We All Have Hooks for Hands + Interview
December 14th, 2009, 9:22 AM
Written by: Suzi Pratt
Category: Special features, Interviews
To See Rating: 6/10
Just Curious Rating: 6.3/10
Band Members
Logan Borchardt – guitar
Tory Stolen – drums
Eli Show – guitar, vocals
Tony Helland – bass guitar
Isaac Show – drums
Dave Lethcoe – keyboard, trumpet
Tim Evenson – guitar, vocals
plus a host of revolving contributors
On December 8th, We All Have Hooks for Hands played at Neumos to a small yet enthusiastic crowd. Maybe it was the biting cold weather or the fact that Kid Cudi and Garage a Trois were playing sold out shows that same night, but the turnout for a Neumos show was disappointing, to say the least. Seattle band Doctor Doctor started the evening off, and I have to hand it to them for displaying a high energy level despite the mere handful of folks in attendance. Midway through their set, lead singer Nathan Gottlieb’s bouncy antics on stage drew more people into the venue from the neighboring bar, and had them bobbing their heads and dancing to the catchy Americana-pop tunes of Doctor Doctor, a fun, local rock band that should definitely be seen live. Another Seattle band, The Ironclads, were up next, and as far as anyone knew, they were the evening’s headliner. Neumos was filled with fans who sang along with The Ironclads, begged them for encores, and promptly left the venue after the band left the stage.
Those who left had no idea what they were missing. For the handful of us who stuck around for the real headliner, We All Have Hooks for Hands, were treated to a live show that few in Seattle have ever seen. According to the on-site interview I had with the band before the show, the band has played in Seattle several times in the past at smaller venues, before equally small audiences. They (and I) were expecting a much larger turnout at this show, given the venue, accompanying acts, our own preview, and the band’s earlier in-studio broadcast on KEXP, which you can listen to here. As an indie pop band with a decent sound reminiscent of The Shins and the full support of KEXP, it is difficult to surmise why the show was so poorly attended.
At any rate, the six guys who make up We All Have Hooks for Hands gave it their all, playing tracks off of their barely month-old sophomore album The Shape of Energy. With three guitarists, two drummers, and a lone trumpet/keyboardist, the band puts on a live show that is fun to watch, since there are so many band members on stage. The group has a solid, radiant sound that is subject to change depending on who is available to participate. For instance, the band’s first album The Pretender had nine members playing, while their newest release and current concert tour has only six. Since the band is a collective in terms of writing and playing music, their size and eclecticism of musical talent allow for experimenting with a variety of styles. Perhaps they need to continue experimenting to find that perfect balance of sound and publicity to finally play before the larger crowd that they deserve.
Please enjoy clips from the show, and an interview with the band.
We All Have Hooks for Hands on MySpace
Upcoming Shows
Dec 15 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
Dec 17 – Slowdown – Omaha, NB
Dec 18 – Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
Dec 19 – Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN
Dec 20 – Beaner’s Central – Duluth, MN
Dec 26 – Nutty’s North – Sioux Falls, SD
Categories: Alt Folk, Concert Reviews, Interviews, Special Features | Tags: Doctor Doctor, KEXP, Neumos, The Ironclads, The Shins, We All Have Hooks for Hands
