Pile played The Sinclair – 4/2

Boston favorites Pile played a sold-out record release show at The Sinclair on Sunday night, joined by The Kominas and Exploding In Sound label-mates Gnarwahl and Kal Marks. 

By the standards of Pile, it’s been a long time since Pile played Boston. A break between record cycles has seen the band recede from their status as a live local fixture in recent months, but they came roaring back on last weekend to celebrate the March 31st release of A Hairshirt of Purpose, their fifth LP.

Writing about Pile in Boston almost feels redundant, since a number of talented people here are doing a fine job of that already. Plus, no one who has ever seen a Pile show needs any convincing. Their twangy deconstructionist noise rock has one of the most deservedly fervent followings in town, which turned out in full force on Sunday night. A few bruises come with the territory of holding on to a front row spot, but it was worth the effort for one of the longest and best sets I’ve seen the band play.

Support for the night came via the reliably excellent and like-mindedly noisy Kal Marks, a dose of deadpan surf-punk courtesy of The Kominas and the manic guitar-drums shredding of Gnarwahl. Photos from all four sets below.