KGNU’s Hannah Taub chats with Boulder-based band Big Pinch. The band discusses their upcoming album “The Wave Goes On Forever”, and announces a headlining show at Larimer Lounge on June 15th. Big Pinch, formed at CU Boulder, is deeply connected to the local music scene, and talks about the process of recording their album and their musical influences (Interview date: 6/13/2024).
Hannah Taub: All right, Big Pinch, hello. Welcome. Thanks so much for coming in today. I know it’s probably an earlier gig than you might be used to. How are you guys today?
Big Pinch: Happy to be here. Thanks for having us.
Hannah Taub: That’s great. So I know you prepared some music, which is what we’re all here for.
Do you guys want to play a track and then introduce the band?
Big Pinch: Sure.
Hannah Taub: Awesome stuff! Is that one of your latest singles?
Big Pinch: Yeah, that one’s called “Three Bridges”. It’s one of our recent releases for our upcoming record that we’re gonna be shipping out soon.
Hannah Taub: Nice! Can you tell me more about the record?
Big Pinch: Sure! It’s a culmination of probably the last three years of writing songs together.
It’s set to release on June 27th. I think it’s gonna be nine or 10 tracks, right? Somewhere around there. We recorded the first half of it ourselves in Boulder, and then we went to California and recorded with our friend Alan Marino up in the Bay Area. That was super fun. It’s called The Wave Goes On Forever.
Hannah Taub: Very cool. And let’s get some introductions here.
Big Pinch: Sure. On lead guitar, we got William Cinnamond. He’s also on the vocals as well. We’ve got Andy Alexander over here on the bass. Ari Epstein on the drums. And then my name is Burke Parent also on guitar and singing.
Hannah Taub: Great. Welcome in to KGNU, everyone.
And really excited for that upcoming full length release. Word on the street, you’ve got a show at Larimer Lounge coming up. Could you tell me some more about that?
Big Pinch: Sure, we’re headlining Larimer Lounge this Saturday. We’re playing with two other great bands. We’ve got Social Cig coming out from Milwaukee. He’s on a pretty long tour right now, and this is the back end, so, really excited to play with him.
And then we’re also playing with a band I play bass in called Sempar, and that’s Parker Semerad’s project. He’s actually a luthier over at Woodsongs in Boulder, so shout out to Woodsongs Lutherie and Parker. He’s the man.
Hannah Taub: Very cool. I don’t know if I know any luthiers, so that’s pretty unique.
Let’s jump into another track and then I’d love to hear about more of what you guys are working on and maybe some favorite bands, if you want to think about that while you play the next thing.
Awesome. Good stuff. So we’re here in the Boulder studio live with Big Pinch, and they are a Boulder-based band. Do you guys wanna tell me a bit about your origin stories as a band?
Big Pinch: So yeah, we all met going to CU Boulder and I think the only guy left in school right now is our bass player. Andy is taking his sweet time, getting that degree. No, but we just love Boulder. It’s hard to leave. We love the shows here. The house shows, the local scene, we love going to Denver, busking on Pearl Street. Busking on Pearl Street’s always the best, so hard to get away.
Hannah Taub: So fun. I’ll have to keep an eye out next time I’m strolling up and down Pearl. What about some influences for you all? I’m definitely getting kind of some 80s, 90s, rock vibes. What are some of your favorite bands?
Big Pinch: Definitely Smashing Pumpkins is a big influence. The Velvet Underground. Melvins are great. Andy loves Primus on the bass, huge Primus guy. 311. The Cure, Sonic Youth, I don’t know, we like a lot of music and also we like a variety too, we don’t just like rock music so yeah, Reggae, Brazilian music.
Hannah Taub: Yeah, like true musicians, you draw influences from all over. That’s great! Let’s do one or two more. You’re sounding really good.
Big Pinch: Thank you. This next one is called “Sand”.
Hannah Taub: That one’s good. That’s “Sand”. Great stuff, you know it’s already feeling like the set is too short but I think you guys have one more for us. We’ve got Big Pinch live in the studio here at KGNU on the Afternoon Sound Alternative, they’re a Boulder local band and we’re so happy to have them rockin out at 12:30 in the afternoon.
Big Pinch: Yeah, thanks for having us. We got one more for you. This one’s unreleased. The title track of the album, “Wave Goes On Forever”. So we’re gonna play that for you and thank you guys for having us today. This has been super fun.
Hannah Taub: Yeah, our pleasure.
Their upcoming album, Big Pinch, live in the studio. Catch them at Larimer Lounge on the 15th. That’s this Saturday, headlining. Big stuff. Thanks for coming in guys.
Big Pinch: Thank you so much guys.
Hannah Taub: Have a good one.
Big Pinch: Hi Mom and Dad!
