founded in 1998 by Eric Speck. It is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The label went on indefinite hiatus in 2007. Roster *Acid Mothers Temple * Annuals * An Albatross * Aqui * The Dears * Devotchka ...

. A European version, released the same year through Cutty Shark Records, included two additional tracks. In 2004, Pinback signed to

Touch and Go Records Touch and Go Records is an American independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois. After its genesis as a handmade fanzine in 1979, it grew into one of the key record labels in the American 1980s underground and alternative rock scenes. To ...

. They released their third album, ''

Summer in Abaddon ''Summer in Abaddon'' is the third full-length album by indie rock band Pinback released through Touch & Go Records, Touch & Go on October 12, 2004. The album was recorded in the home studio of Zach Smith and Rob Crow. Track listing Charts ...

'', later that year. In 2006, the band released a collection of rarities, entitled ''

Nautical Antiques Pinback is an American indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow, who have been its two constant members. They have release ...

''. Pinback's fourth full-length album, ''

Autumn of the Seraphs ''Autumn of the Seraphs'' is the fourth full-length album from the San Diego, California band Pinback. The album was released on September 11, 2007 on Touch and Go Records. The first pressing of ''Autumn of the Seraphs'' comes packaged with a l ...

'', was released on September 11, 2007. They appeared live in a nationally broadcast interview and played a couple of songs on NPR's ''

Talk of the Nation ''Talk of the Nation'' (''TOTN'') is an American talk radio program based in Washington D.C., produced by National Public Radio ( NPR) that was broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. It focused on current events and controversial ...

'' on October 8, 2007. On April 1, 2009, Pinback announced they were working on a new album that would be released by

Temporary Residence Ltd. Temporary Residence Limited (shortened TRL) is a Brooklyn, New York–based record label. TRL was started in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1996 by Jeremy DeVine, and initially concentrated on releasing music by Louisville-based bands.

Their fifth studio album, '' Information Retrieved'', was released October 16, 2012. On August 15, 2012, Pinback released the song "Proceed to Memory" from ''Information Retrieved'' free to play through RollingStone.com. Smith and Crow have been the band's two consistent members. They are typically joined by drummer

Chris Prescott Pinback is an American indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow, who have been its two constant members. They have relea ...

; Tom Zinser and

Mario Rubalcaba Mario Rubalcaba (also known by the pseudonym Ruby Mars) is an American drummer from San Diego, notable as a member of numerous rock bands including Clikatat Ikatowi, Thingy, Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Earthless, the Sultans, and Off! ...

have previously contributed drums. Other past members of the Pinback live band include: Erik Hoversten, Braden Diotte, Terrin Durfey, Ryan Bromley, Cameron Jones, Kenseth Thibideau, Brent Asbury, Gabriel Voiles, Dmitri Dziensuwski, Donny Van Zandt, and Thatcher Orbitashi.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

'' (1999) * '' Blue Screen Life'' (2001) * ''

'' (2004) U.S. No. 196 * ''

'' (2007) U.S. No. 69 * '' Information Retrieved'' (2012) U.S. No. 71

Compilations

* ''Nautical Antiques'' (2006) * ''Some Offcell Voices'' (2017)

Extended plays

* ''Live in Donny's Garage'' (2000) * '' Some Voices'' (2000) * ''This Is a Pinback Tour E.P.'' (2001) * '' More or Less Live in a Few Different Places'' (2002) * '' Arrive Having Eaten'' (2003) * '' Offcell'' (2003) * ''Too Many Shadows'' (2004) * ''ascii E.P.'' (2008) * '' Information Retrieved, Pt. A'' (2011) * '' Information Retrieved Pt. B'' (2011)

Singles

*"Loro" (1999) *"Tripoli" (2000) *"

Penelope Penelope ( ; Ancient Greek: Πηνελόπεια, ''Pēnelópeia'', or , ''Pēnelópē'') is a character in Homer's ''Odyssey.'' She was the queen of Homer's Ithaca, Ithaca and was the daughter of Spartan king Icarius (Spartan), Icarius and ...

" (2001) *"Fortress" (2004) *"Todo" (2004) *"From Nothing to Nowhere" (2007) *"Proceed to Memory" (2012) *"Sherman" (2012) *"ROJI (Roshomon Effect)" (2018)

Members

;Current *

– vocals, guitar (1998–present) *

vocals, bass (1998–present) *

– drums (2005–present) ;Former *Tom Zinser – drums (1998–2003) *Thatcher Orbitachi – keyboards (1999) *Donny Van Zandt – keyboards (1999) *Dmitri Dziensuwski – keyboards (1999) *Gabriel Voiles – keyboards (1999) *Brent Asbury – keyboards (2000–2002) *Ryan Bromley – guitar, bass, keyboards (2001–2005) *Kenseth Thibideau – keyboards, bass, guitar (2003–2006) *Cameron Jones – drums (2004–2005) *Erik Hoversten – guitar, bass, keyboards (2006–2011) *Terrin Durfey – keyboards, bass, guitar (2007–2008) *Chris Fulford-Brown – keyboards, bass, guitar (2008) *Braden Diotte – keyboards, bass, guitar (2008–2011)

Live band timeline

References

External links

* {{Authority control Indie rock musical groups from California Musical groups from San Diego Musical groups established in 1998 Touch and Go Records artists Temporary Residence Limited artists 1998 establishments in California