Piebald (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Somerville, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Piebald is a rock group from the United States, specifically hailing from Andover, Massachusetts. They emerged from the same musical environment that gave rise to bands like Converge and Cave In. Starting out as a hardcore punk band, they gradually became a prominent force within the Massachusetts post-hardcore scene. During the mid to late 1990s, they toured alongside DIY hardcore acts such as Jesuit, Reversal of Man, and Harvest. Eventually, Piebald moved to the Boston suburb of Somerville, where they established themselves as a key player in the Greater Boston indie rock community.
History
Their very first show was a "Battle of the Bands", which is captured on their two-CD compilation Barely Legal/All Ages, famously highlighting their initial defeat. Beginning in 1995, Piebald entered the studio to record a four-track demo along with a two-track split release. The band’s early hardcore sound was characterized by drummer Jon Sullivan’s technical proficiency and the fierce vocal delivery of guitarist and singer Travis Shettel.
Post-hardcore
A significant development occurred with their self-released seven-track album Sometimes Friends Fight, which demonstrated a more refined sound and showcased Shettel's growth in both lyric writing and vocal style. After issuing two more seven-inch records, Piebald underwent another stylistic shift.
Their album When Life Hands You Lemons, recorded at Salad Days studio, introduced the distinctive sound they became known for, marked by clever humor. It is widely regarded as their strongest work prior to its comprehensive re-release on All Ages. This record also enhanced their lyrical approach and featured lead vocals from guitarist Aaron Stuart, along with piano contributions from Shettel.
Breakthrough
Following the release of If it Weren't for Venetian Blinds, It Would Be Curtains for Us All, Piebald put out We Are the Only Friends We Have, which included singles such as Just a Simple Plan and American Hearts. These tracks received airplay on both MTV and college radio stations.
Their subsequent album, All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time, marked their debut with Side One Dummy Records and incorporated piano-led arrangements, horn sections, and layered vocal harmonies. Music videos were produced for the songs Part of Your Body is Made Out of Rock and I Haven't Tried It.
In 2007, they released Accidental Gentlemen, which became their last album featuring original songs.
Retirement
On August 19, 2007, Piebald announced their decision to disband through statements posted on their official MySpace page and website:
"Friends… we have chosen to retire Piebald. Over more than fifteen years, we have toured worldwide, released numerous records, and performed thousands of shows. This tour is dedicated to ourselves; Piebald. Our gratitude goes out to everyone who supported us—family members, friends, fellow bands, fans, promoters, labels, agents, and others. This moment is not for sadness but for new beginnings and positive energy. There may still be some farewell concerts to be scheduled. Thank you all for your unwavering support. We love you."
The group held three final concerts in April 2008: April 17 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City and April 18–19 at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Their concluding release is a live DVD/documentary titled Nobody's Robots: A Farewell to Piebald. It features the farewell performance presented in 5.1 surround sound, a retrospective documentary segment, and a collection of music videos. The audio portion is exclusively available via iTunes. The DVD saw nationwide release on July 13, 2010 through Sidehatch Entertainment Group.
Reunion
Piebald came together again for two performances at the Bamboozle festivals, held in Anaheim, California, on March 28, 2010, and later in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 2, 2010. Between these appearances, Rise Records issued a three-volume collection featuring previously unavailable tracks recorded during their tenure with Big Wheel Recreation from 1999 to 2002, which included B-sides and rare songs.
On March 22, 2016, Piebald was confirmed as part of the lineup for the Wrecking Ball festival at The Masquerade in Atlanta. This event was part of a series of concluding shows at that venue. Shortly afterward, on April 6, 2016, the band revealed plans for an 11-date reunion tour encompassing the festival appearance. The tour featured multiple East Coast stops as well as five West Coast gigs alongside former touring partners Limbeck, covering cities such as San Francisco, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix.
After this well-received tour, Piebald has continued to perform annually from 2017 through 2023.
