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Canberra rockers Hands Like Houses will undertake a national album tour in February, unleashing their latest full-length –Anon . live to the masses, joined by special guests Ocean Grove . Making its ARIA debut this week at #4, the acclaimed record, featuring massive singles ‘Monster’ and ‘Overthinking’ , was awarded the highly coveted triple j Feature Album, and was supported by a string of album release shows that sold out within a week.

To celebrate the release of –Anon. Hands Like Houses will launch the LP with a six-date national tour next year, bringing their electric energy and commanding, masterful performance-style around the country. Following three back-to-back sold out Australian tours, the band returns for their largest headline shows to date. The tour will come off the back of an extensive international run of 40 dates across the UK, Europe and US to close out 2018.

Joining the tour as main support on all dates are Melbourne's Ocean Grove, fresh from an extended writing stint, to play their first Australian shows since supporting Limp Bizkit back in March. Their critically acclaimed, genre-bending debut The Rhapsody Tapes was released in 2017 and saw the quintet sell-out headline shows across their home country, while giving audiences abroad their first foray into the oddworld.

SMALL VENUE BIG FUN

Loved the band! I got a good view at the front cuz I came at door opening hours

The Fantastic Face to Face Tour

So my favorite band (The Color Morale), posted one day that they would be at the Masquerade through the Face to Face tour. So, I bought through their event and got a FREE meet and greet. Wow! How awesome is that!? This was an absolutely unforgettable show with incredible moments and memories made. I can't wait to see them again at the new location!

jonny craig was amazing!

This concert was soo good! I didn't enjoy the local band cedargreen that much but all of the other bands were great! I was able to met Jonny Craig and it made the whole night 100% better!

Hands Like Houses was AMAZING!!!

IT WAS AMAZING!!! IT WAS GREAT!!! CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEW ALBUM COMES OUT!!!

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Hailing from the capital of Australia, Hands like Houses, are a band that formed in 2008, adorning the US Charts with their original slant on indie rock.

Hands Like Houses are another band that formed out of a local scene when bands disbanded, and new ones formed. Formed out of the bands, So Long Safety and Eternal Debut, the band traveled to Chango Studios record their eponymous debut EP. The band released “This Ain’t No Place for Animal”s and “Lion Skin” on iTunes earning the band 5000 downloads. This led them to a deal with Rise Records, a label based in Oregon, USA. It was with this label that the band recorded their debut album “Ground Dweller” and entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 141, but number 2 in the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. They embarked on two Rise Records tours – The Freshman Class of ’12 Tour supporting The Air I Breathe, Palisades and My Ticket Home.

Following the release of a video EP entitled Snow Sessions, they toured the U.S. with We Came as Romans and Attack Attack! and then in the autumn with Sleeping With Sirens and Pierce the Veil. It was on their UK that the band began to play songs for a brand new album entitled “Unimagine”. It was later released on July 23rd 2013, shortly following the release of the album; on June 27th 2013 the band released the song “A Fire On A Hill”.

In 2014, the band released their following EP entitled “Reimagined” on September 16th 2014. It made it to number 20 on the US Alternative Chart.

Live reviews

The Australian rock band, Hands Like Houses formed in 2008 and got signed by Rise Records. The group got together after being a part of several different bands that had split. It seemed to work well for them as they got working on a full album and in 2011 some of their singles got over 5,000 sales on iTunes alone. From there in 2012 they went on their first US tour, where they supported 'The Air I Breathe' and 'My Ticket Home'. More recently they announced that they were going to be touring Australia doing their own headline tour over September and October, finally being the main attraction I guess. Seeing their live performances had me very impressed by the lead singer, as he is clearly very talented and constantly addressed the crowd as he was singing. He had the whole audience jumping along with him, at one point he was getting so into the moment that I was surprised he didn't launch himself into a full on crowd surf. I unexpectedly enjoyed their performance, their energy was infectious and their fans are always showing their admiration by trying with all their will to get onto the stage with them. An unforgettable performance, I hope they come to the UK to do a tour at some point.

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Forever one of my favorite bands to see live. Hands Like Houses bring an unmistakeable energy and earnestness to the stage that I haven't seen anywhere else. They have voices like angels and they're so down to earth, smiling when the crowd sings along like it's still the first time it's happening. I will forever scrounge up the money for any VIP experience they offer because they're some of the nicest people I've ever met and so, so intelligent and fun to talk to. The only flaw is that they don't come around the States more often!

The band was excellent, great performance and they engaged the audience well. They stuck around afterwards for photos and to talk to audience members. The guys are very down to earth and friendly. The supporting bands were fantastic as well, despite some sound issues. I will definitely see hands like houses again and hope that they can continue to elevate their status.

The show was awesome! It was very energetic and the band members we're so nice and interacted with the crowd a lot, which I loved. There'd be no way you'd regret seeing them in concert, so do yourself a favor and buy a ticket for their next show.

Amazing show, as always, from these talented Aussies. They've got it all--stage presence, good lyrics, good sound, and they're the nicest people on the planet. If the next show wasn't sold out I'd be driving my ass there to see them again!

The guys had so much energy on stage ! I have been waiting years to see them and wasn't let down. Marquis was the perfect venue to see them up close, and the other bands on the bill set the stage. Can't wait to see them again.

