SMASH INTO PIECES LIVE AT TOAD’S PLACE IN NEW HAVEN
By Kat Gullage
Smash Into Pieces brings their “Manifest” tour to Toad’s Place in New Haven with Versus Me for direct support.
One of the stand out bands, for me, at last year’s Capulet Fest was Versus Me out of Wisconsin. I saw that they were going to be playing at Toad’s and wanted to check em out again, at a venue other than a race car garage. (Capulet Fest was located at Thompson Motor Speedway). I begged my amazingly talented photographer, Holly Roy Photography, to work the gig with me. She agreed and asked who the headliner was. I told her a Swedish band called Smash Into Pieces and sent her one of their vids. They’re not the rock/metalcore sound that we usually cover, but I dug it. Plus the drummer had this light up mask that I thought would make for interesting pics.
Versus Me is the Milbrandt brothers, James on vocals and Lee on guitars, Dustin Hansen on guitars and J.J. Johnson on drums. There were maybe one hundred people in attendance, as it was the official summer kick-off that is Memorial Day weekend. The band has two albums and multiple singles under their belt. Their tight six song set kicked off with a 2021 single, “Control”. Each band member had a red light up armband. The melodic vocals were lost a bit in the sound, but the growls came through. They brought an infectious energy despite the crowd size and kept it going with the 2023 single, “Blackout”.
James announces “this song is called “Down”, (another 2021 single). I could hear the vocals better so they must’ve figured that shit out. There was a pre-recorded track used and it wasn’t needed at all. James asks “who’s never seen us before?” Everyone but Holly and I raised their hands. “Who’s heard of us before?” Two hands shot up. “All we ask is that you bang your heads, have fun and jump along.” Which I completely did for “Far Behind” off of Continuous. I also started yelling “Hello Wisconsin!” (ya know, from that 70s show) between songs, but the joke didn’t land.
They exude the same energy that made me take notice at Capulet. “All right everybody, let’s go right fucking now, on this chorus, bang your fucking heads!” The first coupla rows of people do, which is seventy-five percent of the crowd. And yours truly was out there be-bopping and jumping. They serve up the 2020 single “Violence”. “Who’s here for Smash Into Pieces?” There’s one week till the tours over and we’re having the best time ever.”
The sound is on point when the set wraps with 2022 single “Terrified”. “You guys are fucking awesome! Thank you for supporting live music!” Versus Me stood out to me during a two day festival that showcased forty bands. Their synced up energy and musicianship are a recipe for success. Add em to your playlist.
Caught up with Lee afterward and tried out the Wisconsinan accent that I’d been practicing. “Hiya I’m Key-at (Kat). I noticed you at the Cay-app-u-let. So how’d ja like playin at the legendary Tow-ids? (Toads)?” He politely laughed. Told him that his band was the reason we were there. He claimed they also never heard of Smash Into Pieces before the tour but were thrilled to be invited on it. I asked if the light up armbands were added for this tour and he said no, they just don’t use em during daytime shows, like Capulet.
I told him the vocals were lost in the beginning of their set and he said they used the venue sound crew cuz there just wasn’t enough room to add someone else like a sound person on the road. When I asked what he thought of the venue and the crowd, he said “We’ve played for much larger crowds that were lame and didn’t move, but this crowd was into it and that just makes it so much better.” Support live music, cuz us fans matter.
The “crowd” filled in a bit for Sweden’s Smash Into Pieces. Lots of people I talked to said they were there because their friend loved the band. The quartet is made up of multiple named singer Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, Per Bergquist – rhythm guitar, Benjamin Jennebo – lead guitar and The Apocalypse DJ (Apoc) – Drums. Apoc’s identity remains anonymous, he was swathed in a cloak, a mask covered his face and had the SIP logo lit up on it. I’m not clear on the superhero type story that surrounds him, but one exists. There is, however, no bass player.
They have nine studio albums and tapped five of em for their twenty song set. They kicked it off with Ghost Code’s “Flow”, Arcadia’s “Wake Up” and A New Horizon’s “Glow in the Dark”. I would describe their sound as maybe an electronic rock version of Nickelback infused with chunkier riffs. It made me wanna fuckin groove, I’ll tell ya that! Back to Arcadia for a crowd favorite, “Big Bang”, Rise & Shine’s “Let Me Be Your Superhero”, the title track “Arcadia” and another slice of it with “All Eyes On You”.
I take notes on my phone during the gig for my reviews. I was pretty close to the stage and twice when I looked up from my phone I swear Benjamin Jennabo’s denim clad balls were right in my personal space. Definitely got the hint, stopped taking notes (LOL).
Next up were two from Ghost Code, “Trigger” and “Out of Here”. Apoc the drummer threw a SIP hat into the crowd and singer Chris AHS threw out a nasty towel. Tracks from A New Horizon “Running Away From Home” and Rise & Shine with “Higher” are served up. Chris: “Are you guys having a good time out there? Me too! Thank you so very much!” The fans quieted a bit for A New Horizon’s “Broken Parts” but the sound was clear and the vocals were flexed on this tune. Chris: “Thank you very much! Jesus, that’s a really hard song!”
Back to Ghost Code for “Venom” and Disconnect for “Deadman”, which got the fans jumping again. Chris: “This is the best music, am I right? Am I right? Therefore I want you all to pick up your phones and get those flashlights on right now!” He does it & holds his phone up. “I wanna see you, I wanna feel you, I want you guys to show me your power of New Haven! Are you ready to jump with us?” This intro leads to “Venom” off of Ghost Code. About 65% of the fans did the phone flashlight thing for a bit, but then returned to jumping and dancing (no mosh pits).
The party continues with Arcadia’s “Forever Alone”. Suddenly it’s just Chris and his mike under a spotlight, alone. “One day we will sell out this place. If you know the words for this next song, feel free to sing along.” Some fangirls up front yell “we love you, take your fucking shirt off, take your shirt off” Chris acts like he’s going to and then says “Maybe later”. Undeterred, and right on cue he does a solo cover of Tears For Fears’ “Mad World”. I had forgotten about this song! I usually hate covers, but he did a great rendition that I very much appreciated. They wrapped the main set with “Heroes Are Calling” from Ghost Code, but not for long as the venue had once again double booked and there was a glow dance party immediately following this show.
The fans well deserved encore kicked off with their 2017 single “Boomerang” and we were vibing again. Chris: ”I just want to say that every single one of you guys have the power to change your lives. Be a positive force in this world and udders (others) will follow. Life is hard and even though our lives sometimes feel like we’re six feet under, you fight the good fight and be positive and everything will be alright. We are Smash Into Pieces and this is our last song for tonight You know this one!” Enter the closer “Six Feet Under” from Ghost Code. Chris: “We’re sitting on an airplane for eight hours from Sweden and we didn’t really know what to expect from dis place, and ya know people are coming to the shows so that’s really nice.” Righteous applause from fans. “Give us 5 or 10 minutes, we’ll be at merchandise. We are Smash Into Pieces and we love you so much thank you very much!”
Ah, remember those days? When you could meet the band at merch? And not pay a zillion dollars for a quick meet and greet? Chris and Benjamin stayed and met with every fan that was waiting, took pictures, signed stuff, took a moment to chat. They were welcoming, funny and grateful. OK, so my metalhead friends were not interested in going to the show, but if you want to have fun, rock out but not mosh, hear really good music and get your groove on, check out Sweden’s Smash Into Pieces.
Thank you faithful rockers and readers! The summer concert season is just heating up so follow us for more live music experiences!
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