Homegrown: The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up

by Will Seeley

Who would have thought that there was such an incredible indie rock band in our back yard? The Jim Yoshii Pile Up have just put out their third full length, Picks Us Apart, on Absolutely Kosher records, and my editor told me I better like it and review it or else. Or else what? I don’t get paid to do this. I get paid in the good feelings you all send my way.

But there’s a reason my editor was an asshole about this one. The Pile Up are incredible. This new one marks a step forward for them to a lusher, less sparse thing, that at times remind me (in a good way) of the emotional nakendness of Mark Eitzel and the chiming guitars of Bedhead or early Death Cab. That gives you an idea, I’m sure, that the JYPU isn’t exactly happy music, and maybe a touch on the emo tinge, but that’s OK. Put your head down, close your eyes and fucking rock out. Drink yourself into madness.

Vocalist and guitarist and songwriter Paul Gonzenbach turns out to be a little bit of a thinker too. He realizes that every record has the potentional to be the last. Every successive record is a test of the groups staying power, as a musical unit that listeners can relate to. The band is rounded out by Noah Blumberg and Ian Connely on guitars, Frankie Koeller on bass and Ryan Craven on drums. What? Where’s Jim?

The Pile Up take their name from a friend, the multi-talented Jim Yoshii (who actually used to work for Rasputins and then moved on to bigger and better things). Who knows why. Maybe it doesn’t matter so much. After all, the band has hit the road and shared the stage with the afore-mentioned Death Cab, the Wrens, and many others and has the potential to be a major indie rock success story.

As they say on their web site, they hope to come and play for you really soon, no matter where you are. The world tour starts now, and continues with a stop at Rasputin’s in Berkeley on September 2nd.