A Great Big Pile Of Leaves

Formed in 2007 by Connecticut natives Pete Weiland and Tyler Soucy after their previous group Farewell to Arms dissolved, prompting a move to New York, the Brooklyn indie rock unit A Great Big Pile of Leaves built its approach around playful, soft-hearted lyrics paired with tightly wound precision pop playing. The pair self-released a pair of EPs titled Fiery Works, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 that reflected both breezy classic indie pop and the influence of '90s American underground acts such as the Dismemberment Plan. After those recordings appeared, the lineup grew to include Tucker Yaro and Matt Fazzi, enabling the band to tour with Saves the Day, Motion City Soundtrack, and Say Anything. Their debut full-length, Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex?, arrived in 2010 and was followed by further live shows and additional EPs, including support slots with the Appleseed Cast and Hellogoodbye. The second album, You're Always on My Mind, surfaced in 2013 and registered on multiple Billboard charts, yet eight years passed before the group returned with new material. The single "Beat Up Shoes" preceded the wistful third album, Pono, which finally emerged in 2021.