Brilliant!!! They sound just the same as they do recorded. Can't wait for them to tour again. Only bad thing is that the crowd wasn't very energetic or i recon it would have been even better

As always, coming up with an awesome performance. Full engagement with the crowd and pure energy all set long. These guys are what music is all about and even better with some new music

was an amazing show the stage presence of the band was first class and the lighting and pyrotechnics was top shelf hands down the best show I have been to this year :)

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Hands Like Houses Announces US Fall Headlining Tour

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Hands Like Houses

Latest setlist, hands like houses on may 16, 2024.

Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, Australia

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HANDS LIKE HOUSES ANNOUNCE WORLDWIDE TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM OUT THIS FALL

Australian rock band Hands Like Houses has announced a headlining world tour in support of their upcoming, third studio album, Dissonants, which will be released this fall on Rise Records. The tour will kick off in Australia on Oct 9th, followed by a U.S. run Oct 23rd-Nov 27 and UK dates Nov 30th-Dec 11th.

“We are unbelievably excited to announce our very first world tour!,” says singer Trenton Woodley. “We’re hitting the roads and skies in support of our brand new album Dissonants this October-December in Australia, the US and UK.”

Details of the new album will be announced in the coming weeks, but the band has revealed today that they teamed up again with producer James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Underoath) who helped the band record their 2013 breakout album Unimagine.

Hands Like Houses has amassed a legion of devoted fans around the world over nearly a decade as a band. They’ve shared the stage with everyone from Pierce The Veil and Sleeping With Sirens to Tonight Alive and Memphis May Fire to name a few. The five-piece, consisting of Woodley, Matt Cooper (guitar), Alex Pearson (guitar), Joel Tyrrell (bass) and Matt Parkitny (drums), has headlined tours in four different continents during 2014, including a US run that sold out nearly all dates. The upcoming tour is expected to be even bigger.

The band’s 2013 record Unimagine debuted at #37 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and was followed with massive acclaim and worldwide notoriety that lead to a triumphant tour on this summer’s Vans Warped Tour and unprecedented anticipation for the band’s follow-up album Dissonants due out later this year.

Hands Like Houses U.S. Tour Dates: Oct 23 – San Diego, CA – SOMA Oct 24 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock Oct 26 – San Antonio, TX – Korova Oct 27 – Dallas, TX – Trees Oct 28 – Houston, TX – Walter’s Oct 30 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth Oct 31 – Tampa, FL – Epic Problem Nov 2 – Atlanta, GA – Hell @ Masquerade Nov 3 – Greensboro, NC – Greene St. Nov 4 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club Nov 5 – New York, NY – Marlin Room @ Webster Hall Nov 6 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock Cafe Nov 7 – Worcester, MA – Palladium Upstairs Nov 8 – Howell, NJ – Gamechanger World Nov 10 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Nov 11 – Pontiac, MI – Crofoot @ Pike Room Nov 12 – Indianapolis, IN – Emerson Theater Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge Nov 14 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave Nov 15 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird Nov 17 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater Nov 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue Nov 20 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon Nov 21 – Portland, OR – Analog Nov 23 – Sacramento, CA – Boardwalk Nov 24 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill Nov 27 – Pomona, CA – Glass House

For More Information: https://www.facebook.com/handslikehouses https://twitter.com/handslikehouses https://instagram.com/handslikehousesofficial http://riserecords.com/

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Hands Like Houses Announce US Dates of World Tour

Hands Like Houses will be embarking on a world tour this year. Supporting acts for the tour include I The Mighty, Lower Than Atlantis, Brigades, Too Close To Couch and Far Away Stables. Check out the US dates for the tour below.

Oct 23 – San Diego, CA – SOMA Oct 24 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock Oct 26 – San Antonio, TX – Korova Oct 27 – Dallas, TX – Trees Oct 28 – Houston, TX – Walter’s Oct 30 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth Oct 31 – Tampa, FL – Epic Problem Nov 2 – Atlanta, GA – Hell @ Masquerade Nov 3 – Greensboro, NC – Greene St. Nov 4 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club Nov 5 – New York, NY – Marlin Room @ Webster Hall Nov 6 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock Cafe Nov 7 – Worcester, MA – Palladium Upstairs Nov 8 – Howell, NJ – Gamechanger World Nov 10 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Nov 11 – Pontiac, MI – Crofoot @ Pike Room Nov 12 – Indianapolis, IN – Emerson Theater Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge Nov 14 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave Nov 15 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird Nov 17 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater Nov 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue Nov 20 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon Nov 21 – Portland, OR – Analog Nov 23 – Sacramento, CA – Boardwalk Nov 24 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill Nov 27 – Pomona, CA – Glass House

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• Featured Interview

Interview: Hands Like Houses on being a part of Warped Tour, being signed to an American label, and ‘Unimagine’

• July 15, 2013
• No Comments

Hands Like Houses Interview by Ellie Trimble Photos by Ana Becerra ( anabee.com )

It is an experience like no other: touring the open road, waking up in a different city every day. A fantasy so many kids grow up having while enjoying their favorite bands, wishing they were as lucky as their idols. Fortunately for 6-piece Hands Like Houses from Canberra, Australia, they managed what so many of the bands they aspired to be did: gain a recording contract to one of the best rock labels in America and hit the road on this year’s Warped Tour.

www.facebook.com/handslikehouses   |   twitter.com/handslikehouses

Hey guys, thanks for taking some time out of Warped Tour to chat with us, how is your first Warped experience treating you guys?

No worries! Warped is definitely challenging and rewarding all at once, a lot to learn but we’re settling into it and looking forward to the rest of it! Been some fantastic responses in places we’ve been a few times, and some incredible ones in places we haven’t. Very cool, it’s a great feeling.

