Pinback

This was my first time seeing Pinback performing and I have to admit, it was the greatest concert up to date! I was standing on the right side literally feet away from the bands that played and even managed to sing along to "Fortress" when they played it. Really had tons of fun even though I was sick and I wouldn't miss it for the world! I will look forward to seeing them live more often :)

I've been a big Pinback fan for years, since I first heard Summer in Abaddon. That being said, my one gripe with most of their albums is that you inevitably hit that period, after the first onrush of songs that have a little pep in their step, where things slow down and it become less like a brisk walk and more like a solemn plod, before closing things out pretty strong. Their show was basically a microcosm of that--they opened strong, hit some new stuff, some old stuff, kept thing moving along very nicely. But about halfway through, they started playing those songs that just don't really have the energy to keep a live show up. They did, however, finish strong, saved some essentials for last and left me walking away having enjoyed myself. If you know Pinback and are a fan, go. For all my criticisms here, they're worth seeing live; very tight, into the performance, played basically all my favorites and mixed in plenty of new stuff, overall worthy entertainers. Just be prepared for the part where they cruise along at that medium pace for a bit. I'd give them a 7/10.

Pinback's live shows just keep getting better. In this show they played 23 songs from favorites to deeper cuts, from their first album to their newest single. Rob and Zach's vocals were tighter than ever, and the performances remain true to the originals, but with just enough variation to make the live versions special "Cha cha cha!" The projected visuals synched with the music were especially entertaining this time around.

Pinback is never disappointing. Great show! But please pick better opening band. They always kinda stink.....................

This was my first Pinback show and I was blown away. The vocals were incredible and true to the tracks produced. Seeing them in such a small venue made the experience very personal. I was even able to meet one of the band members that was watching the opening act and he was very nice and approachable. I would defintely see them again.

Once agin, Pinback rocks. This show was tight and the crowd was reall into it. no sure wh the need 5 people on stage...they did well enough with 3 before.

Their sound last night was better than any of their live shows I've seen before! Great mix, good vocal harmony. The energy was there. I would've have made some changes to the set list and definately closed with a different track, but it was an overall great performance by a favorite band of mine. Very fun show!

Amazing set - played an incredible range of their best. The whole band was more cohesive than I've seen before and it was a just plain fun show. Loved it.

Although the opening band SUCKED! pinback was amazing ! Even though pinback speed up all their songs, I feel like they did it to fit more songs in.

They put on a great show. They also played a really long set, which was an unexpected bonus. I loved it.

it was pretty good , guys are very interactive with the audience and seem funny:)

This was the 2nd time I've seen Pinback and both times have been incredible. They're sound is great. They're NOT one of those bands that is overproduced on the album and then disappointing live. They will exceed any expectations you have. A must see show.

I went to see Bellini, and they were absolutely AMAZING!! I stayed for a few Pinback songs, but I was not too impressed and left early. Bellini's singer has a wonderful voice and reminded me of Hope Sandoval at times. If you can catch this tour with Bellini, you will not be disappointed!! The 5 star rating is for Bellini!

This is my second second Pinback concert at the El Rey. I only wish they played more often because they are just so awesome! "Their music moves me like no other" is an actual quote I heard from one of their hardcore fans. lol And I can completely understand where she was coming from. Although I enjoyed the setlist they had in their November concert a bit more, this concert was still unforgettable. Their live shows are very energetic, they pack in a lot of songs, and have a faster tempo than their album versions (all welcome changes in my opinion).

In any size venue, Pinback seem to fully satisfy old fans and new fans alike. They always bring energy and life to their complicated yet casual indie rock and I say that a Pinback show is a must for anyone able to get tickets to a show!

I have to say that Pinback was one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. Everything had such a clear and full sound. It's always cool as well when a singer for a band can get as involved as he was with not only the first band that played, but the fans that came to see them. I am talking about Rob Crowe. I recommend anyone who hasn't seen Pinback to go and see them as soon as possible....... IT's Worth Every Penny and Mile Driven. Can't wait to hear what they have up there sleeves as far as new music. VIVA LA PINBACK!!!

I appreciate Pinback's hospitality when it comes to their fans. The guys walked around the venue before the show talking with the people that came out and I got a chance to exchange a few words with them. Really nice, down to earth group. Thanks for a good show.

THE MOST UNDERRATED BAND

What a show! It's been almost 20 years for me to finally get to see Pinback. Rob and Zach are incredibly talented and don't always get the credit they deserve for being such gifted songwriters and instrumentalists. Importantly, the sound was great. Well done Foundry!

The concert was great, the venue was just the perfect size and comfort and we even got to meet the band before the show. Pinback is extremely talented, its crazy how underrated they are compared to other bands.

These guys have become one of my favorite bands recently and it means a lot to see them live. It was a great set list too.

Pinback were amazing, better than the last time I saw them. Definately worth going out on a Monday night!

Some bands don't sound as good live. This was not the case with Pinback. They were incredible! Best show I've been to in a long while!

I love their songs so much, they are really on point live too.

Great show as always. Sad to see how empty the HOB for this amazing San Diego band.

