NONPOINT / SOiL / SUMO CYCO / HAND OF THE TRIBE – WEBSTER
By Ralph Beauchamp
The hard hitting Nonpoint brought their Outta Control Tour to the Webster Theater in Hartford with SOiL, Sumo Cyco and local talent, Hand of the Tribe for support.
My photographer Mark Turek and I knew the evening was going to be electric as soon as we entered the Webster Theater. There was already a decent crowd and you could feel the excitement in the air. Nonpoint has an extremely large fanbase in CT and the other three bands on the bill also had a considerable amount of followers in attendance.
Hand of the Tribe started us off. The band is based out of Boston but bass player Daniel Jackson plays in several other CT hard rock acts. Besides Jackson, Hand of the Tribe consists of Dave Henriquez (Vocals/Guitar), PH Teixeira (Drums) and Gauge (Guitar). The band’s sound is melodically aggressive. Their riffs roar while the vocals deliver emotional gravity.
They opened with “No More” and “Another Way”. The crowd at the Webster was totally receptive. “Tear Me Apart” and “Smile” got a great response. As soon Hand of the Tribe hit the end of their set, the audience blew up. “Singularity” and final song, “The Last Time” grabbed the assemblage by the throat and wouldn’t let go. It was a very impressive set. Hand of the Tribe are playing throughout the Northeast in the coming months and you should definitely check them out.
Photos Mark Turek
Sumo Cyco were up next. This is a band AMP interviewed last year when their new album,Neon Void, dropped in November 2025. Sonically, Sumo Cyco destroys genres. Their music incorporates metal, rap and punk with a splattering of dancehall. Every songs blasts you like a cannonball. It’s a shot straight to the chest. Sumo Cyco pulls no punches.
The group is made up of the dazzling front woman, Skye Sweetnam (Vocals), Matt Drake (Guitar), Oscar Anesetti (Bass) and Jeff Rinne (Drums). We described Neon Void as: 12 tracks that aren’t just an album; they’re a fierce explosion of raw emotion, fire, and defiant hope forged in the crucible of struggle. From the first thunderous chord to the last lingering echo, this record seethes with a visceral intensity.
Photos Mark Turek
And that was what Sumo Cyco was like live. Sweetnam pushed all the right button. Her voice was both radiant and defiant. She controlled the room like a pro. The audience was mesmerized by her on-stage persona. Drake’s guitar consistently hit with thunderous riffs while Anesetti’s bass dispensed infectious basslines. Rinne’s drums were ruthless.
All evening, Sumo Cyco awed the crowd. The opening song, “ASTEROID”, set the tone. It was going to be a fun night. “SHIVERS”, “VILLIANS” and “LOVE/PAIN” were surely fan favorites while their monster track “No Surrender” brought fists in the air. At one point, Sweetnam jumped into the pit and directed everyone to go low and pop up when the beat dropped. It was a glorious sight. Sumo Cyco finished with a rousing version of “Bystander”. It was a totally entertaining set.
SOil followed. Formed in 1997, SOil has been a mainstay in the alternative metal scene. Their music fuses anthemic choruses with fearless guitar riffs and nu-metal intonations. Their soundscapes are imposing while still conveying emotive tendencies. SOil’s sound has a natural intensity that resonates deeply with their followers.
SOil’s members are Ryan McCombs (Vocals), Adam Zadel (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Tim King (Bass) and T.J. Taylor (Drums). Their last album was Restoration in 2023 which featured 11 re-recorded track from their previous full lengths.
Photos Mark Turek
It was evident that SOil had quite a few fans at the Webster this evening. The pit swelled as the anticipation grew. They opened with a driving “Breaking Me Down” and kept the energy up all through their set. “Need To Feel”, “Wide Open” and “Pride” had the room flowing. Every song was met with cheers. “My Own”, “Unreal” and “Redefine” had the throng flying high. Their last three songs sealed the deal. “The One”, “Black 7” and an amazing rendition of “Halo” drove the house to bedlam. SOil was fierce.
Onto the main event. What is there to say. Nonpoint is a monster. They slay every time they hit the stage. There are no prisoners kept. Their music is full of brazen dynamic grooves that pulverize their audiences with funky inflections. Nonpoint puts on a supersize show. Every musician is in constant flux. The Nonpoint cinematic fervor is crushing.
Vocalist Elias Soriano is a tenacious master of ceremonies. He’s able to grab his fans and bring them to fever pitch. His vocals attack with an aural barrage of cosmic ferocity. Robb Rivera on drums lays down hammering fills while Adam Woloszyn on bass is full of fire. Guitarists Rasheed Thomas and Jaysin Zeilstra throw out riffs from both heaven and hell. This isn’t playtime but a true battle.
Photos Mark Turek
Tonight’s Nonpoint set was voracious and hard. Songs hit with an uproar. Opening with “Ruthless”, Nonpoint immediately set an imposing stride. The house was ready for a brazen spectacle. New song “Is It” off upcoming album, The Last Word was very much appreciated. “Breaking Skin” kept the onslaught in full force. “Chaos and Earthquakes” devastated the Webster. Circle pits began to form and the crowd sang along word for word.
“What a Day” was savage and “My Last Dying Breath” tore it up. Nonpoint changed the tempo slightly with their cover of Phil Collin’s “In The Air Tonight”. Then we got a real treat. Out bounced Skye Sweetnam and proceeded to duet with Soriano on two songs. “That Day” and “Red Yeti” were entirely singular. The two singers complemented each other to the tee. They had the house in a frenzy. Nonpoint closed out extremely strong with “Alive and Kicking” and a destroying “Bullet With A Name”.
This was an incredible evening of live music. Every band performed to the extreme. Everyone left spent but thoroughly elated. Give locals Hand of the Tribe a listen and tear into Sumo Cyco and SOil. If you haven’t seen a Nonpoint gig yet, you are truly missing out. Nonpoint is the real deal.
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