What was your motive for becoming an artist and if you were not a musician, what would you be doing with your life?

I think for us it was a fairly natural progression into becoming ‘artists.’ Initially we were just friends wanting to play in a band, if for no reason other than to make some music and emulate the bands we looked up to. I guess the artistic side came as we got the opportunity to take it somewhere and we started to grow up as a group, and individually within that group. As far as what else? I know a few of the guys were doing teaching degrees when we started touring, or working in schools. Since we’ve been in the band at least 4 years, it’s hard to imagine life without it. Obviously every chapter has its end and we’ll figure it out from there when that day comes, but in the meantime it really does take up the majority of our lives so it’s hard to think what we’d do without it!

What keeps you going, in terms of being a musician, touring and being away from home?

For me personally, it’s the opportunities, to perform and to write, refine and produce the music that keeps me going. We also enjoy travelling so having the means to see much of the world via music is a pretty cool opportunity in itself. That said it is definitely a huge task being away from partners, family and friends so we really do want to make every chance count so the time isn’t wasted.

What are the downfalls of being signed an American label when you are from a completely different hemisphere?

Truthfully, it’s not so specific to label – the main difficulty of being from the other side of the world is simply the cost of operating – including flights and visas, it means we start every tour twelve grand in the red before we’ve played a show. It also places restrictions on our gear and merch, such as voltage, flight baggage allowances and import taxes. We are in a great place momentum wise, but where an American band would probably be making a bit of money at this point, we’re still just scraping through. Thankfully it’s a bit less desperate each tour! 

How do you get ideas for songs, both lyrically and musically? And what message, lessons or emotions do you hope your fans take from your music? 

Every song comes out of its own place, sometimes a cool word or phrase, sometimes a metaphor, sometimes a message. Particularly for this album, I had the overall theme of ‘un-‘ as a foundation for every song’s context and content. As far as music, often we come across a part in a song by a band we listen to, and think ‘this part is rad, how could we write something new but capture that same idea or energy?’ and other times we just play together and things happen naturally. In some ways, I don’t want to convey a ‘message’ in lyrics – while messages are definitely there, sometimes it’s an encouragement to myself as much as to anyone else who listens. Most of the songs on Unimagine (as well as Ground Dweller ) are my thoughts while trying to construct some sense and stability out of a chaotic world. I hope that people do take some positive reinforcement out of those ideas, but I wouldn’t say it’s the core intent of what we write for.

How does your crowd response compare in the USA versus Australia? Which of the two would you say you have a larger fan base in?

We’ve only really had limited touring opportunities in Australia – we are actually very ‘young’ there in industry terms. By the time we had a record to tour off the back of, we had opportunities lining up in the US so we still have a lot of work to do to make up for lost time! So the US is definitely our larger fan base but Australia is definitely home and always will be, so we’re hoping the new album will definitely give us greater opportunity to spend time on the road at home. Honestly, regardless of size, we have fantastic fans everywhere we’ve been and every time we go some place new there are still people singing back every word like we’d been there a thousand times. It’s one of my favorite aspects of touring.

What did you decide what label to sign to, as I’m sure there were offers from more then one label? What were some of your other label choices beside Rise and how did you feel when you learned that Rise was interested in the band?

We had a number of discussions before signing with Rise, but many of them fell by the way for various reasons. It was a very tough time with a lot of mixed emotions and a lot of anxious waiting. I’d rather not go into explicit detail as I’m not one for holding onto disappointments and ill feelings, but when Rise offered to pick us up, it was a massive weight off our shoulders. They believed in us, and while they weren’t the only offer we had, they were by far the place we felt most welcome and most valuable and were in the best position to get us out there. 

Would you ever let other bands or labels influence you to change who you are as individuals as well as your music and as musicians?

Absolutely not. Despite this annoying public misconception that Rise have implicit creative control over their bands, at least for us, that couldn’t be further from the truth. They have trusted our own sound, direction and intent from day one, and have let us grow on our own. That said, we do take influence from the bands we enjoy and look up to, musically and personally so if you take out the negative connotations of ‘letting ourselves be influenced’ then absolutely yes, we are always open to influence from bands we respect and enjoy, but as inspiration rather than control or change.

How do you think your fans will react to your new album? How does Ground Dweller compare to your upcoming album lyrically and musically? 

I sincerely hope that our fans enjoy Unimagine as much as we do – the feedback on the two songs so far has been fantastic. We like to think the new album has grown naturally out of the last one – we approached it wanting to write something that was focused and deliberate in everything, lyrics, music and direction. We held back on the intensity we pumped into Ground Dweller , to allow a more emotionally engaging performance and composition. We wanted the music to breathe and I really believe that we achieved that. Diversity is always important in our music, and there are some songs that could easily have been included on GD while others have their own soul and balance more akin to a rock or progressive album. We hope it speaks as a whole, but mostly just can’t wait for the whole thing is out so people can enjoy it in full. 

Anything else you’d like to add before we take off? Otherwise enjoy Warped, it’s a great time and a phenomenal experience, thanks so much for your time and take care guys! 

Thanks for your time! As always, we’d love to see everyone we can out at Warped tour – the support we have in attending shows, buying merch and sharing our music always has and always will be the only thing that makes it possible to continue. Hope everyone is stoked on Unimagine ! 

Make sure you stop by the Domo stage at the Vans Warped Tour to check out their set and also pick up a copy of their new album titled Unimagine available in stores and on iTunes July 23rd!

