Words: James Ferreira
Photos: James Ferreira

Appeared:
September 28, 2007
The Social, Orlando

Rating: The Force is Strong with These Two.

My love of this particular band has been well-documented throughout the pages of this magazine, pretty much, since its inception. While I have come to understand that some people just can’t get into Pinback’s simple, yet beautifully melodic, trance inducing indie-rock stylings, I will never comprehend why they play at such small venues. There was not a chance in abaddon (hell) to scalp a ticket to this moderately priced show as countless people meandered about outside the club muttering, “Got an extra ticket bro?”

After making our way through the melee, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the “newer” renovations to the Social (keep in mind it has been over a year since I’d been there) as I wandered up to the main bar for my first beer. Miller Lite at the main bar cost me 4 dollars. The reason I drink Miller Lite is because I am poor, not because I particularly like the taste. I make a mental note of this and purchase a bottle of the same beer at the smaller bar towards the back. This time the cost is only three dollars. These are the thoughts going through my mind as the A-Sides are playing and boring the shit out of me. Thank god there is only one opening act. Keep in mind I don’t hate them, they are just boring and I’d just driven a few hours from Tampa. Needless to say, I was glad when they finished.

Once Pinback had set-up, a friend of mine pointed out something else that had run a foul with the Miller Lite at the main bar. He had discovered a wickedly rank stench emanating from the outside of the bottles purchased there. I then told him that the bottles at the smaller bar were not only cheaper, but that they wouldn’t leave your hand smelling like the stripper pole at Ybor Secrets. Pinback’s set was amazingly precise, as usual. It took the guys a while to get warmed up (about one or two songs) and they played for well over an hour mixing in songs from their new (and great) album Autumn of the Seraphs as well as plenty of old favorites like “Penelope,” “Loro,” and “June.” The group of friends whom accompanied me to this fantastic showcase of the complex nature of simplicity had never seen Pinback before. Now they too realize why this is one of my favorite bands.