Armistead Burwell Smith IV
Encyclopedia
Armistead Burwell Smith IV (also known as Zach Smith) is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist. He plays Alembic Stanley Clarke
bass guitars, set at a standard tuning. Smith recorded many of his own albums including Autumn of the Seraphs
.
, he first came to attention as the bass guitar
ist for rock band Three Mile Pilot
. Smith's distinctive playing style and complex fretwork technique defines the overall sound of the band. This was clear as early as their first record Nà Vuccà Dò Lupù, on which Smith's bass was the only harmony instrument. Rumored attempts to change Three Mile Pilot's sound during the band's short tenure with major label Geffen Records
persuaded Smith to separate from the band (and the label) and form Pinback
with Rob Crow
. Three Mile Pilot recently reformed and has released a new album, The Inevitable Past is the Future Forgotten.
Alembic Inc
Alembic was founded in 1969 and is a manufacturer of high-end electric basses, guitars and preamps.-History:Ron and Susan Wickersham founded Alembic, Inc. in 1969...
bass guitars, set at a standard tuning. Smith recorded many of his own albums including Autumn of the Seraphs
Autumn of the Seraphs
Autumn of the Seraphs is the fourth full-length release from the San Diego, California band Pinback. The album was released on September 11, 2007 on Touch and Go Records. The first pressing of Autumn of the Seraphs comes packaged with a limited-edition bonus disc...
.
Early playing
Smith began playing bass in 1984 at the age of 14 after he and his high school (Torrey Pines High School, Del Mar, CA) friends were looking to form a reggae band, which they named White Lion (seemingly unaware of the heavy metal band of the same name). Smith ironically attributes a lot of his sound to "being bored" playing single note basslines. Smith developed his sound by experimenting with different harmonies on the bass, a style that would later become his signature. Smith was largely self-taught and tried to do "different things with the bass"Three Mile Pilot
Born in San Diego, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he first came to attention as the bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist for rock band Three Mile Pilot
Three Mile Pilot
Three Mile Pilot is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV on bass and vocals, Pall Jenkins Three Mile Pilot (often shortened to 3MP) is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV (a.k.a. Zach Smith from Pinback,...
. Smith's distinctive playing style and complex fretwork technique defines the overall sound of the band. This was clear as early as their first record Nà Vuccà Dò Lupù, on which Smith's bass was the only harmony instrument. Rumored attempts to change Three Mile Pilot's sound during the band's short tenure with major label Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
persuaded Smith to separate from the band (and the label) and form Pinback
Pinback
Pinback is an indie rock band from San Diego, California, currently signed to Temporary Residence Ltd. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow. Tom Zinser, Chris Prescott, and Mario Rubalcaba have all contributed drums...
with Rob Crow
Rob Crow
Robertdale Rulon "Rob" Crow, Jr. is an American singer and multi-instrumentalist from San Diego, California known for the long list of bands and projects he is associated with, mostly in the genres of indie rock and math rock...
. Three Mile Pilot recently reformed and has released a new album, The Inevitable Past is the Future Forgotten.
Pinback
Pinback is a music project formed and headed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow. Smith and Crow played music together as early as their days as roommates. Smith's break from Three Mile Pilot served as a good opportunity for the two to collaborate. The band's original recordings, that later became their first album This is a Pinback CD, were recorded on Smith's personal computer.Systems Officer
Zach Smith also has a solo project called Systems Officer that allows him "to follow through completely his own ideas and concepts" and "to explore the workings of his inner mind and let his ingeniousness flourish". Smith's own sound shines in this project, something not entirely possible in his other bands. That said, listeners will find this sound fairly similar to his work with Pinback. On May 11, 2004 Zach released a self-titled EP from this project on Ace Fu Records. Smith has released a full length album with this project called Underslept on Temporary Residence Limited in 2009.Signature sound
"When called upon to define [his] style, Smith demurs before answering. "I don't know. Pretty with an edge? I don't necessarily know how to explain it. I like dark and brooding tones. I don't ever want my music to get too pretty. I like it to have an underlying rawness. Sugar coating on the top, evil underneath. How's that?" "Three Mile Pilot
- Nà Vuccà Dò Lupù (1992)
- Chief Assassin to the Sinister (Cargo/Headhunter 1994)
- Chief Assassin to the Sinister (Geffen 1995)
- Another Desert, Another Sea (1997)
- Three Mile PilotThree Mile PilotThree Mile Pilot is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV on bass and vocals, Pall Jenkins Three Mile Pilot (often shortened to 3MP) is an indie rock band from San Diego, California formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV (a.k.a. Zach Smith from Pinback,...
(Gravity EP) (1998) - Songs From an Old Town We Once Knew (1999, compilation)
- The Inevitable Past Is The Future Forgotten (Temporary Residence 2010)
Pinback
- This Is a Pinback CD (1999)
- Blue Screen LifeBlue Screen LifeBlue Screen Life is the second album released by indie rock band Pinback.-Track listing:# "Offline P.K."# "Concrete Seconds"# "Boo"# "Bbtone"# "Penelope"# "Talby"# "X I Y"# "Prog"# "Your Sickness"# "Seville"# "West"# "Tres"...
(2001) - Summer in AbaddonSummer in AbaddonSummer in Abaddon is the third album released by indie rock band Pinback.-Track listing:# "Non-Photo Blue" – 3:43# "Sender" – 4:58# "Syracuse" – 3:49# "Bloods on Fire" – 4:12# "Fortress" – 4:10# "This Red Book" – 3:56# "Soaked" – 4:24...
(2004) U.S. #196 - Nautical AntiquesNautical AntiquesNautical Antiques is "a collection of outtakes, B-sides and rarities from the early years of Pinback's career."- Track listing :# "Messenger" - 3:56# "Versailles" - 3:32# "Anti-Hu" - 4:29# "Byzantine" - 3:42# "Water Run" - 4:08...
(2006, compilation) - Autumn of the SeraphsAutumn of the SeraphsAutumn of the Seraphs is the fourth full-length release from the San Diego, California band Pinback. The album was released on September 11, 2007 on Touch and Go Records. The first pressing of Autumn of the Seraphs comes packaged with a limited-edition bonus disc...
(2007) U.S. #69
External links
- Systems Officer official site
- Three Mile Pilot official site
- Pinback official site
- "Vacation to a Different Land", AlternetAlterNetAlterNet, a project of the non-profit Independent Media Institute, is a progressive/liberal activist news service. Launched in 1998, AlterNet now claims a readership of over 3 million visitors per month .AlterNet publishes original content as well as journalism from a wide variety of other sources...
- "Interview with Pinback", Independent WeeklyIndependent WeeklyThe Independent Weekly is a tabloid-format alternative weekly newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina, United States and distributed throughout the Research Triangle area and counties .The Independent is a member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies and has a...
- "I Want It to Have Edges: Interview with Zach Smith", Morphizm