Coming Up: The Pinx

The Nick Rocks. We know this. This Friday, The Nick will rock with the overdriven sound of The Pinx. The ‘70s-inspired garage rock outfit just started their latest tour, with songs from their recent album, Freedom.

So far, their sound has found a warm reception in Southern cities. “I feel like we left Nashville happier than we found it and that Atlanta has been a great place to prepare ourselves,” says singer Adam McIntyre. “Now we’re about to spend ten shows dialing it in, getting better at what we already do.”

The Pinx’s new lineup sees McIntyre on vocals and guitar, Jon Lee on bass, Dwayne Jones on drums, and Chance McColl adding a second guitar to the mix. While previous tours have demonstrated the band’s proficiency in stripped down, aggressive rock, the new tour promises to expand on Pinx’s style, keeping the energy high and throwing on a few new layers of instrumentation and influence.

“It doesn’t sound like a frantic power trio anymore, it sounds like a classic four or five piece rock and roll outfit,” says McIntyre. “Now we can have guitar harmonies or sound heavier, or I could just stop playing guitar and focus on singing. We’re more versatile and a bit tighter.”

It’s rock for rock aficionados, loyal fans of the classics, and anyone who wants to experience that sound beyond their local classic rock station. The Pinx pull from decades of well-revered influences. Listeners can identify shades of The Who, Motorhead, and an army of Sothern rockers in songs like “Baby Won’t Ya.” Meanwhile, stomping tracks like “Baby Don’t” suggest more recent acts like Jet, The Black Keys, and The Datsuns.

McIntyre has also found inspiration in the gripping live performance of an old buddy from way back, Ryan Kattner (aka Honus Honus of Man Man). “The first time I saw him, it was so easy to set my worries and ego aside and just enjoy myself, and it is because Ryan is just feral on stage,” he says. “I’ve always gone nuts on guitar and that’s one thing, but Ryan is a frontman who leads not just the band but his audience, and he’s just so good and so wild and so genuine.”

The Pinx keep the energy high throughout their set, and the bulk of their latest album is hard-driven, up-tempo rock. Listeners can expect a few cooler numbers this coming up, however. Songs like “Blue Dream” slow things down with slide guitars and sweet, measured progressions. Foot-stomping gives way to swaying for the soulful “I Got the Cure.”

That’s all in an effort to keep the crowd on their toes. “If we can get the audience moving in a variety of ways, we don’t bruise that one spot,” says McIntyre. “Headbanging, hip-shaking, ass-swinging, fist-pumping… They’re all good physical reactions to rock and roll that make you feel better.”

The dynamic set offers a wide sweep of the band’s abilities and doesn’t tread too long over the same ground. “Bands that don’t have depth leave you saying things like ‘I caught two or three songs- I ‘got’ what they were doing. And then I left,’” he says. “Bands with depth will maintain your attention because they’ll entertain you in different ways.”

Every change in tempo corresponds to a shift in perspective on Freedom. McIntyre’s lyrics are based on stories from his own experience, all centering on the very idea of freedom. “It’s a topic I have personally struggled with a lot,” he says. “Try to figure out the ways in which you’re your own jailer and free yourself.”

The Pinx will be joined by Bad Cologne and Sweet Dog Experience. The show starts at 10 p.m. The Nick is located at 2514 10th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205.