Holding Hands (UK)
Hey, we're Holding Hands. We formed in Upminster, Essex in early 2005 and just play music, loudly. Thats all there really is to say.Band/artist history
The Holding Hands story starts way back in 2004 in the small town of Upminster (which was classed as Essex until that year when it got re-classed as being in Greater London). John was already playing guitar at an advance level and Chris was also playing guitar but not taking lessons. Rich (Chris's brother) was also a grade 5 drummer pratacing and performing regulary. All members had known each other since the early days when Chris and John met in 1995 in Upminster Juinor School. Chris and John were at Havering 6th Form Collage in winter 2004, looking to start a band. A few early rehersals in the back of Chris and Rich's garden with John promised future hope, but they lacked the nescasary equipment and gear (Bass and Bass amp and Mic). There first rehersal together was just jamming with a couple of covers, using 2 Guitars and drums. Later on Chris discovered a way of recording onto tape using a normal CD player, but it was only a one track recording. So Chris and John recorded a couple of bass lines using a guitar on a clean/bassy setting, then would play the recording back- when it was played back John would play guitar whilst Chris would play Drums and then they would have a 3 - piece band with only 2 people.
Back in collage collage Chris and John were performing as 2 guiatrists searching for a drummer and bassist. Every monday a different bassist or drummer would show up to join in. John taking up the roles of Lead guitar and Chris taking up the role of rythem guitar and vocals (and sometimes the grand piano that was in the theatre). Muse covers were early favourites for the band, as rehersing with different drummer or bassist each week was hard. Chris and John finally thought that they had a final line up when they went to reherse at a friends house, but the drummer failed to show up and the imaganative creativity was lacking between the three. After seeing a gig at London at a small venue in Camden, John and Chris were so psyched on playing live that the next week they hit the back of the garden and started jamming away with Rich again. Songs seemed to be pouring out quicker than ever and the 3 were comming up with new ideas by the second. Chris ameadietly went out and purcahsed new gear for the end and started rehersing more regulary as a 3 peice. John took the role as bassist and sometimes playing guitar on some tracks. The band were looking for somewhere to reherse quickly as Chris and Rich's dad was wanting to turn the room into a gym. After a trip to the guitar shop, Chris found out about a local, hidden away rehersal studios. They went straight there the follwoing week and jammed out for three hours straight. 4 songs and 4 covers later they settled on the name Holding Hands which Chris thought of the day before. There songs and ideas coming out where dark, with a fast sinister edge to them. Some songs were beutiful and slow, but about brooding, sacry subjects. Other songs were dirty and high, with poundingly fast solos, but with lyrics about true lovea nd romance. Like a Black Rose some would say. The final project was complete, and Holding Hands was formed. Three gentlemen with a love for music, performance and playing, and a talent for being able to rock like no other local band.
Months on and the line up stands as John on bass with deep, dark and space-racingly fast tunes and lines. Also taking up the role as guitarist for occasional, melodicly, tranquil - soft covers (Unintended, Hyper Chondriac Music). You'll aslo notice John laying in some backing vocals throughout the set. Chris on guiatar with sweeping chords and ear-bleeding solos whilst also taking up the role as pianist on certain covers and songs (Space Dimentia, Stella (Original), Sunburn). Chris's lead vocals take the main stage with little resemblense to any other frontman today. Rich's fast, thundering, apocalyptic drumming adds dark depths to the music with its proffesional techniquality. Holding Hands are quite frankly, one of the most exciting new band in Havering today, and with more than just Essex on their mind-you'd better watch a venue near you soon this summer as it is getting muically abused by the 3 peice band that is- HOLDING HANDS.Have you performed in front of an audience?Yes. Essex. Yes (We think). Go see us.
Your musical influences
Secret Machines, RATM, Muse, Interpol, Placebo, The Arcade Fire, Duke Spirit, etc.What equipment do you use?
I love techno.Anything else?
Yeh, come see us (PLEASE), because then you can say you saw us before we got big! (lol, omg we're big headed!)Admin
Chris
@holdinghands11
