DOWNLOAD: Piebald, "Oh, the Congestion"
Ten years on and no closer to stardom, PIEBALD keep finding ways to get better. Once upon a time they were a band defined by their quirks, by Travis Shettel's archly geektoid sense of humor and his ability to turn a simple melody into a manic obstacle course full of twists, turns, and on-a-dime shifts from jangly art rock to sweeping piano choruses. No more: on "Congestion," a teaser for their new Accidental Gentleman (Side One Dummy) it takes less than three minutes and not much more than four chords for the band to get from A to B, nailing the kind of simple, anthemic power pop they've always run rings around. No surprise whatsoever: they're really good at it. Don't miss their annual holiday gig Friday, December 22 at Andover Town Hall.