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Hands Like Houses

Concerts and tour dates of Hands Like Houses

About hands like houses.

Hands Like Houses is an Australian rock band from Canberra. Formed in 2008, the group is currently signed to Hopeless Records and UNFD. Their debut album, Ground Dweller, was released on 13 March 2012 and charted at number 141 on the Billboard Top 200 and number 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. Their second album, Unimagine, was released on 23 July 2013, during their route on Warped Tour. The band's third album, Dissonants was released on 26 February 2016.

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Hands Like Houses – Hands Like Houses (EP Review)

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Ebony Story

Hands Like Houses – Hands Like Houses Released: October 23, 2020

Trenton Woodley | vocals Matt Cooper | guitar Alex Pearson | guitar/vocals Joel Tyrrell | bass/vocals Matt Parkitny | drums

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I’ve been a fan of Hands Like Houses since I heard ‘Introduced Species’ on their 2013 album Unimagine , and then crowdsurfing during that same song at their 2018 UNIFY appearance pretty much topped off that weekend for me. So, yeah, I think they’re pretty cool. Their progression over the years has been absolutely mint to hear, but it’s with this EP that they’ve really caught my eye.

It’s self titled, incorporates Auslan for the hearing impaired (see our interview with Trenton for more info on that), and just has an addictive quality about it.

We kick everything off with ‘The Water’ and it’s catchy in an indie rock/pop kind of way. The bouncy riffs keep it light, even if the lyrics hint at something heavier, and Trenton Woodley’s vocals are just so upbeat.

‘Space’ was the first single released and is definitely my favourite on the EP. It feels atmospheric, emotional, and has just enough hardness where it’s needed. Live, I reckon this chorus has the potential to get heavy, or maybe it’s just me wanting to yell ‘I need space’ as loudly as possible.

‘Dangerous’ could be an alt rock party song, it’s a little dancey number, but ‘Wired’ gives off a moody vibe. If we could isolate the vocals it could come across as a darker song, but the music behind the vocals really lifts the song—the riffs in there are absolute gems.

And then all too soon we’re at the last song! ‘Stranger’ oozes coolness. Is it the chorus? The quirky, rocky melody? The attitude in the vocal delivery? You know, I don’t know, but to quote Hands Like Houses themselves, ‘ I fucking love it’.

This EP is gold all the way through. Is this a new era of Hands Like Houses?  Because their self-titled EP is a yes from me.

Hands Like Houses – Hands Like Houses EP tracklisting:

1. The Water 2. Space 3. Dangerous 4. Stranger 5. Wired

Rating: 8.5/10 Hands Like Houses is out now via UNFD . Purchase here. Review by Ebony Story

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Evolution Beyond Dissonance

Two years since the release of hands like houses' latest album, 'anon,' the band should be on the road supporting the release. instead, the band has leveraged their local presence, government help, and new platforms like patreon to stay afloat in the covid-age..

By Andrew Voigt August 2020

On Hands Like Houses

In 2017, I discovered Hands Like Houses via their third studio album; I had that record on repeat in my headphones for months on end. Dissonance was the thrill-ride of an album, and – yes, while two albums late to the HLH party – when I got into the rest of the Australian rockers’ discography, I came to realize how adept the band was at throwing curveballs. The two prior albums were extremely different in rhythm, progression, and tempo, and that ethos continued on through their most recent release, Anon . They are clearly a band unafraid of evolving and creating something new rather than staying comfortable within a specific sound.

Most likely the defining characteristic of Hands Like Houses’ music is their lead vocalist, Trenton Woodley. The unique combination of his ability to drive a song with his melodic vocals and turning it on its head with piercing, reverberating screams is unmatched. Combining the unique blend of alternative and metalcore, Hands Like Houses is built around a vocalist who fosters those adjustments; Woodley is masterful at making it work in a way that has set Hands Like Houses apart in a saturated melodic metalcore environment.

As a band from Australia, they have done quite well in gaining mass exposure and support in North America. Cool accents aside, their ability to blend the melodic and the aggressive in making something fresh and intriguing has echoed Stateside. They stand out in the market which speaks to their captivating artistry. Despite being in the second year of Anon ‘s album cycle, they should be out on the road supporting the release. Instead, the band has leveraged their local presence, government help, and new platforms like Patreon to stay afloat in the COVID-age. I recently caught up with Woodley to talk about the band’s approach to songwriting, running a band over Zoom, and doubling down on down under.

Your band, Hands Like Houses, released a new single called “Headrush” back in March of this year. How do you feel the song has been received by fans? It’s been awesome! Obviously, when you’ve been doing what we’ve been doing as long as we have, there’s always going to be a bit of resistance to doing anything other than what you did 5-10 years ago. Honestly, I think it’s touched on something for a lot of people who have felt a little left behind on some of the stuff we’ve done. We know it’s a polarizing song; we know that the way we write songs has changed. The response has been really good across the board, and I think it’s resonated with a lot of people under the current circumstance.

Hands Like Houses Vocalist Trenton Woodley

There’s an obvious separation from Dissonance to your band’s recent album, Anon . What do you feel shifted in your approach to songwriting between records? To be honest, there is a range of reasons that it felt like a bigger shift. We’ve always listened to a lot of music that’s outside of the bubble that we exist in or have existed in. For us, Anon was where we relaxed and stopped trying to do what we felt was expected of us. We just enjoyed ourselves, we had fun with the process, and we made music that was more influenced by what we listen to rather than by what we tour with.

Part of that is just having time off before Anon . We weren’t touring as heavily at that point, so we were at home and listening to stuff more. When you’re on tour, you don’t necessarily listen to your own music as much; you tend to kind of immerse yourself in what’s around you.

Dissonance was a very stressful process. I think there was a lot of pent-up frustration with various aspects with what was going on at the time. Anon was the opposite. We actually got relaxed and had time to prepare songs. It was more fun and I think that came through in a much more fun sounding record.

“We know that the way we write songs has changed. … We just enjoyed ourselves, we had fun with the process, and we made music that was more influenced by what we listen to.”

As COVID-19 has impacted the entire world, touring for every band has been indefinitely suspended. With all the time on your hands that you usually don’t have with shows, what have you been up to? I’ve been working on renovating. My wife and I have been extending and re-doing the house, which has been great and a lot of work. Her dad is a phenomenal handyman, knows a bit of everything. It’s slow-going because it’s one person doing everything. I was mountain biking a lot – which is one of my favorite things to do – except I had a mishap and got attacked by a rock and broke a collar bone. This is about the extent of my shoulder movement right now ( tries to lift arm unsuccessfully ).

Is the entire band in the same area in Australia? Yeah, we are all from the same city. I live about five hours north now. Coops (Matt Cooper, guitarist) is still stuck in the U.S., actually. He was in Texas for a little while and managed to get out just before everything really ramped up, so he’s somewhat remote in Colorado at the moment, just waiting for his wife’s visa to get finalized.

Being separated during the pandemic, have you and the guys been meeting virtually? Yeah, having a lot of WhatsApp chats. That’s constantly going. A lot of phone calls, telephone conferences, and awkward pauses ( laughs ). You know how it is.

When it comes to the influences that inform Hands Like Houses stylistically, who comes to mind? I’m the worst one to answer because my influences are probably a little less direct on music. Mine stays pretty consistent. (The band is) into Thrice and Circa Survive. For me, it’s a lot of everything, and it’s trying to draw more on what makes all these different things work, rather than “what do I like about this genre?”

We have Triple J radio in Australia. You guys (the U.S.) have Octane, which is a very particular sort of thing. There’s a very strong culture around Octane, for example. Triple J is similar; it’s got a really strong culture, but it’s got a really wide cross-section. It’s actually founded by a national broadcast – ABC, so, it’s technically a government-funded radio station. There is always a discussion as to whether there is a Triple J sound, because, obviously, there are quite strong tastemakers in Australia. Triple J, at the moment, tends to lean towards a lot of garage, punk, and more like jangly-sounding influences. We listen to a lot of bands that fit within that broad bubble. Rather than trying to be this “international band,” we’re trying to be an Australian band that goes overseas sometimes ( laughs ).

One of my favorite tracks off Anon is “Through Glass.” It’s probably the most indie-pop product I’ve ever heard from Hands Like Houses. Yeah, that was the intent, trying to cross-reference things from Paramore’s later stuff crossed with some Pvris then kind of looking into the synth wave. A lot of ’80s sounds.

Hands Like Houses

With a band name such as Hands Like Houses, you have to get asked this question a lot, but I’m going to ask it anyway: Is there a meaning behind it? It never really had a specific one; it was just something that aesthetically fit what we were doing. It’s a little bit mysterious, a little bit odd. There was something about it that resonated with how we saw the music we were making. Someone once told me what they thought it meant and, in a lot of ways, it put words to what was an abstract idea in our minds, but it was also a really cool take on it: Basically, you hold onto the things you care about to create a place for them to belong. It has taken on that subtle meaning.

Without touring, a lot of bands and artists are suffering financially with the loss of a primary source of income. How can your fans best support the band until you can get back on the road? For the moment, we’ve spent a lot of time trying to diversify our income because we know how dependent we are on touring. As we’ve shifted the last couple of years, that’s part of the reason we’ve focused so much on Australia because touring Australia is much more probable than anywhere else in the world – because we don’t have to fly anywhere, which is great.

For us, we’ve looked at a few different things. Obviously, merch is always helpful. We did a livestream a couple of months ago and we’ve got another one coming up shortly. It’s a free stream, but we do, like, a tip/donation type of thing. We hate feeling like a charity, so we don’t rely on the donation model. It’s just a direct way of supporting us in what we’re doing. We have our Patreon , which we’re still working on and expanding.

Keep in touch with your bands. Make sure you actually check in with their socials and see what they’re actually doing and be a part of it. Stream music 24/7 if you can; not that royalties really count for much, but it’s all part of the big picture. We’re lucky that our band is actually eligible for small business protection in Australia; it’s basically a government wage. We’re lucky.

But it comes down to keeping in touch with every band. Every band’s situation is different. Look for the ways that they’re promoting because, at the end of the day, what they’re promoting is what’s going to support them most directly.

Hands Like Houses was posted on August 5, 2020 for HM Magazine and authored by Andrew Voigt . Share This Feature:

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Hands like houses announce new frontman and headline tour for 2024.

Hands Like Houses have also dropped the anthem "Heaven" in grand comeback.

In a triumphant return to the music scene, Australian rockers Hands Like Houses are making waves with their anthemic new single ‘Heaven’ and introducing their fresh frontman, Josh Raven. The band, known for their versatile and genre-bending sound, is set to embark on a four-date tour along the East Coast in early 2024.

