The name Silversun Pickups refers to a liquor store across the road L.A. rock-scene hang Silverlake Lounge. One of the band’s friends would often arrive at the store late at night to buy liquor, and would be as such making the "Silversun Pickup".
The band is signed to Dangerbird Records. They released their debut EP "Pikul" in July of 2005. The band has released four albums, 2006's "Carnavas", 2009's "Swoon", 2012's "Neck of the Woods" and 2015's "Better Nature". The band managed two Top 10 singles on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2007: "Lazy Eye" (#5) and "Well Thought Out Twinkles" (#9). In 2009, they managed their third top 10 on the chart, "Panic Switch" (#1) and a fourth song "Substitution" was also on that chart (#23).
Silversun Pickups have been compared to The Smashing Pumpkins (possibly due in part to Brian Aubert's vocal style) and 90's shoegazing bands like My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Ride, and Slowdive. Silversun Pickups claim they have been heavily influenced by Modest Mouse and The Velvet Underground as well as other lesser-known acts.
Their first break came when a friend mailed a boombox demo to CMJ and they were accepted. They got their start in many of the most important L.A. clubs and began to draw a strong following upon the release of the Pikul EP. This culminated in frequent touring, including a co-headlining stint with Viva Voce.
The band finished a three-week tour opening for Australian rockers Wolfmother on December 9, 2006, and have toured with OK Go and Snow Patrol on their U.S. spring tour, which ended on April 10, 2007. The Pickups played at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California on April 27, 2007.
The band supported Foo Fighters, along with Nine Inch Nails on August 21st 2007 as part of the 'T on the Fringe' music festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and then on the 22nd in Marley Park, Dublin, Ireland. They also performed at the Carling Reading and Leeds festivals on the 25th/26th August 2007 and supported Kaiser Chiefs on their Autumn European tour and Snow Patrol on their tour of Australia (with Paolo from Snow Patrol joining them regularly to play guitar on Lazy Eye and Nikki guesting on vocals for Snow Patrol's Set The Fire To The Third Bar onstage). On some of these dates the band have been covering Joy Division's Shadowplay and Bjork's Big Time Sensuality, both of which have been recorded for web or radio sessions.
The second full studio album, entitled "Swoon", was released 14th April 2009 in both the US and UK.
The band was also part of Lollapalooza 2009 in Chicago, IL, Voodoo Fest 2009 and 2012 in New Orleans, and the 2009 Sasquatch! Festival.
In early 2010, they supported the UK anthem-rock superstars Muse for several of their North American dates for The Resistance tour.
Pins & Needles
Silversun Pickups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carved out forms of steamy nature
Coming on strong but soon or later
A curtain calls on misbehavior
When you seal it away and you're on your own
And you brush away the old war zones
And the music plays for broken bones
Away we go
I like trends and I like heydays
And being caught in the haze of sleeping late
But when nighttime comes, I see you straining
Through my fingertips, I feel you changing
When you seal it away and you're on your own
And you brush away the old war zones
And the music plays for broken bones
We'll be running again away we go
Away we go
Leave it alone
My how you've grown
Never knew how low
You could get before zero
Cling in a way
That'll drive us insane
Wait 'til you find
The end of the line
When you seal it away and you're on your own
And you brush away the old war zones
And the music plays for broken bones
We'll be running again away we go
When you seal it away and you're on your own
And you brush away the old war zones
And the music plays for broken bones
We'll be running again away we go
Away we go
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin,
Pins and needles in your skin
The lyrics to Silversun Pickups' "Pins & Needles" explore the idea of change and growth, and the tension between wanting stability and craving new experiences. The opening line, "I like friends and I like strangers," sets the tone for the rest of the song's conflicting desires. The singer is drawn to the familiar comforts of friendship but also to the excitement of meeting new people. Similarly, they are enamored with "trends and heydays" and "the haze of sleeping late," but they also acknowledge the unease that comes with change and the fear that comes with the unknown.
The chorus repeats the phrase "When you seal it away and you're on your own," emphasizing the idea of being alone and introspective. The singer confronts their inner demons, symbolized by the "old war zones," but is also drawn to the healing power of music, which "plays for broken bones." The repetition of the phrase "away we go" captures the sense of momentum and movement that comes with change - even if it's scary and uncertain.
The final lines of the song, "Pins and needles in your skin," repeat several times, adding to the sense of unease and tension present throughout the lyrics. It could suggest the physical manifestation of anxiety or simply the uncomfortable feeling of being on edge. Overall, the song captures the thrill and danger of trying new things and the search for balance between stability and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
I like friends and I like strangers
The singer enjoys meeting new people, whether they are close friends or complete strangers.
Carved out forms of steamy nature
The people the singer meets exhibit intense and passionate behaviors that grab their attention.
Coming on strong but soon or later
Despite their intense behavior, the singer knows that it will not last forever.
A curtain calls on misbehavior
Eventually, their misbehavior will come to an end just like a stage performance.
When you seal it away and you're on your own
When you isolate yourself and push people away.
And you brush away the old war zones
Forgetting about past conflicts and moving on.
And the music plays for broken bones
Listening to music to cope with emotional pain.
We'll be running again away we go
After recovering, the singer will return to their old lifestyle of meeting new people and having new experiences.
I like trends and I like heydays
The singer enjoys following current fads and trends, as well as looking back on memories of better times.
And being caught in the haze of sleeping late
Savoring the feeling of sleeping in and not following a strict routine.
But when nighttime comes, I see you straining
When the day ends, the singer notices someone trying to change or hide their true self.
Through my fingertips, I feel you changing
The singer can feel this person's attempts to change, even if it is subtle.
Leave it alone
The singer urges listeners to let go of their problems and move on.
My how you've grown
The singer is surprised by how much someone has changed.
Never knew how low
The singer had no idea how bad things could get.
You could get before zero
The person's behavior has become destructive and harmful to themselves and others.
Cling in a way
The person is holding on too tightly, which is causing problems.
That'll drive us insane
This behavior is causing the singer to feel angry or frustrated.
Wait 'til you find
The singer warns the person that if they continue down this path, worse things will happen.
The end of the line
The person will eventually reach a point where they can no longer continue their destructive behavior.
Pins and needles in your skin
A feeling of discomfort and unease that can be physical or emotional.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Pins and needles in your skin
Repeated line to emphasize the feeling of discomfort and unease.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN AUBERT, CHRISTOPHER GUANLAO, GARRET LEE, JOSEPH LESTER, NICOLE MONNINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind