A Great Big Pile of Leaves

A Great Big Pile of Leaves formed when Farewell to Arms, a band that Weiland and Soucy were in, split up. The duo then moved from Connecticut to Brooklyn, New York and released their first two EPs. Tucker Yaro then joined the band as the bassist and they began playing live shows. Along with their music, the band are known for their unique name. In an interview with AMP, Tyler Soucy, the band's drummer, said that Weiland and himself "would always go to this brewery in [his] hometown after writing and recording. We’d sit there for hours talking about names, Google searching to see what had been taken, and it probably took us about a month to settle on the name A Great Big Pile of Leaves. It was actually one of Pete’s first suggestions and it seemed to be the name that we kept circling back to, and one day it just stuck. I think it’s pretty memorable and I’d like to think it stands out from the sea of band names out there today." He also described the name as being "a throwback to being a kid and having fun".{{cite web|url=http://www.ampmagazine.com/28105/tyler-soucy-of-a-great-big-pile-of-leaves-talks-about-the-bands-founding-working-with-a-producer-for-the-first-time-and-touring-with-bands-like-motion-city-soundtrack-and-say-anything/ |title=AMP Magazine – Tyler Soucy of A Great Big Pile of Leaves talks about the band's founding, working with a producer for the first time, and touring with bands like Motion City Soundtrack and Say Anything |work=AMP|date=2012-03-01 |accessdate=2012-11-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421115718/http://www.ampmagazine.com/28105/tyler-soucy-of-a-great-big-pile-of-leaves-talks-about-the-bands-founding-working-with-a-producer-for-the-first-time-and-touring-with-bands-like-motion-city-soundtrack-and-say-anything/ |archivedate=2012-04-21 }}

In 2007, Soucy and Weiland began work on the first of the two EPs entitled The Fiery Works I & II respectively. Both EPs were home recorded using recording equipment that both members had collected. On November 21, 2007 the duo released The Fiery Works I.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AGBPOL/status/175289412509376512|title=@BlueCornPie hey dude! I think November 21st 2007 and April 17th 2008|first=A. Great Big Pile of|last=Leaves|website=Twitter.com|date=March 1, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2016|archive-date=November 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126125610/https://twitter.com/AGBPOL/status/175289412509376512|url-status=live}} Following the success of the first EP, A Great Big Pile of Leaves released their second EP on April 17, 2008. The artwork for both albums was created by close friend of the group, Justin Michael Smith.

In the Fall of 2009, A Great Big Pile of Leaves started recording for their new album.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WPF7gP3eKU&context=C393e9c3UDOEgsToPDskJ8_7qFk0YE10uCBEfpLF7c |title=A Great Big Pile Of Leaves - Studio Teaser |publisher=YouTube |date=2009-08-09 |accessdate=2012-11-15}} The band released a series of YouTube videos showing the recording process for the album. On June 16, 2010, a video was released for the song 'Alligator Bop'.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ73VAJilBo |title=A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Alligator Bop |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-06-14 |accessdate=2012-11-15 |archive-date=2012-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212002546/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ73VAJilBo&feature=related |url-status=live }} On June 22, 2010, the band released their debut full-length album Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex?.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/album/have-you-seen-my-prefrontal/399734185 |title=iTunes - Music - Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex? by A Great Big Pile of Leaves |publisher=iTunes |date=2010-06-22 |access-date=2012-11-15 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307021551/https://itunes.apple.com/album/have-you-seen-my-prefrontal/id399734185 |url-status=live }} The album was released on vinyl November 9, 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://agreatbigpileofleaves.com/|title=A Great Big Pile of Leaves|website=Agreatbigpileofleaves.com|accessdate=2020-03-16|archive-date=2012-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116044046/http://www.agreatbigpileofleaves.com/|url-status=live}} On January 16, a new music video for 'We Don't Need Our Heads' premiered on AbsolutePunk.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2128642 |title=ABSOLUTExclusive: A Great Big Pile of Leaves Music Video - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |date= |accessdate=2012-11-15}} The video features footage of the song being played while touring with Saves the Day, Motion City Soundtrack and Say Anything. Following the release of the album, the band also toured with The Appleseed Cast and Hellogoodbye.{{cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/A+Great+Big+Pile+Of+Leaves/+events/2011 |title=A Great Big Pile Of Leaves's Concert Listing – Discover music, videos, concerts, stats, & pictures at |publisher=Last.fm |date=2012-07-04 |accessdate=2012-11-15}}

It was announced on 4 August 2011 that the band were to be releasing two new acoustic EPs on Topshelf Records.{{cite web |url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/a_great_big_pile_of_leaves_to_release_two_eps_via_topshelf_records |title=Alternative Press | News | A Great Big Pile Of Leaves to release two EPs via Topshelf Records |publisher=Altpress.com |date=2011-08-04 |accessdate=2012-11-15 |archive-date=2012-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023214208/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/a_great_big_pile_of_leaves_to_release_two_eps_via_topshelf_records |url-status=live }} After playing a headline show on 23 October 2011, the band released both on November 1. Boom! is an acoustic studio EP while Live from the Living Room was recorded at a party in manager, Jesse Johnson's living room.{{cite web |url=http://topshelfrecords.bigcartel.com/product/a-great-big-pile-of-leaves-live-from-the-living-room-digital-ep |title=Topshelf Records — A Great Big Pile Of Leaves - Live From The Living Room Digital EP |publisher=Topshelfrecords.bigcartel.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-15 |archive-date=2012-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002032449/http://www.topshelfrecords.bigcartel.com/product/a-great-big-pile-of-leaves-live-from-the-living-room-digital-ep |url-status=live }} Both EPs were released on limited edition vinyl as well as digital download.

