Pile – “Born At Night” [Video]

Boston DIY stalwarts Pile have announced Sunshine and Balance Beams, their ninth album and first release with Chicago’s esteemed Sooper Records, out August 15. Over the past 15 years and eight albums, Pile have established themselves as this generation’s Fugazi, building a discography and tour history deeply rooted in DIY ethos. That spirit remains, but on Sunshine and Balance Beams, the band pushes into new sonic territory, enlisting engineer Miranda Serra (Kal Marks, Kira McSpice), mixer Seth Manchester (Model/Actriz, The Hotelier, Big Brave) and mastering engineer Matt Colton (James Blake, Depeche Mode, Band Bear). Listen to the first track, “Born at Night”—a song that wrestles with the idea that there is no enlightenment, no end to suffering. Assisted by accelerating tom-staggers and rain-like, Neu!-indebted guitars, the track moves from resignation to meditative nihilism, augmented by swelling strings—a sonic embodiment of the album’s themes of light and shadow in balance. It arrives with a Josh Echevarria-directed video. Starring Shahjehan Khan (of the Hulu hit, Deli Boys) the video takes place in a medieval fantasy world delving further into album themes of suffering and liberation via plato’s cave-like obfuscation of reality as a metaphor for enlightenment or lack thereof.

On Sunshine and Balance Beams, Pile weaves a Sisyphean fable about labor and living. “The fulfillment I receive from pursuing art has been a guiding force for me,” says frontman Rick Maguire. “But it can be damaging when that pursuit subscribes to material expectations of where you might be able to go, and then doesn’t square with the reality that follows.” Pile presents this parable with jagged guitars, sputtering drums, eerie synths, and aqueous strings, their loud-quiet dynamism matching the emotional intensity of the band’s thunderous performances.

The band have also announced a massive North American tour with label mate and Sooper co-founder NNAMDÏ in support of the album. The 37-date, 39-show run kicks off August 21 in Portland, ME, making stops in Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York City, and more before wrapping October 11 with a hometown show at Boston’s Sinclair. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 16. Dates below.

Pre-order new album Here.

08/21/25 – Portland, ME – SPACE
08/22/25 – Troy, NY – Hangar
08/23/25 – Rochester, NY – Flour City Station
08/25/25 – Toronto, ON – The Drake
08/26/25 – Detroit, MI – El Club
08/27/25 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall (In The Round)
08/29/25 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
08/30/25 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
08/31/25 – Fargo, ND – Aquarium
09/02/25 – Missoula, MT – Zoo Arts
09/04/25 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl
09/06/25 – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s (early)
09/06/25 – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s (late)
09/07/25 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios (early)
09/07/25 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios (late)
09/10/25 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
09/12/25 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
09/13/25 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
09/15/25 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
09/16/25 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
09/18/25 – Tucson, AZ – Hotel Congress
09/19/25 – El Paso, TX – Love Buzz
09/20/25 – Albuquerque, NM – Tumbleroot Brewery
09/22/25 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake Lounge
09/24/25 – Wichita, KS – Wave
09/25/25 – Oklahoma City, OK – Resonant Head
09/26/25 – Dallas, TX – Tulips
09/28/25 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall – Upstairs
09/30/25 – New Orleans, LA – No Dice
10/02/25 – Chattanooga, TN – Boneyard
10/03/25 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5
10/04/25 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle
10/05/25 – Durham, NC – Kings
10/06/25 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street
10/08/25 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground
10/09/25 – New York, NY – Sony Hall
10/10/25 – Waterbury, CT – Space Ballroom
10/11/25 – Boston, MA – Sinclair