To celebrate their grand return, Hands Like Houses will embark on a small run of headline shows along the East Coast in early 2024. The tour kicks off with a hometown show in Canberra on March 1, followed by stops at Brisbane’s Brightside on March 7, Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on March 8, and concluding at Max Watts in Melbourne on March 10.

Hands Like Houses Heaven Tour

Friday 1 March – Fun Time Pony, Canberra Thursday 7 March – Brightside, Brisbane Friday 8 March – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Sunday 10 March – Max Watts, Melbourne

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews  here .

‘Heaven’ doesn’t just mark a new single; it signifies a new era for Hands Like Houses. The track, accompanied by a powerful video, pairs an atmospheric soundscape with heavy riffs. The lyrics delve into the weight of living in today’s society, tackling the confusion and polarisation surrounding religion, culture, and politics. It’s a poignant reminder of the need for love and acceptance in a world overshadowed by manipulation, pain, and corruption.

Frontman Josh Raven, previously known for his work with Perth band The Faim, unleashes a grittier and more aggressive side to his voice, showcasing a dynamic departure from his previous sound. The Faim achieved Platinum sales in France and found a devoted audience in Europe, setting the stage for Raven’s new role with Hands Like Houses.

In a statement, the band shared their excitement about the positive shift Raven has brought to the group: “We are thrilled to welcome our new vocalist Josh Raven. The last few years have been tough, and we as a band were all but ready to call it a day. Luckily, we crossed paths with Josh at a pivotal point in our soul searching – ‘Heaven’ was the first song we all worked on together, and the process was really quite magical for all of us. It opened up a wave of inspiration for us to explore new themes and a future for HLH.

“We figured rather than lay down and watch the ship slowly sink, we could stand up and find a way forward by bringing new life into the project. For the first time in our career, we are an independent band – so we decided to take a step back and return to the fundamentals of why we started this in the first place… the music. Josh has inserted such a positive shift within us, and together we have rediscovered a deep love for creating, in a positive environment to collaborate and share.

“This new era will explore a plethora of sounds and ideas that are inspiring and motivating to us as a collective – we will reopen some of the vaults inside us as we acknowledge and appreciate how we got here. There’ll be riffs, risks, curveballs and ultimately, a shit load of new music in 2024 while we explore our new shape. Thanks for staying the course with us – we look forward to sharing this journey with you.”

Known for injecting a fresh dose of modern stadium rock into Australia’s alternative scene, Hands Like Houses has achieved significant success, with two Top 10 ARIA charting albums, over 130,000 album sales, and 130 million Spotify streams. The five-piece ensemble, comprising Josh Raven (vocals), Alexander Pearson (guitar), Joel Tyrrell (bass), Matt Cooper (guitar), and Matthew Parkitny (drums), has captivated audiences worldwide with dynamic live performances, sharing stages with heavyweights such as Bring Me The Horizon and A Day To Remember.

Get tickets here . 

Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena named among top ten live music venues in the world 

HANDS LIKE HOUSES

Tickets to AUS tour on sale now

A photographer's haunting images of America's abandoned homes look like they're frozen in time

• Bryan Sansivero has spent the past decade photographing America's abandoned homes. 
• He describes each home as a time capsule, often brimming with dusty antiques and faded artwork.
• His book, " American Decay: Inside America's Forgotten Homes ," is a collection of his haunting photos.

Bryan Sansivero's haunting photography career all started when he stumbled upon an abandoned home in rural Pennsylvania.

Bryan Sansivero was driving on a long, windy road about 45 minutes outside Philadelphia when a dilapidated home caught his eye.

 "I was so intrigued," he told Business Insider in 2021.

Sansivero pulled over in an apple orchard and made the trek up to the stone home, which he estimates was built in the 1700s.

He recalls peering through the only open window of the house. Among the crumbling and decaying walls, he spotted an elegant piano. 

"This is so strange, and it's beautiful," Sansivero remembers thinking. 

Naturally, he stepped inside to snap a few photos.  

That was more than 10 years ago. Today, Sansivero said he's photographed hundreds of abandoned houses and buildings across the US.

Sansivero said he's always gravitated toward the eerie and unfamiliar. 

In college, he majored in filmmaking where he made a documentary about an abandoned hospital. 

The house in Pennsylvania reignited his interest, he said.

"Naturally, I was just drawn to wanting to photograph and explore things off-the-beaten-path or the not-typically-seen kind-of-things," he said.

Sansivero has captured everything from decaying houses to pristine homes that feel like they're frozen in time.

Sansivero takes inspiration from other photographers on Instagram. When it comes to finding an abandoned space, he said he relies on Google Earth, word of mouth, and aimless driving trips in different parts of the US.

Sansivero describes each home as a "time capsule." They're filled with clothing, antiques, furniture, and toys that give a glimpse into what life was like decades ago.

When Sansivero arrives at an abandoned house, he usually finds antiques, such as CRT TVs, phonographs, and old chandeliers. 

He said it's often obvious that other photographers have visited the homes when objects are staged and furniture has been moved around.

If that's the case, Sansivero said he might do a bit of his own staging before shooting — propping up a photograph or moving a lamp into the shot — but he says he keeps staging to a minimum.

"There's plenty of photos in my book where I literally walked in and that's what it looked like," he said. 

"It's almost like a treasure hunt looking at my pictures," he said. Nostalgia oozes from some images while others leave a lingering, eerie impression.

Sansivero's images are often teeming with color. Old, peeling floral wallpaper might be a focal point in one image and colorful '60s clothing might fill the frame in the next. 