Pinback are amazing. I could have listened all night. I just wish they did songs from albums other than Summer in Abbadon.

Excellent concert at one of NYC best venue. Always in good voice. Id recommend a Pinback Show to anyone.

Love these guys. See them every time they play in the area. They used to play everything at a faster than normal tempo but the last three shows they have slowed down, barring a few songs (penelope). They kind of phoned it in this time, but the set list made up for it (Grey Machine!). see you next time pinback.

Last night I saw a totally great rock show at the Sinclair. PINBACK (from SanDiego) are on tour across the US, promoting their latest CD, "Information Retrieved" (actually released late last year). The live show was an opportunity to see one mutha, crack rock band flexing their sonic muscles onstage. Full disclosure - I REALLY like this band. I think they are one of the most creative and intelligent, challenging and sonically creative bands from the U.S. They really remind me of early XTC (another great rock band from another time - the 80's). They feature a very full and diverse sound onstage - all with basically a 3 piece live band, and lots of tape loops filling in to create a pretty beautiful 'wall of sound'. Pinback builds each song slowly, methodically, even delicately to an epic conclusion which imparts a very real sense of majesty to their shows. A signature part of Pinback's sound is the 'elastic bass', originated by Chris Squires of YES about 150 years ago. This serves as part of the foundation for the band's sound, merging with a dual guitar attack, keyboards, and some strong vocals, mostly by Rob Crow and Armistead Burwell Smith IV (that's really his name!). The Pinback sound is a churning, beautiful, eliptical attack, filled with twists and turns and many surprises. You've gotta keep your head up when listening on CD or watching live. Awareness is essential! No doubt, this is decidedly a 'rock' band, but one with lots of textures and colors. One of the very best we have. A great show - right here in Harvard Square! CD suggestions - 'Information Retrieved' (their latest), 'Autumn of the Seraphs', and 'Nautical Antiques', and 'Summer in Abaddon' (a big favorite of mine)

Their music is so amazing! These guys are so passionate about the music they create, you feel it and it makes you smile.

One hell of a show, they sound great live. You won't be disappointed.

It was the first time I saw them live. I really had a great time. Rob Crow was hilarious.

Amazing show, great energy and sweet sound. No talby song, too bad. Overall, perfect.

Pinback was absolutely amazing. Can't wait for them to come back!! :-)

Pinback at the El Rey is an exceptional event by itself; but Pinback puts extraordinarily efforts in delivering a complete show, and the opening bands are exceptional which Pinback fans have figured out. The El Rey was full prior to the opening band taking the stage. The opening band was Judgement Day.. Outstanding!

Pinback was awesome! Lots of new and favs! Pinback is amazing! Never get tired of hearing their amazing songs! 12th show seeing them live! A must see!

These guys are so great. I have loved Pinback since 05' and the first time I saw them I felt like a lame little fan girl, but I have seen them a few times now and they are always amazing. They sound just as great live if not better. Always an amazing show. Can't wait to see them again soon!

Awesome setlist had a blast! Would love to see them again! Sounded great!

started promptly at 7:45, but only played for an hour and a half. place wasn't very crowded, but otherwise the audience was good. the videos were entertaining and the setlist was generally pretty great.

it was pleasing to my ears. 12345678910111213141516

Got really into Pinback in '07 and went to a show in Boston at the Roxy. They were clearly in the midst of what was feeling to the band like a boring tour. The show felt more like a rehearsal than a concert. They went through the motions, played the songs, but clearly wanted to be somewhere else. A wasted evening.

Good venue. Horrible music. I love pinback, but the sound quality was terrible, the tempo was too fast, and it just sounded like a garage band.

the set list was huge!! and covered probably every album!

great , upbeat show, rob crowe was really funny. i like his fat nips

I saw them a few years back and that show was much better than this one. They're still kickin' it though.

What a great show. The Granada is a cool venue. Got to hang out with Rob Crow before the show. Heard a new song as well as some older rarely heard tunes.

Show was awesome. Always so much better when you can see a band that isn't touring a new album because they end up playing stuff from every album -- old and new. They played "Tres" early on which was unreal, and also did "Penelope" and even "Grey Machine" which is off of one of their EPs. I gotta make sure I never miss them when they're in town and I would recommend Pinback live to anyone.

Best live show I've seen in years - Pinback are phenomenally talented players, and their song writing is unequalled by anyone currently making music.

One of the best shows i ve seen in a while, played for 2 and a half hours, just amazing.

the band picked a good set list and performed well. I'd go again if/when they return to L.A.

I saw Pinkback on July 24, 2010 at the El Rey Theatre. We sat upstairs in the $100 per table section, which was nice. I hate standing through a concert. The acoustics in the El Rey left much to be desired. The sound system was overtaxed and there was a lot of microphone and speaker feedback. One of the singers was REALLY LOUD, but you could tell that is just his natural volume. The other one was not even close to as loud and he had to shout to stay close to the same volume, and I think they had his mike turned up all the way. I was excited to see them, but since they sucked so bad it made me wish I wouldn't have wasted my time. I will never go to see them again! EVER!!!