On June 7, 2024, the group announced their signing with Iodine Recordings.
Additional significant reunion appearances include:
- May 28, 2017: Boston Calling Festival
- September 15, 2018: Riot Fest in Chicago
- June 4, 2022: Headlining the main stage at Sticks and Stones Fest in Worcester, Massachusetts—an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of New Found Glory’s Sticks and Stones album. Their setlist predominantly featured tracks from their album We Are the Only Friends We Have.
Other projects
Following his time with Piebald, Travis Shettel has been involved in several musical ventures including The Was, TS and The Past Haunts, and The Hunting Accident alongside Aaron Stuart.
Band members
- Current lineup
- Travis Shettel – vocals and guitar (1994–2008; 2016–present)
- Aaron Stuart – guitar and vocals (1994–2008; 2016–present)
- Andrew Bonner – bass (1994–2008; 2016–present)
- Luke Garro – drums (2001–2008; 2016–present)
- Touring musicians
- Jim "Handsome" Carroll – bass (2002–2007)
- Former members
- Jon Sullivan – drums (1994–1999; 2001)
- Alex Garcia-Rivera – drums (1999–2001)
Studio albums
| Title | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| When Life Hands You Lemons | Hydra Head Records | 1997 |
| If It Weren't for Venetian Blinds, It Would Be Curtains for Us All | Big Wheel Recreation | 1999 |
| We Are the Only Friends We Have | Big Wheel Recreation/Iodine Recordings | 2002 |
| All Ears All Eyes All the Time | SideOneDummy Records | 2004 |
| Accidental Gentlemen | SideOneDummy Records | 2007 |
EPs, Singles, and Splits
| Title | Artist(s) | Label | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piebald / Sevenpercentsolution Split | Piebald, Seven Percent Solution | Federation Records | 1995 | Split 7" |
| Sometimes Friends Fight | Piebald | Point the Blame Records | 1996 | EP |
| Cave In / Piebald | Cave In, Piebald | Moo Cow Records | 1996 | Split 7" |
| Even After Thirteen Years, He's Still Not Coming Back | Piebald | Hydra Head Records | 1996 | 7" |
| In Vain / Piebald Split | In Vain, Piebald | Contrast Records | 1997 | Split 7" |
| The Rock Revolution Will Not Be Televised | Piebald | Big Wheel Recreation | 2000 | EP |
| Piebald & River City High Sampler | Piebald, River City High | Big Wheel Recreation, Doghouse Records | 2001 | Split CD Sampler |
| Just a Simple Plan | Piebald | Big Wheel Recreation, Defiance Records | 2002 | EP |
| American Hearts | Piebald | Big Wheel Recreation | 2002 | Single |
| Accidental Gentlemen Sampler | Piebald | SideOneDummy Records | 2007 | CD Sampler |
| Piebald Presents To You, A Musical Christmas Adventure | Piebald | Photo Finish Records | 2019 | EP |
Additional Releases
| Title | Performer(s) | Record Label | Release Year | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Geek of the Week' | 'Piebald' | 'Independent Release' | '1995' | 'Cassette Tape' |
| 'A Tribute to Weezer' | 'Various Artists' | 'Dead Droid Records' | '2000' | 'Compilation Album' |
| 'Barely Legal & All Ages' | 'Various Artists' | 'Big Wheel Recreation' | '2001' | 'Compilation Album' |
| 'Killa Bros and Killa Bees' | 'Piebald' | 'SideOneDummy Records' | '2005' | 'Studio Album with DVD' |
| 'Nobody's Robots: A Farewell to Piebald' | 'Piebald' | 'Sidehatch Entertainment Group' | '2010' | 'DVD Release' |
| 'Vol. I-III' | 'Piebald' | 'Rise Records' | '2011' | 'Compilation Collection' |
| 'Marshall's Basement' | 'Piebald' | 'Independent Release' | '2016' | 'Cassette Tape' |