On 4 February 2012, A Great Big Pile of Leaves announced that they will be releasing an EP on MAD Dragon Records and Motion City Soundtrack's new record label, The Boombox Generation. The EP will be part of a series of EPs to be released on the label between April and November 2012.{{cite web|url=http://makingmoves.maddragonmusic.com/artists |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713135839/http://makingmoves.maddragonmusic.com/artists |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-13 |title=Making Moves |publisher=Makingmoves.maddragonmusic.com |accessdate=2012-11-15 }} The EP was released on 24 July 2012. In March and April 2012, the band headlined a US tour with Young Statues and Mansions.{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/music/A+Great+Big+Pile+Of+Leaves/+events |title=A Great Big Pile Of Leaves's Concert Listing – Discover music, videos, concerts, stats, & pictures at |publisher=Last.fm |date=2012-07-04 |accessdate=2012-11-15 |archive-date=2013-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318070602/http://www.last.fm/music/A%20Great%20Big%20Pile%20Of%20Leaves/%20events |url-status=live }} On 25 June 2012, Matt Fazzi officially joined the band after being a touring guitarist during many of their 2011 and 2012 shows.{{cite web |url=http://agreatbigpileofleaves.tumblr.com/post/25854356173/wed-like-to-officially-welcome-matt-fazzi-into |title=A Great Big Pile of Leaves |publisher=Agreatbigpileofleaves.tumblr.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-15 |archive-date=2012-11-30 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121130062836/http://agreatbigpileofleaves.tumblr.com/post/25854356173/wed-like-to-officially-welcome-matt-fazzi-into |url-status=live }}

In early 2012, the band also announced that they have been in the pre-production and writing stages for a new full-length record. On 30 July 2012, the band began the recording process for their second LP with producer Ed Ackerson.{{cite tweet|user=AGBPOL|author=A Great Big Pile of Leaves|number=230026360377184256|date=30 July 2012|title=And so it begins...}} On August 10, Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack contributed guest vocals to the album.{{cite tweet|user=AGBPOL|author=A Great Big Pile of Leaves|number=234053694910517249|date=10 August 2012|title=Mr. Pierre of @motioncitymusic dropped by @flowersstudio today to lay down some sick freestyles.}} The recording process lasted two weeks and was completed on 12 August 2012.{{cite tweet|user=AGBPOL|author=A Great Big Pile of Leaves|number=234479130995982336|date=12 August 2012|title=LP #2 in the books. Time to celebrate.}} On 16 January 2013, the band announced that Roger Seibel would be mastering the album.{{cite tweet|user=AGBPOL|author=A Great Big Pile of Leaves|number=291586915285741569|date=16 January 2013|title=Our new record is mixed and is being mastered next week by Roger Seibel (Deathcab for Cutie, Bon Iver, Andrew Bird)! Exciting stuff!}} On 27 March 2013, the band revealed their second album would be titled You're Always On My Mind and was subsequently released on July 2 by Topshelf Records.

The record debuted on the following Billboard charts:

Heatseekers: #15

Alternative New Artist: #8

Vinyl: #9

Internet: #20

Independent Albums: #89

After eight years without a release, on 7 July 2021, the band announced their upcoming album Pono; the album was released by Topshelf Records on 13 August 2021. The album was produced by the band and recorded primarily at their home studio, mixed by touring guitarist Matthew Weber at Gradwell House Recording, and mastered by Dave Downham (Beach Slang, Into It. Over It.).{{Cite web|url=https://www.topshelfrecords.com/products/705973-a-great-big-pile-of-leaves-pono|title = Topshelf Records - A Great Big Pile of Leaves - Pono}} The announcement came with the release of the album's first single "Beat Up Shoes".

• Have You Seen My Prefrontal Cortex? (2010)
• You're Always on My Mind (2013)
• Pono (2021)

• The Fiery Works (2007)
• The Fiery Works II (2008)
• Boom! (2011)
• Live from the Living Room (2011)
• Making Moves (2012)

• "Beat Up Shoes" (2021)

• "Alligator Bop" (2010)
• "We Don't Need Our Heads" (2011)
• "Vampires in Love" (Live) (2011)
• "Snack Attack" (2013)

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Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn

Category:Musical groups established in 2007

Category:Emo revival groups

Category:Topshelf Records artists