Piebald (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Piebald | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Andover, Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
| Genres | Indie Rock |
| Labels | Side One Dummy |
| Members | Andrew Bonner Luke Garro Travis Shettel Aaron Stuart |
| Website(s) | http://www.piebald.com/ |
Piebald is an American alternative rock band. Piebald started as a hardcore band in Andover, Massachusetts, out of the same scene that produced legends Converge. They later moved to the Boston suburb of Somerville and became a staple of the Greater Boston indie rock scene. Two members still live in the Boston area, while two others now live in Los Angeles.
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[edit] History
Their first gig, a "Battle of the Bands", is chronicled on their two-CD set Barely Legal/All Ages. From the liner notes: ".. from the sound board (sic) 1994 battle of the bands, Piebald lost."
From there on, they recorded and played shows together semi-seriously. Shortly thereafter in 1995, Piebald started recording, which amounted to a 4-track demo, and a 2 track split. The driving hardcore sound exhibited during these years was highlighted by the technical playing of drummer Jon Sullivan, and the deep screams of vocalist and guitarist Travis Shettel.
[edit] Post hardcore
A turning point in Piebald's career came when they recorded seven tracks, and put them on the CD that came to be known as Sometimes Friends Fight. Their musical sound had greatly matured, and Travis' lyrical ability was finally brought to the forefront of the band's music. Another two seven-inches later, Piebald was ready for another metamorphosis.
Eleven tracks recorded at Salad Days became the first record to showcase Piebald's signature sound and wry jokes. Traditionally the most sought-after Piebald recording (before it was immortalized in its entirety on All Ages), When Life Hands You Lemons was considered to be Piebald's best music yet. This release furthered the lyrical style that had been growing within the band, and also showcased the first lead vocals by lead guitarist Aaron Stuart, and a piano track by Shettel.
[edit] The breakthrough
Their most popular album to date, We Are the Only Friends We Have, featured the single "American Hearts" which achieved a modicum of success, garnering some mention on MTV and college radio. This, together with the band's signing to respected indie label Big Wheel Recreation brought Piebald their most mainstream attention to that date. This trend was continued when the band signed to the very popular Side One Dummy label and released their newest album, and when Piebald was chosen to play 2004's Warped Tour.
The following album, "All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time", features noticeably improved vocals by singer Travis Shettel and continues their evolutionary progress toward the piano-driven lite-rock fare they've tended towards over the last couple of releases, and features such additions as horn sections, increased use of vocal harmonies, and extremely catchy hand-claps. Often criticized for seeming over-produced, this is the band's first release on Side One Dummy Records, along with various artists such as The Casualties, Flogging Molly, Maxeen, and Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Piebald's latest album, "Accidental Gentleman" will be released in late January of 2007. First samples from the band's myspace.com page feature a sound with rock elements in the foreground, like it was on the band's earlier records.
[edit] Discography
- Geek of the Week, Salad Days, 1995
- split 7-inch with Seven Percent Solution, Salad Days, Vegan Records, 1995
- Sometimes Friends Fight, Salad Days, self-released/then illegally released, 1996
- Even After Thirteen Years, Emerson College, Hydra Head Records, 1996
- split 7-inch with Cave In, Emerson College, Moo Cow Records, 1996
- When Life Hands You Lemons, Salad Days, Hydra Head Records, 1997
- If It Weren't For Venetian Blinds, It Would Be Curtains For Us All, ?, Big Wheel Recreation, 1999
- The Rock Revolution Will Not Be Televised, ?, Big Wheel Recreation, 2000
- Barely Legal/All Ages, ?, Big Wheel Recreation, 2001
- We Are the Only Friends We Have, Q Division, Big Wheel Recreation, 2002
- All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time, ?, Side One Dummy, 2004
- "Killa Bros and Killa Bees" (DVD/CD), Side One Dummy, 2005
- Accidental Gentlemen, 2007
[edit] Trivia
- Travis Shettel is a playable character in the popular flash game, Emogame 2.
- The song "American Hearts" was sampled by MC Lars for his song, iGeneration.
- During Piebald downtime, Travis Shettel plays in a Los Angeles based band called The Was.
