Applause, a drink at the bar and dancing. Some things that would be made harder without hands. Luckily there were plenty available to welcome trans-Tasman Cut off your Hands.
Set against a gloomy Perth city backdrop, where buildings were visible only for the long left on office lights, anticipation took time to build.
The first support, Russian Winters struggled to lift the dampness. With lyrics from the pages of a jaded adolescent’s diary the few who entered the back bar saw a band strung together on tenuous ties all with a different look, sound and rhythm. Russian Winters’ uninspired performance left punters cold.
Sedate and settling in for the night the crowd massed together undercover in the front bar area content in their brought-along company. Awaiting the entrance of the main act there seemed little interest in the stage; until, almost on cue the dance floor filled, at some points leaving little room to dance.
Myles Vincent took their positions on stage fronting a dedicated group of fans prepared to give the floor a good warm up. The delivery by the local outfit was given with impressive vocal clarity and unity amongst the five-piece. Showing precision of their craftsmanship, established from a frequent touring schedule, the band dove into tracks from their Bird of Paradise EP. Their characteristic up-tempo rock ballads claimed the attention of onlookers and held it until the final throes. Spilling out under unsettled skies there was a change to the mood. Spirited looks between friends alluded to the energy that was about to take hold.
Catchy, charismatic and dynamic, Cut off your Hands spun the audience into a whirlwind of pointing, frenzied clapping and torso thrusting. Hit after potential hit throbbed out catching all up in the pop melodies and rock beat.
Currently with two EPs in their back catalogue, the band’s extensive radio play on the national youth broadcaster made them a talking point. From a Kiwi background with a UK twist, Cut Off Your Hands is riding out the indie pop wave.
Belting out Closed Eyes to open, they progressed through solid rock track You and I with excited audience participation to quieter Still Fond and radio favourite, Oh Girl. A blistering punkish cover of Split Enz’ Shark Attack lifted the energy further still.
As a warm up to their next night’s support slot for The Wombats, Cut Off Your Hands provided a show uniquely their own. With similarities in style to the British marsupials, Cut Off Your Hands were refreshingly not as crisp or precise to the recorded product of the next night’s headliners; sitting somewhere between a local indie band and a major festival contender. With release of their debut expected in November, Cut Off Your Hands are about to take that next step and if this gig was anything to go by there will be a need for hands all the way.
