Armistead Burwell Smith IV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Armistead Burwell Smith IV (also known as Zach Smith) is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Born in San Diego, California, USA, he first came to attention as the bass guitarist for Three Mile Pilot and Pinback. Smith's distinctive playing style and complex fretwork technique defines the overall sound of both bands. An example of this is Three Mile Pilot's debut record Na Vucca Do Lupu which uses only Smith's bass Tom Zinser's drums and Pall Jenkins' vocals. While later albums from Three Mile Pilot incorporated more guitar and, eventually added Tobias Nathaniel's piano, Smith's bass playing remains the band's primary sound.

Attempts to change that sound and style during Three Mile Pilot's short tenure with major label Geffen Records persuaded Smith to separate from the band and the label and form Pinback with another San Diego native, Rob Crow. Pinback became perhaps more successful than Three Mile Pilot, which recently reformed and is working on a new effort to be released in 2007.

[edit] References

1. Three Mile Pilot Official Site
   
2. Pinback Official Site
   
3. "Vacation to a Different Land", Alternet
   
4. "Interview with Pinback", Independent Weekly
   
5. "I Want It to Have Edges: Interview with Zach Smith", Morphizm