thread of superlative boston rock band PILE

most creative rock record 2023

I will be in NOLA for a week in October and I looked to see if any bands were playing I might want to see.

The only one that made any sense was Pile. The band is from Boston, was described as "pummeling" in one thing I read and I watched snippets of some videos on the YouTubes that looked kinda cool.

Are they worth taking an evening away from absinthe, beignets, and po boys? What should I start with from them and what's their best?

i think their new one all fiction is their best, but the most accessible/best way in is probably dripping. "pummeling" is right but i also thing they have a kind of swagger that's so relaxed it's on the verge of falling apart. and i haven't seen them live, but i've only heard they're must-see

Always good to see live. Definitely pummeling on the Green and Gray tour but Rick has really expanded the Pile sound since then btwn the solo reworkings on Songs Known Together, Alone (which is a real treat) and All Fiction. Still sits within their post-hardcore/whatever vibe but the latter feels like a real milestone and maybe even a departure point, just all kinds of different textures and melodies.