Sansivero said he loves color, noting that he was wearing a tie-dye T-shirt and rainbow-striped shorts while speaking with BI.

But even with bright colors, his images are unsettling. 

One year, he photographed an abandoned home with a surprising twist: The entire second story was circus-themed.

One of the most famous houses Sansivero photographed was nicknamed the "Catskill Clown House" in upstate New York. 

The home was filled with white-and-red carnival stripes, a canopy circus ceiling, and harlequin patterns covering the walls.

According to Sansivero, the home previously belonged to a circus family, but it's since been updated and renovated.  

A hunter's house in the Catskills in New York is one of Sansivero's favorite places to photograph.

Sansivero and a friend explored this abandoned house in upstate New York, arriving before sunrise to photograph the home. 

The photographer said the room was pitch black when they got there, but that as the sun rose and the light came in they started to see the details inside, including a tiger rug, old rifles, and an animal head mounted to the wall. 

Sansivero admits that not every house has been unusual, strange, or odd. But every now and then, he said he finds something completely unique. And often, he'll dig into the history behind the abandoned places he finds.

Sansivero said he looks for abandoned homes that have stories and that he searches for certain items — it could be a dollhouse or portrait above the mantel — that paint some type of picture about the people who used to live there.

Often, Sansivero said he'd find a letter or old piece of mail with the name of a former resident. He uses that information to track down the owner's family and learn more about the house's history.

The abandoned buildings often have a sad backstory, according to Sansivero. One home he photographed was deserted after the owners were convicted of animal abuse , he said in an Instagram caption, while others remain brimming with antiques but no heirs .  

Ultimately, Sansivero doesn't have all the answers to his audience's questions about each home, but their questions leave them with a lasting impression of his work.

On his Instagram account, Sansivero shares glimpses of the history and families who once lived inside the decaying structures he photographs.

An image of sunlight streaming through an American flag takes on an entirely new meaning when Sansivero explains in a caption on Instagram that the home belonged to a WWII veteran and prisoner of war who died decades ago. 

As abandoned houses piled up on Sansivero's hard drive, he compiled his images into a photography book, which he titled "American Decay: Inside America's Forgotten Homes."

After wanting to put a book together for years, Sansivero published the first edition of his book, " American Decay: Inside America's Forgotten Homes, " in 2021.

Sansivero said he wants readers to feel like they're stepping into a home when they look at his book; as they flip through the pages, they enter different abandoned rooms.

"My photographs can be interpreted differently by different people," Sansivero said. 

He added that he wants "American Decay" to be a book that people revisit.

"Not a book that just sits there," he said. "But a book that you can go through and see something new each time."

While Sansivero's book focuses on homes, he's explored an array of abandoned locations.

In the past decade, he's captured abandoned churches, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, trailers, and more. 

Everything from abandoned nursing homes to boat graveyards fills Sansivero's collection.

As Sansivero continues photographing abandoned houses, he said he plans to focus on kitchens, which are at the heart of so many homes. 

Many of the homes Sansivero has photographed have been torn down, sold to new owners, or vandalized, he said.

Sansivero estimates that half of the houses in his book are no longer in the same standing condition.

Many of them have been destroyed by fires or vandalized with spray paint, he said. But that doesn't take away from his experience of photographing these homes.

"Just to know that I was there and lucky enough to photograph it is really cool," he said.

• Main content

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Nigerian visit is a reminder of how much the House of Windsor could have used them

Analysis Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Nigerian visit is a reminder of how much the House of Windsor could have used them

Prince Harry and Meghan's 72-hour visit to Nigeria has attracted a level of publicity Buckingham Palace has been sorely lacking of late.

The photographs of the former royals taking part in a casual volleyball game, accepting flowers from a little girl and visiting local schools to promote mental health awareness made headlines around the world over the weekend .

Prince Harry drew praise over a heartfelt speech about the importance of "acknowledging bad days ", and photographers snapped pictures as he accepted an invitation to sit and throw the ball around with army veterans wounded in battle against the country's Islamist insurgency.

His wife's instinctive sartorial choices were also avidly followed by royal and non-royal watcher s alike, as was her special connection to the country she called "home".

The lightning-quick tour of Nigeria was intended to champion mental health for young people and promote the Invictus Games, an international sporting event founded by Prince Harry back when he was still firmly within the royal fold.

Nigeria became the first African country to take part in the games last year, with General Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the country's highest-ranking military official, extending an invitation to the prince this year to help raise its profile.

But it wasn't a royal tour, it couldn't be. Not after the duke and duchess' decision in 2020 to step back as senior working members of the royal family.

After failing to reach a compromise over a hybrid working model, the couple traded in their lofty titles for the chance to earn a private income, swapping the rigid spotlight of the United Kingdom for carefree California.

Four years later, the British high commissioner in Nigeria was at pains to stress this point, releasing a statement that the couple's visit was in a private capacity and "not an official one".

"They are not representing the work of His Majesty's government on this visit," Richard Montgomery told the News Agency of Nigeria .

It did not prevent the three-day spectacle from making the news locally and within the country Harry and Meghan once considered home.

Some of this attention could not be helped given the stark absences of other senior royals in the public eye in recent months due to illness.

The couple, whether they intended to or not, have demonstrated in their Nigeria stopover, the gap they could have filled had they stayed on as working royals.

And given how small that circle is at the moment, perhaps they have also showed how helpful that would have been.

According to author and former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, the visit has drawn recollections of the position the duke and duchess once occupied.

