Three Mile Pilot

Last updated

Three Mile Pilot
Origin San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1991–present
Members Armistead Burwell Smith IV
Pall Jenkins
Tom Zinser

Three Mile Pilot (often shortened to 3MP) is an American indie rock band from San Diego, California, formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV (a.k.a. Zach Smith) from Pinback, Systems Officer, Neighborhood Watch on bass and vocals, Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession, Dark Sarcasm, Mr. Tube) on vocals and guitar, and Tom Zinser (Neighborhood Watch (CV), Pinback) on drums.

Contents

History

1991–2000

The group released their first album, Nà Vuccà Dò Lupù in 1991. It was recorded and mixed in three days, composed only of bass, vocals, and drums, and released on Cargo/Headhunter. Their next record, The Chief Assassin to the Sinister , came out (also on Cargo/Headhunter) in 1993, with a vinyl version released by Negative Records and then later by Goldenrod Records. It was significantly darker and introduced Jenkins on guitar. Geffen Records took an interest in the band, re-issued Chief with three new tracks produced by Tchad Blake, backed three months of touring and set them up at Seattle's Bear Creek Studios to produce a new album with Steve Fisk. Because of internal strife over the belabored new album Another Desert, Another Sea, Geffen dropped 3MP, allowing them to keep their masters which were later released by Headhunter. They added Tobias Nathaniel (The Black Heart Procession, The Young Destroyers, A Day Called Zero, Struggle) on piano/keyboard and released Another Desert, Another Sea in 1997. Several seven inch releases followed on various labels, as well as a self-titled EP released on Gravity Records the following year. Songs from the seven inch releases and other unreleased tracks were gathered in a two-CD compilation titled Songs From an Old Town We Once Knew , released on Cargo/Headhunter in 1999.

3MP's early releases often referenced the cult sci-fi computer game series Star Control, as evidenced by album and song titles such as Star Control Out, "Chenjesu", "The Ur-Quan Destroyer", "Androsynth Guardian", and "Ilwrath", simply because they liked the names.

Reunion

After years on the backburner writing material intermittently, Three Mile Pilot partnered with indie label Touch and Go Records working toward a new album and played the uber-weekend extravaganza Touch and Go 25th anniversary festival in Chicago in 2006. Following the downsizing of Touch and Go the band moved on and is now partnered with Temporary Residence Limited. Pinback and Blackheart have also both moved from Touch and Go Records to Temporary Residence Limited.

Three Mile Pilot played three sold-out shows at Tim Mays' The Casbah on January 18, 19 and 20, 2009 as part of the venue's 20th anniversary celebration. The line-up included Pall Jenkins, Armistead Burwell Smith IV, and Tom Zinser, as well as Kenseth Thibideau (Sleeping People) on keyboards, and Brad Lee (Mr. Tube, Comfortable for You) on bass and guitar.

The band toured the west coast in July 2009, their first tour in over ten years, and re-released their earlier work as a handmade six CD box set titled Three Mile Pilot: 1991–1999. They announced that a new album was nearly finished and that in October 2009, a seven inch with two new songs ("Planets/Grey Clouds") would be available. Their latest album entitled The Inevitable Past is the Future Forgotten was released on September 28, 2010, to much critical acclaim. This was their first album in over a decade.

Discography

Related Research Articles

Necros was an early American hardcore punk band from Maumee, Ohio, although they are usually identified with the Detroit music scene. They were the first band to record for Touch and Go Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinback</span> American indie rock band

Pinback is an American indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow, who have been its two constant members. They have released five studio albums and several other releases.

<i>All Systems Go</i> (Rocket from the Crypt album) 1993 compilation album by Rocket from the Crypt

All Systems Go is a compilation album by American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1993 by Cargo Records and Headhunter Records. The album collects songs which were previously only available on 7-inch vinyl singles, as well as some new and unreleased material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Black Heart Procession</span> American rock band

The Black Heart Procession is an American indie rock band from San Diego, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls Against Boys</span> American post-hardcore band

Girls Against Boys is a post-hardcore band which formed in Washington, D.C., and subsequently relocated to New York City shortly after their formation in 1989. The band released albums on the labels Adult Swim, Touch and Go Records, Geffen Records, and Jade Tree from 1990 to 2002. The band then sporadically played shows from 2003 until 2009 when they became inactive as a whole. In 2013, Girls Against Boys briefly toured and self-released their first new material in 11 years. After another hiatus in 2017, they reunited for a longer term in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kentucky Headhunters</span> American country rock and Southern rock band

