THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE REMINDS US GOTH IS THRIVING IN NEW HAVEN, CT

The Birthday Massacre, long-time gothic-darkwave staple, took to New Haven on the 3rd date of The Dark Winter Tour, co-headlining with Lord of the Lost and featuring Wednesday 13.

The venue is Toad’s Place in New Haven, a Connecticut staple opened in 1976. Not only is it well-loved by locals, but it is also one of the most popular venues for touring bands in the area. The venue is incredibly intimate, and the crowd fills the space easily with fans of every possible kind. It is impossible to describe the reach that this particular band has across age and genre.

The Birthday Massacre is the epitome of atmosphere, opening the night with the track “Night Shift.” The lighting design, paying homage to their purple-blue color scheme, immediately lets the audience know that this is going to be the perfect blend of ethereal and mystery. Every member of the band moves in perfect sync with the music and with eachother, their connection confidently evident. There is a beautiful eeriness to the environment they so expertly craft.

Rhythm guitarist Michael Rainbow describes their lyrics as the “sense of wonder and mystery” that is often forgotten and abandoned through forced conformity in adulthood. This idea is showcased brilliantly as the band powers through a loaded setlist, featuring tracks like “One” (played live for the first time since 2022), “Crush” (playfully dedicated to touring mates Wednesday 13 and Lord of the Lost), and of course “Happy Birthday”, before finally closing out the night with the iconic “Red Stars”.

The Birthday Massacre released their ninth studio album, “Pathways”, on April 11th, 2025, expanding their already impressively large discography. They will continue to co-headline The Dark Winter Tour through early February 2026, before immediately kicking off a second US tour through the remainder of the month with alternative rock/metal artist Daedric.