Rob Crow is a guy who likes to keep busy. The San Diego singer/multi-instrumentalist has been associated with almost twenty bands over the years, including Heavy Vegetable, Optiganally Yours, and the memorably named Goblin Cock. Just last week, the tireless musician’s most recent band, Devfits — a Devo/Misfits tribute band, naturally — played the Casbah with LA bizarro act JP Inc. But when Crow isn’t dabbling in one of his myriad side projects, he returns to the band everyone knows and loves him for: Pinback.
Led by Crow and Zach Smith, Pinback released their first album, This is a Pinback Record, in 1999, and immediately began turning heads with their stark, breezy indie rock. By the time they released their sophomore album, 2001’s Blue Screen Life, Pinback had become one of San Diego’s most revered bands. The success of those records landed them a deal with Chicago’s Touch & Go Records, who in their heyday also housed acts like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and San Diego’s own Black Heart Procession.
The deal helped introduce Pinback to a national audience. Their two Touch & Go albums, 2004’s Summer in Abbadon and 2007’s Autumn of the Seraphs, reached #196 and #69 on the Billboard charts, respectively. To this day, Abbadon‘s “Fortress” is a college radio staple and Pinback remain one of San Diego’s most famous and adored exports.
That’s why any self-respecting music fan will want to hurry to the Casbah on January 10 and 11 to see the band perform as “The Rob & Zach Show.” On the 10th, Crow and Smith will play This is a Pinback Record in its entirety, followed by Blue Screen Life on the 11th. It’s not every day you get to see two of San Diego’s favorite sons perform classic albums in their entirety, so don’t miss your chance to bask in the local glory. Plus, knowing Crow, it’s only a matter of time before he goes off and busies himself with another side project.