The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock and Southern rock band originating in the state of Kentucky. The band's members are Doug Phelps, Greg Martin, and brothers Richard Young and Fred Young. It was founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which consisted of the Young brothers and Martin, along with Anthony Kenney on bass guitar and vocals. Itchy Brother performed until 1982, with James Harrison replacing Martin from 1973 to 1976. The Youngs and Martin began performing as The Kentucky Headhunters in 1986, adding brothers Ricky Lee Phelps and Doug Phelps to the membership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creedle</span> American rock band

Creedle is an American rock band based in San Diego, California. They are most known for their three full length albums released on Cargo Music/Headhunter Records in the 1990s, along with numerous 7-inch singles. The band was primarily composed of Devon E. Levins a.k.a. Devon Goldberg (guitar/vocals), PieBoy a.k.a. Tim Blankenship (bass/vocals), Dr. Gein a.k.a. Dion Thurman (drums), Stretch a.k.a. Robert Walter and Cheme a.k.a. Cochemea Gastelum (saxophone). Creedle was formed after the nearly simultaneous break ups of San Diego bands The Pull Toys, Daddy Long Legs, Holy Love Snakes and If Tomorrow.

<i>1</i> (The Black Heart Procession album) 1998 studio album by The Black Heart Procession

1 is the debut studio album by the American indie band The Black Heart Procession. It was released on January 1, 1998, by Headhunter Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armistead Burwell Smith IV</span> American musician

Armistead Burwell Smith IV is an American composer and musician. He has recorded with multiple bands, including most notably Pinback, as well on his own, under the name Systems Officer.

<i>Paint as a Fragrance</i> 1991 studio album by Rocket from the Crypt

Paint as a Fragrance is the first studio album by American punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt. It was released in 1991 by Cargo Records and Headhunter Records. It is the band's only recording featuring their original lineup, which included drummer Sean Flynn and backing vocalist Elaina Torres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penelope (Pinback song)</span> 2001 single by Pinback

Penelope is a single released by indie rock band Pinback, on their album, Blue Screen Life. It is regarded as one of their most well-known songs. The two B-sides, "Anti-Hu" and "Seville" (Demo) can be found on Nautical Antiques.

Pall Jenkins is an American vocalist, guitarist and music producer. He is the front man for the bands Three Mile Pilot and The Black Heart Procession, as well as his collaborations with Vampire Rodents and Ugly Casanova.

Armchair Martian, formed in 1993, is an American trio based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. They are a punk and alt-country band influenced by Descendents, Hüsker Dü, and Uncle Tupelo. They have put out numerous recordings through four record labels, the latest being Suburban Home which released the Good Guys, Bad Band album in 2007 and re-issued their Who Wants to Play Bass? LP. Singer Jon Snodgrass later moved on to form Drag the River.

Inch was an American post-hardcore band formed in San Diego, California, in 1992. The group was founded by former Sub Society vocalist Michael "Stimy" Steinman, guitarist Mike Paprocki, drummer Dave Hepler, and bassist Jeff Reese. Inch released three albums during the 1990s until their disbandment in 1999. After being involved with numerous other bands, frontman Steinman died in 2010.

<i>Nà Vuccà Dò Lupù</i> 1992 studio album by Three Mile Pilot

Nà Vuccà Dò Lupù is the debut studio album of Three Mile Pilot, released on November 16, 1992 by Headhunter Records.

<i>The Inevitable Past Is the Future Forgotten</i> 2010 studio album by Three Mile Pilot

The Inevitable Past Is the Future Forgotten is the fourth studio album by Three Mile Pilot, released on September 28, 2010 by Temporary Residence Limited. It was the first full-length album the band released since 1997's Another Desert, Another Sea.

<i>The Chief Assassin to the Sinister</i> 1994 studio album by Three Mile Pilot

The Chief Assassin to the Sinister is the second studio album by Three Mile Pilot, released on September 27, 1994 by Headhunter Records.

<i>Starcontrol Out</i> 1995 EP by Three Mile Pilot

Starcontrol Out is an EP by Three Mile Pilot, released in 1995 by Negative Records.

<i>Songs From an Old Town We Once Knew</i> 2000 compilation album by Three Mile Pilot

Songs From an Old Town We Once Knew is a compilation album by Three Mile Pilot, released on January 13, 2000 by Cargo Music.

<i>Maps</i> (EP) 2012 EP by Three Mile Pilot

Maps is an EP by Three Mile Pilot, released on July 24, 2012, by Temporary Residence Limited.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.