Pins: 2015

There's equal parts feisty pop sparkle and droned-out punk discord in the recordings of Manchester's PINS, from their vivacious 2012 EP, LVu4Lyf, to their glowering 2013 debut, Girls Like Us. But it's the band's clever new escapade, Wild Nights, which has vaulted them into the States with happy frequency, especially since they recorded the album with acclaimed producer Dave Catching (Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age) at Rancho de la Luna studio in Joshua Tree, California.

Although PINS is now a quintet with the recent addition of keyboardist Kyoko Swan, the band began as an idea shared by singer and guitarist Faith Holgate and bassist Anna Donigan, who were slightly weary of the beefy male swagger of a lot of Manchester bands. The two friends posted flyers around town asking for fellow female musicians influenced by the Jesus and Mary Chain, Hole and Karen O. Guitarist Lois McDonald and drummer Sophie Galpin connected with Holgate and Donigan and one of Manchester's brightest young bands was born.

They've since hit the road with Wire and Savages, opened for The Fall (punctuated by the surreal experience of watching Mark E. Smith begin his set from their dressing room), and notably joined Sleater-Kinney on the trio's swing through the UK earlier this year.

PINS made their way to the Bronx for their FUV Live debut recently and chatted about their journey from damp Manchester to the Joshua Tree desert. They also played two gems from Wild Nights, the should-be-a-summer-anthem "Young Girls" and the scorching groove of "Curse These Dreams." 

[recorded: 6/12/15]