PILE DROP NEW SONG + VIDEO “UNEASY”
PILE DROP NEW SONG + VIDEO “UNEASY”
NEW ALBUM SUNSHINE AND BALANCE BEAMS OUT AUGUST 15
ANNOUNCE UK/EU TOUR
Watch Video for “Uneasy”
(Credit: Mark Lapriore & Jack Ramsdell)
Boston DIY lifers Pile returned last month to announce Sunshine and Balance Beams, their ninth studio album. Today, they share its second offering: “Uneasy,” a tense and haunting track accompanied by a powerful video that explores the emotional fallout of war, state violence, and the quiet strength of resistance. Anchored in precarity, anxiety, and fear, “Uneasy” references the lullaby “Rock-a-bye Baby”— and arrives with a video.
“I’m grateful for the direction Stefan took it,” says frontman Rick Maguire. “There’s a lot of scary things happening right now, especially for historically marginalized groups that are being targeted both here and around the world. I appreciated that Stefan artfully zoomed in on the resistance against imperialism.”
The video stars Moon Time—an artist and survivor of both the Syrian and Iraqi wars—and channels the horror of civilian death and displacement. Director Stefan Fernandez explains, “In light of current events, I felt compelled to create a visual statement on war, survival, and resistance, but through a fantastical, dreamlike lens. In this piece, the deer is the hunted, the hunter is the oppressor, and the bunny-masked girl becomes a symbol—a voice rising up against atrocities, placing herself between violence and the vulnerable. This is no ordinary chase; it’s an allegory for war, displacement, and the quiet power of resistance.”
“Uneasy” follows lead single “Born at Night,” a track that wrestles with the notion that there may be no enlightenment—only the ongoing churn of suffering. Its video, starring Deli Boys actor Shahjehan Khan, can be seen here.
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 out August 15th via Sooper Records, 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).
Pile recently announced a sprawling 37-date, 39-show North American tour with labelmate and Sooper Records co-founder NNAMDÏ, along with a 22 City UK/EU tour to follow. They also recently announced their performance for Levitation Festival in Austin, TX. Full dates for both runs and the festival are below.
Sunshine and Balance Beams Tracklist
An Opening
Deep Clay
A Loosened Knot
Bouncing in Blue
Uneasy
Holds
Born At Night
Meanwhile Outside
Carrion Song
Pile US Tour Dates
w/ NNAMDÏ
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
09/27/25 – Austin, TX – Levitation Festival (29th Street Ballroom)
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
All dates w/ NNAMDÏ except Levitation Festival (Austin, TX)
