Not quite anarchy, chaos and destruction
When they take the stage there's a pretty sparse crowd for Brooklyn band The Smash Up but thankfully it fills up as they play and their efforts are not wasted. A four piece, with the classic line up of drums, guitars and front man, they immediately set about their task with fervour.
Guitarist Vin Alfieri gives an entertaining performance from song one, swinging his guitar around with evident glee as the band tear through a fast punk number. Unfortunately throughout their entire set the guitar is way too low in the mix and it's left to Alfieri to put across the energy that we should be hearing from his instrument.
Second song 'You're Never Gonna Kill Us' continues in similar style and is decent without really blowing your socks off. Vocalist Watt White tries for some audience participation, which is perhaps a little premature but to his credit he gets a little! It's a confident and assured performance that wins the ever growing crowd over, the longer they play the more you can't help but like them and I even find myself tapping my foot along almost subconsciously.
They leave to an appreciative reaction and they've done enough to arouse interest in their recent album 'Untreatable'. Finishing with a big chaotic crescendo they go out in style, decent fayre.