I though Pinback, as always, did a great job performing. Their set was filled with energy and their vocals are always on point. What bothered me was that Pinback seemed distracted by the fact that the setting was a seated / food-served venue. They mentioned a couple times that they were disappointed that we were all sitting. We actually had no ability to stand as the servers needed to always have walk-way room to serve, so we all remained sitting. Besides that, Rob Crowe drank upwards of 5 or 6 beers in one set, on stage, during the performance. It was off-putting to me, but others seemed to enjoy it (like a frat party, they would egg him on to chug it). Overall a good performance despite many distractions, but the distractions definitely detracted from the overall experience.

I really enjoyed the concert. We got there early so we could have front row spots, but it was almost unnecessary with such an intimate theater as the El Rey. It was a great setlist. The only detractor was I think we were a little to close for the sounds to mix correctly and the guitar overpowered the singing. Still, definitely worth the price. El Ten Eleven, the supporting band, was very cool as well.

This was my second time seeing them play at the El Rey. Such a great live band! I went with a few friends who think their songs on the albums are a little bit slow and boring. Boy were they surprised! These guys bring such energy to their live performance, it gets the crowd excited without losing the special touch of their recorded songs. Please do yourself a favor and catch these guys next time they're in town!

It was a special treat for us. Sorry if you missed it.

It's been a while since the concert, please excuse my memory lapse. The concert was amazing. It was at The Varsity Theater, which is quite the unique venue. And quite perfect for the show. It was a small show, with the capability to linger to the stage should one wish to. The guys of Pinback were nice, quiet fellas. They didn't say anything really, not even hello, except they talked to the silly drunk ladies in the front who made a rucus. They are better live, and none can compare. I'm dissappointed that I was so tired, it envaloped my time. I'll see them again next time they're nearby. I'm glad I have their cds to sustain me until then.

Zach and Rob are very talented musicians and their live shows are unforgettable. Don't be surprised if you you can still feel vibrations from the bass guitar days after the show. Yes, they are that good. Highly recommend all Pinback fans to see them live as well as anyone into the indie rock scene.

I have been listening to Pinback for a long time, so I finally saw them. It was a pretty good show. They played good songs, and came on again for an encore.

I have seen them several times and this is probably the best set that I have heard. They played some amazing songs. My only complaint is that they come out with a tester album with some songs in a faster beat just like at the show.

They are great live. You can really appreciate their musicianship and talent.

I have seen them at least a dozen times and this was the one of the tightest, most impressive shows I've experienced. And they played Grey Machine. They never play Grey Machine. Everyone in the crowd was in a rock induced trance. They just keep getting better!

They played a lot of their older stuff, not expected but defiantly welcomed. They played most of the concert from Summer in Abaddon and Autumn of the Seraphs.

Wish they had played Penelope at reagular tempo. They played all the songs I wanted to hear.

Why did Pinback play the majority of their songs significantly uptempo? Much of the feeling and drama was comprimised by the increased speed of which most of the songs were played. I love Pinback's sound and think the guys are great artists, so it was disappointing for the live performance to be so sped up. Otherwise, the stage presence was solid and the performance was fairly tight in lieu of the rapid pacing.

Pinback was great, karoke onstage beforehand was so fun, but Joe Jack Talcum was a miss. Didn't seem to mesh with Pinback, music was somewhat bizarre.

Great show! Definitely would see this band again.!!

By far the best Pinback show I have seen to date. They played a little something from almost every album. Rob Crow and his son even had karaoke before the opening act started. How cool is that? The Granada Theatre is a pretty cool venue. Great time.

Pinback at the Varsity Theater was great. Despite obvious sound quality issues at the venue, Pinback were amazing always. One of the bands that I can't get enough of, and can't understand why millions of people don't seem to get it. I will continue to enjoy them in small, intimate venues as long as they keep touring.

The night started out in an interesting way. "Pinback Karoke" with one of the front men (who- I will admit- I didn't know was actually in the band until later). He got the crowd amped up and everyone was laughing and having fun. The talking heads dude... *too funny*. After this was over, Joe-Jack came out. And let me be quite honest - he sucked big time. Totally killed the fun mood the crowd had going. The Kitten hater song? Really? Anyway- Pinback saved the show. They played all the good tunes- and sounded great. I do wish they would have had more energy though. Seemed as though they were a bit tired. Wish the singer would have used the same energy he did for "Pinback Karoke". Very little talk to the crowd. Could have used more of that for sure. I'd watch it again - but I wouldn't drive over an hour to see it.

I enjoyed this show and have been looking forward to it for a long time. They played most of my favorite songs and they are good live.

What an awesome show - I love these guys. They work so well together and really know how to keep a crowd going. Can't wait to see them again!

good venue...god crowd...BAD Opening BAD..death-heavy metal...not good match for Pinback. Great set list..played for a long time..great energy.

Pinback was phenomenal. They sound great live, and my only regret is that I won't be a ble to see them again anytime soon. Highly recommended if you're a fan or casual listener; it's hard to beat the experience of being so close to the band, especially if the're playing in a small venue.