"After all the trashing of Harry ... actually when I saw him and Meghan in Nigeria, I had a nostalgia," she told the BBC.

"I felt this is what could have been, these two — who are enormously appealing to the public, and who are very good at it — were out there in Nigeria looking very attractive and being appealing people. And what a pity it is they've gone"

In her view, the couple's sleek visit was a reminder of the grim realities looming over the slimmed-down royal family and the "Harry-shaped hole in the monarchy".

The importance of a royal tour

Royal tours by their very nature are filled with pomp and ceremony and are considered to be an important part of making the public believe in the power of the monarch.

One of Queen Elizabeth II's favourite mantras was that royals "have to be seen to be believed".

Since medieval times, a monarch's highly orchestrated trips around the country or (in more recent times) the globe has provided their subjects with proof of life and reinforced the magic of the palace.

The late queen was a firm believer in the importance of these public voyages, embarking on dozens throughout her reign after first coming to the role of monarch while on a royal tour.

As the story goes, she was more than 7,000 kilometres from home on a five-month visit of Africa and Australia when she went up a tree a princess and came down a queen.

But in the 21st century, the pageantry of these events is offset by greater scrutiny from a wary public and a sceptical media throng.

Stephen Bates, the former royal affairs writer for the Guardian, writes that press teams that accompany royals on these visits do so now if three conditions are met.

"There may be some newsworthiness to them …; second, to view the royals at close range in a way that’s not normally possible — to see what they are like in person, maybe even speak to them; and third, to test the water for their popularity," he wrote for the Guardian.

Last year, King Charles reportedly began planning the largest-ever series of official tours across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and other countries.

Those rumours were soon confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in February, when he revealed discussions were underway for the king's visit Down Under .

There had been speculation his trip might fall alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October.

However, the king's cancer diagnosis and treatment have thrown these plans into question.

Both King Charles III and Princess Catherine have limited their public engagements since announcing they would be recovering from procedures in January.

The king returned to in-person royal duties in late April , after more than seven weeks away from the spotlight, but his public appearances are still being worked out.

"The pacing of the king's program will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team," a Buckingham Palace statement released last month said.

The government has confirmed there are still plans underway for an Australian visit, though it is far from certain.

This is not surprising, given the publicity these tours can generate and the pressure they place on the people at the centre of them.

Careful and thoughtful preparations play a key part in the success of a tour.

But, as with all best-laid plans, sometimes they can go wrong.

The Caribbean tour that drew unwanted attention

Kate and William's tour across the Caribbean in 2022 was supposed to be one such highly-planned event.

It was hoped the young couple would win over a new generation of subjects growing increasingly dubious about their heads of state.

But reports at the time indicated the then duke and duchess of Cambridge's efforts backfired after a series of faux pas.

The couple's visit to Jamaica was overshadowed when reports emerged not long after their arrival that the country's government had begun the process of transitioning the nation to a republic.

Photographs of the couple standing in an open-top Land Rover and reaching out to grab the hands of children through a wire fence also gave rise to awkward recollections of the monarchy's colonial past.

Royal commentators described the messaging of that tour as "poor at best" and prompting an overhaul of the Prince and Princess of Wales' PR and communications team.

While Meghan and Harry's three-day Nigeria visit is by no means comparable to the spectacle of a royal tour, it has offered some lessons on the importance of leaning on a sophisticated PR machine.

The duchess  reportedly has one of the most powerful managers in Hollywood working for her after a reshuffle of her management team last year following the couple's high-profile exit from a Spotify deal.

But part of the success of the duke and duchess' Nigeria stopover was also in some of the more genuine moments on display for waiting cameras.

A day after landing, Meghan noted the contrast between her neutral wardrobe and those around her, making a swift decision to update her sartorial choices.

"It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived," Meghan reportedly told guests at an event.

"And I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more colour so I can fit in with all of you in your incredible fashion!"

Her authentic connection with the country was also a running theme of the visit, with Meghan telling locals she had recently discovered her ancestry traced back to Nigeria.

While on stage at an event in the country's capital, Abuja, the Duchess of Sussex explained that her first reaction after finding out was to tell her mother.

"Being African American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage and background … ," she said.

After the duchess's revelation, Mo Abudu, the anchor and chief executive of EbonyLife media group, asked the audience to suggest a Nigerian name for Meghan.

Someone shouted "Ifeoma", which means "a treasured thing", while another shouted "Omowale", which means "the child has come home".

Could Harry and Meghan return to royal life?

In the years since the couple left, questions have swirled around what may have happened if the dice of fate had landed a different way.

What if Harry and Meghan were still working royals alongside William and Kate?

What might have happened if the young couple were on hand to pitch in and step up their public presence when other royals were absent?

The questions have taken on more relevance after the King and Princess Catherine's dual cancer diagnoses and subsequent withdrawal from the spotlight.

A glimpse of what might have been played out over the weekend as Harry and Meghan underwent their own "private" tour of Nigeria.

While the photographs made those watching nostalgic, it's unlikely the visit will prompt a request to take on official duties back in London or heal the deep rift between the royal family and the young couple.

What it has done is further highlight the small group of working royals operating now, made smaller after the deaths of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, and following Prince Andrew's complete removal from royal life.

But if the king's decision not to see his son when he was in London last week — reportedly due to a full programme —  is anything to go by, any suggestions of a return to royal life are being firmly rebuffed.

Even with a smaller circle of people to rely on, it appears as if the royal family has chosen to keep Harry out in the cold.

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