If you were to look up the word "piebald" in the dictionary, you'd learn that it means "having irregular patches of two colors, typically black and white."
But if you were to ask any of their loyal fans, they's probably refer to "Piebald" as one of their favorite bands of all time — a hard-to-describe, genre-less, energetic four-piece known for their raw, matter-of-fact lyrics, infectious hooks, fun live shows, and their penchant for doing everything on their own terms.
And this year, Piebald turns 30!
Now on vinyl for the first time in over 20 years, Piebald's We Are The Only Friends We Have has earned its place as one of the most notable and iconic emo albums of the era. It has been completely remastered for vinyl by Jack Shirley (Joyce Manor, Quicksand) with completely reconstructed artwork created from negatives of the original photo shoot, and includes a retrospective essay written by the band. The album was originally produced by Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr).
The re-issue will also have a limited deluxe edition double LP, which includes 12 bonus tracks (B-sides, demos, covers) in an expanded gatefold package. It will also be available digitally on all streaming platforms.
Get the re-release here via Iodine Recordings.
And watch the video for "American Hearts" while you're at it , below.
Piebald were founded in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1994 by Travis Shettel(vocals/guitar/keys) and Aaron Stuart (guitar/vocals). Through Andover High School friends and siblings, Jon Sullivan (drums) and Andrew Bonner (bass) were added to complete the original lineup. In a time before cell phones, Spotify, or even Napster, Piebald became an integral part of the same indie, post-hardcore music scene of the Merrimack Valley that birthed musical monsters Cave-In and Converge.
On February 19, 2002, Piebald released their critically acclaimed third album, We Are the Only Friends We Have. Now joined by Luke Garro on drums, the band embarked on the most thrilling stage of its career. National radio airplay of singles "American Hearts" and "Just a Simple Plan," and tours with the likes of Minus the Bear, Glassjaw, Hey Mercedes, RX Bandits, Saves the Day, and New Found Glory led to more mainstream success and helped birth a cult following.
Piebald became recognized as "one of the most dependably fun bands of the late '90s/early '00s emo touring circuit," and "kings of sing-alongs," led by Shettel, who "crafted lyrics that could weave between intensely autobiographical, sociopolitical, and sarcastic."
The band initially called it quits in 2008, but reformed in 2016 to celebrate the digital re-release of their catalog, and haven't looked back. Since their reformation, Piebald have toured with Dashboard Confessional, The Movielife, and Weakened Friends, reinstated their annual holiday shows, and graced the stages of festivals such as Boston Calling, Riot Fest, Furnace Fest, and Wrecking Ball.
Now, Piebald has teamed up with Iodine Recordings to remaster, repackage, and re-release their long out-of-print catalog, and there has even been talk of new music.
The impact of Piebald on the alternative music scene is undeniable, and their legacy continues to inspire a new generation of musicians and fans.
A toast to 30 years of Piebald!
