A turning point in Piebald's career came when they recorded seven tracks, and put them on the CD that came to be known as Sometimes Friends Fight. Their musical sound had greatly matured, and Travis' lyrical ability was finally brought to the forefront of the band's music. Another two seven-inches later, Piebald was ready for another metamorphosis.
Eleven tracks recorded at Salad Days became the first record to showcase Piebald's signature sound and wry jokes. Traditionally the most sought-after Piebald recording (before it was immortalized in its entirety on All Ages), When Life Hands You Lemons was considered to be Piebald's best music yet. This release furthered the lyrical style that had been growing within the band, and also showcased the first lead vocals by lead guitarist Aaron Stuart, and a piano track by Shettel.
Following If it Weren't for Venetian Blinds, It Would Be Curtains for Us All, Piebald released their most popular album to date, We Are the Only Friends We Have. It featured the single "American Hearts" which achieved a modicum of success, garnering some mention on MTV and college radio. This, together with the band's signing to respected indie label Big Wheel Recreation brought Piebald their most mainstream attention to that date. This trend was continued when the band signed to the very popular Side One Dummy label and released their next album, and when Piebald was chosen to play 2004's Warped Tour.
The following album, All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time, features noticeably improved vocals by singer Travis Shettel and continues their evolutionary progress toward the piano-driven fare they've tended towards over the last couple of releases, and features such additions as horn sections, increased use of vocal harmonies, and extremely catchy hand-claps.
Piebald's latest album, Accidental Gentleman was released in late January of 2007. Its mix of raw rock and roll and perfected lyricism, which has always set Piebald apart, shows the band at a peak for themselves and the rest of the music industry. With cover songs like the Kinks' "Strangers", front man Travis Shettel brings a whole new generation the universal truths famously broken down by the legendary Ray Davies into three minute pop songs.
Lead singer Travis Shettel has released solo recordrings under the name Totally Travis. Shettel is also a member of LA based The Was.
The band generally only tours during the summer due to lead singer Travis Shettel's day job as an elementary school teacher.
Piebald announced they would be breaking up following the end of their US tour with The Format, Limbeck, Steel Train and Reubens Accomplice. Piebald played their farewell tour in April 2008 with one stop in New York city and two in Cambridge, MA.
Fear and Loathing in Cape Cod
Piebald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll say "What am I doing here?"
We have made our camp
But not settled
Nothing can touch us here
We took the van one night
The three of us
Contraband, and our bikesThe city was left behind
Our own vacation, our own weekend,
Our own fear and loathing except on Cape Cod
At two in the morning when
My body's not attached to my head
We got on our bikes and rode
My legs like Jello when we rode that night
Hot livers and cold purse
The day was going everywhere in a hurry
Instead of nowhere fast
Take a pill
Do substances
Have a drink
Recreational drug use to drive golf balls
It's the most comfortable
And uncomfortable place
The discomfort is not in a bad way
No, not in a bad way
Don't make me go home
My own chocolate heart
Look at your scales, your head is on all wrong
I've got monsters on my brain
A towel on his head after jumping off the pier
Rama said I looked like a KennedyAnd Ryan's taking pictures
And flattery doesn't make sense in our state
We had to make our own fear and loathing on Cape Cod
The lyrics of Piebald's song "Fear and Loathing in Cape Cod" speak to the experience of being young and feeling lost or out of place, but finding a sense of belonging with friends. The opening lines suggest a feeling of displacement: "If I find my way back home, I'll say 'What am I doing here?'" The singer seems to be searching for meaning or purpose, questioning their surroundings and their role in them.
However, the next lines suggest that the singer has found some kind of refuge with their friends: "We have made our camp / But not settled / Nothing can touch us here." The group has carved out a space for themselves, where they feel safe and free from the pressures of the outside world.
The lyrics continue to describe a night of adventure and revelry, where the group indulges in drugs and alcohol as a means of escape: "Take a pill / Do substances / Have a drink / Recreational drug use to drive golf balls." The experience is described as both comfortable and uncomfortable, and there is a sense of danger and risk-taking that adds to the thrill of the night.
Ultimately, the song speaks to the idea that sometimes we have to create our own sense of purpose and meaning in life, and that our friends can be the ones who help us find it.
Line by Line Meaning
If I find my way back home,
If I return to my familiar surroundings,
I'll say "What am I doing here?"
I will question my choices that led me to this place
We have made our camp
We have established ourselves here for a temporary period
But not settled
However, we have not fully adjusted or found a sense of belonging here
Nothing can touch us here
We feel invincible in this location
We took the van one night
We rode in a van one night
The three of us
Me and two other people
Contraband, and our bikes
We had illegal items with us along with our bicycles
The city was left behind
We had left behind the urban area
Our own vacation, our own weekend,
We created our own version of a holiday, our own short break from routine
Our own fear and loathing except on Cape Cod
We had our own unique experiences of anxiety and disgust, exclusive to Cape Cod
At two in the morning when
When the time was two a.m.
My body's not attached to my head
I lost a sense of coordination due to fatigue and intoxication
We got on our bikes and rode
We mounted our bicycles and began cycling
My legs like Jello when we rode that night
My legs felt weak and unstable as we rode
Hot livers and cold purse
We had unbalanced priorities and finances
The day was going everywhere in a hurry
Time was fleeting and confusing
Instead of nowhere fast
We weren't making any progress
Take a pill
Consume medication
Do substances
Take drugs
Have a drink
Consume alcohol
Recreational drug use to drive golf balls
We used drugs for leisure, including during a game of golf
It's the most comfortable
It is the place where we feel most at ease
And uncomfortable place
Simultaneously, it is also a place where we experience unease
The discomfort is not in a bad way
The feeling of discomfort isn't unpleasant
No, not in a bad way
It is not negative or distressing
Don't make me go home
I don't want to leave this place
My own chocolate heart
A metaphorical reference to the artist's warm inner feelings
Look at your scales, your head is on all wrong
Addressing someone else's messed-up state of being and mental state
I've got monsters on my brain
I am overwhelmed with dark thoughts or emotions
A towel on his head after jumping off the pier
Describing someone wrapping a towel around their head after a jump into the water
Rama said I looked like a Kennedy
Referring to a comparison someone made between the artist and a member of the Kennedy political family
And Ryan's taking pictures
Another person in the group is documenting the experience through photographs
And flattery doesn't make sense in our state
We are in a mindset where sycophancy is pointless or irrelevant
We had to make our own fear and loathing on Cape Cod
We had to create our own unique sense of anxiety and disgust during our visit to Cape Cod
Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind