Band Bio: The Pieces
By Stacee Sledge
February 2004

Seamlessly layering deep arrangements and watertight harmonies, the Pieces mesh muscled musicianship with off-the-cuff creativity.

There’s nothing derivative about this Bloomington band — they’re original to the core — but you might pick up ghosts of classic sounds past as you listen to their catalogue. And to see them play live is to peel back another enthralling layer of this multi-dimensional group.

The Pieces are Vess Ruhtenberg (United States Three, Mysteries of Life, Antenna) Heidi Gluck (Some Girls with Juliana Hatfield), and Devon Ashley (Fuzz, Over the Rhine), a taut trio that effortlessly combines the minimal drive of Neu, the French swing of Serge Gainsbourg, and the singing guitar rock of Brian May — all blended over the top of some of the best R&B/gospel drumming since Al Jackson.

Formed in 2002, the Pieces have released a series of six limited-edition CD EP’s and one critically lauded LP. The self-titled full-length debut charted at number 41 on CMJ’s Top 200, and number 13 on specialty radio. They have toured Europe and the United States with Evan Dando, Juliana Hatfield, and Urge Overkill.