Pitchfork

[Posted Friday, October 31st, 2003 04:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Seeing as how Rob Crow and Armistead Burwell Smith IV, together known as Pinback, are collectively responsible for roughly 352 different bands, there's pretty much a steady stream of news to impart about their respective projects-- it's all a matter of choosing when to report it. And now is one of those times, so let's get started.

First, and perhaps foremost, there is a new Pinback album on the horizon. It doesn't have a title, and we don't have a tracklist, but the pair is hard and work on completing it in time for an early 2004 on Touch & Go. In the meantime, Pinback is heading out for a brief tour in December, so let's make with the dates, shall we? Here ya go:

12-10 Tempe, AZ - Nita's Hideaway
12-11 Pomona, CA - Glass House
12-15 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
12-18 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
12-19 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey

2004 will also see the release of Pinback's long-awaited b-sides collection on Ace Fu, as well as a Zach Smith solo album. The label is also re-releasing Pinback's sophomore album, 2001's Blue Screen Life, in a limited pressing on colored vinyl just in time for Christmas.

In the extensive side-project news category, Absolutely Kosher have a few Crow-related projects in the pipeline for 2004. Label spokesman Cory Brown says the next Thingy album may or may not be finished this year, but Optiganally Yours-- Crow's collaboration with Pea Hicks-- will release their third full-length in 2004, entitled OY in Hi-Fi. Crow's freshly minted metal band, the mellifluously monikered Goblin Cock, will also make their triumphant debut on Absolutely Kosher in 2004.

Finally, after releasing his third-ish solo album, My Room is a Mess, this year, Crow apparently decided that using his own name for his solo material was far too straightforward, so he's gathered some notable cohorts and reformed under the circuitously named My Band Is A Mess. Joining him in this band is Brent Asbury (Thingy), Kenseth Thibideau (let's pick one, how about Howard Hello), and fellow former Heavy Vegetable Travis Nelson. According to Absolutely Kosher's Brown, "The group just played our CMJ showcase in NY and sounded fantastic." I, unfortunately, was not in attendance, but I believe him. And so should you.