Pinegrove is an American rock band formed in Montclair, New Jersey in 2010.… Read Full Bio ↴Pinegrove is an American rock band formed in Montclair, New Jersey in 2010. The band's lineup is variable, with singer-songwriter Evan Stephens Hall and drummer Zack Levine representing its core members. The two met as children and played in various bands before founding Pinegrove. The band's musical style, which uses instruments such as the banjo and pedal steel guitar, is commonly described as a mix between alt-country and emo. Pinegrove's early years were spent self-releasing music—including their debut album, Meridian—and performing do-it-yourself (DIY) house shows.

After signing to the independent record label Run for Cover, the group issued an anthology of their early work, titled Everything So Far. Their second studio album, Cardinal, represented a breakthrough, gathering a devoted fan listenership and appearing on many music critics' top-10 year-end lists. After recording its successor, Skylight, Pinegrove took a year-long hiatus after Hall was accused of sexual coercion by a person with whom he toured. The album saw proper release independently in 2018 and was followed by several sold-out tours. The band signed to British label Rough Trade for their next efforts, including Marigold and 11:11.

Pinegrove is known for their literary lyricism and loyal following of fans, which refer to themselves as "Pinenuts". The band's name comes from a prominent pine tree row on a nature reserve at Kenyon College, where Hall attended college. They are known for their geometric iconography, specifically using square shapes and usage of the ampersand (&) in artwork and merchandise. Pinegrove is also recognized for their alignment with progressive causes, including charitable contributions to civil rights organizations.

Pinegrove's sound has frequently been referred to as a mix between alt-country, an offshoot of modern country music, and emo, a rock genre characterized by an emphasis on emotional expression. The group has toured with acts commonly labeled emo, such as The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, while the original label RFC is known for its association with fourth-wave emo bands. Pelly of Pitchfork notes "this affiliation makes sense: Their music is open-hearted, communal, earnest, lyrical, with a discernible ease." Cardinal's success led tastemakers to include Pinegrove among a wave of "emo revival" acts, and while Hall stopped short of labeling the group, he acknowledged his work could be "lyrically confessional, emotionally direct, and emotive vocally, frequently." In response, Hall clarified the band's mission: "emo points inwards and it's our aim to point outwards." The group also has been categorized as indie rock, math rock, and Americana; Hall himself once described the band as the "midpoint between math rock and Americana."

Musically, Pinegrove augments the standard guitar/drums/bass lineup with instruments such as banjo and pedal steel guitar. The group's style has been compared to fusion genre fore-bearers the Weakerthans, as well as Wilco, Built to Spill, "Gillian Welch, and early Death Cab for Cutie." Hall has listed My Morning Jacket and Bon Iver among the band's more direct musical influences; an early profile of the band narrativizes Hall and Levine's love of My Morning Jacket's live album Okonokos as the catalyst for starting their music careers. For Hall as a songwriter, his influences are split between music and literature; he has cited artists such as Stephen Steinbrink and Phil Elverum as inspirations, as well as writers George Saunders, William Faulkner, and Virginia Woolf. To this end, Hall has referred to Pinegrove as "language-arts rock."

http://pinegrove.bandcamp.com/

So What
Pinegrove Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

But so what?
So much, so what, so overdrawn
Everyone you meet along
Suffered an ellipsis and it's done
One day, just one, mm-hm
Not too much

Now today

Eleven degrees on September 10th
I see what you mean, come on
October 13th now with Leo gone
Paterson moves on, mm-hm
But not too much

Your one and only life
Your one and only mine
Taking pictures down
Taking boxes out, mm-hm

But so what?
Tell it like it is or it's worthless
The day don't mean as much
Been enough between it to cover it up
One day, just one, mm-hm
Not too much

Your one and only life
Your one and only night
Taking pictures down
Taking boxes out, mm-hm

But so what?
So what?

Overall Meaning

In the opening section of the song "So What" by Pinegrove, the singer seems to be reflecting on the insignificance of certain events or feelings in life. The repeated phrase "so what" conveys a sense of apathy or dismissal towards these matters, suggesting that they may not hold much weight or importance. The line "So much, so what, so overdrawn" implies a sense of being overwhelmed by trivial concerns that ultimately don't matter much in the grand scheme of things. The reference to "everyone you meet along" could be pointing to the shared experience of feeling overwhelmed by life's uncertainties.

The mention of "suffered an ellipsis and it's done" could be interpreted as a metaphor for a pause or interruption in someone's life story, perhaps indicating a moment of reflection or realization. The following line "One day, just one" suggests a sense of simplicity or clarity that contrasts with the previous feelings of being overburdened. The phrase "not too much" could be a reminder to not dwell too heavily on fleeting or insignificant details.

The shift to discussing specific dates and events in the lyrics adds a concrete context to the introspective musings of the singer. The mention of specific days like September 10th and October 13th, along with the mention of Leo and Paterson, suggests a personal narrative or timeline that is being reflected upon. The reference to Paterson moving on could symbolize the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

The repeated refrain of "Your one and only life, Your one and only mine" emphasizes the uniqueness and preciousness of individual experiences and relationships. The act of "taking pictures down, Taking boxes out" could symbolize a process of letting go or moving forward, perhaps indicating a desire to declutter and simplify one's life. The final repetition of the phrase "But so what" brings the song full circle, underscoring the singer's ongoing contemplation of what truly matters in life amidst all its complexities and uncertainties.

Line by Line Meaning

But so what?
What does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?

So much, so what, so overdrawn
It's been exaggerated and blown out of proportion

Everyone you meet along
Every person you encounter

Suffered an ellipsis and it's done
Experienced a pause or interruption, now it's over

One day, just one, mm-hm
Just a single day, not too significant

Not too much
Not a huge impact

Now today
In this current moment

Eleven degrees on September 10th
Specific weather conditions on a particular date

I see what you mean, come on
I understand your point of view, let's move forward

October 13th now with Leo gone
A date in October with someone named Leo no longer present

Paterson moves on, mm-hm
The town of Paterson continues to progress