Redirecting to Two-handed

Double Handed are an alternative rock band from Adelaide, South Australia. Having formed in late 2003 they regularly play the live circuit in their hometown as well as focussing on establishing a fanbase in Melbourne, Victoria. The band consists of Cam Sanderson (guitars, screwdrivers, percussion & effects), Jess Porter (guitars, keyboards, backings, percussion & melodica), Shaun Holton (voice & percussion), Fox Faehrmann (drums, djembe, samples & backings) and Simon Newenham (bass guitar). They have one release to their name; the independently released shortplayer Therapist (2006).
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Image:351284165 l.jpg|Double Handed, early 2006
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Early career

In October 2003, after many musical ventures in Adelaide's local scene since the age of 15, guitarist/songwriter Jess Porter began jamming and collaborating with drummer Nick 'Fox' Faehrmann. The two had grown up together in Goolwa, South Australia, but this was the first time they had ever played together in the same band. The aim of the duo was to form a group that would be about intense emotional rock-esque music but without any stylistic or genre limitations. After two months of playing covers and jamming original instrumental pieces they recruited young guitarist, Cameron Sanderson, who was 16 at the time. Cam's style matched the goals of Jess and Fox perfectly and his ability to improvise impressed both of them. Cam joined the band immediately, who were initially called Bison (later changed due to a Melbourne band sharing the name).
<br />After a few more jams and the first few original songs had been rehearsed, mutual friend Simon Newenham was recruited to play bass. Having only ever played guitar before the band, Simmo was new to bass but adapted very quickly. His original approach took the group further in having a wholly melodic yet rich sound. The band began rehearsing in a shed on Simmo's parents mushroom farm in Middleton, where over the course of 12 months they wrote songs which appeared on an early demo called The Bison EP, including Start Again, Vienna, Snapshot of Perfection, Stars and Temporary Eternity.
<br />Jess was the main songwriter in the first year of Double Handed, focussing on acoustic based songs inspired by artists like John Butler and iOTA, but as the band's sound delved into heavier territory the whole group began collaborating together, creating a sound that was refreshing but poignant. When they started first playing live the lineup consisted of Jess on lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, melodica and piano; Cam on electric guitar; Fox on drums and Simmo on bass.
<br />Double Handed's first few gigs were mostly party shows at local venues or homes. Their second show was for a friend of a friend's 18th birthday party at Moana Memorial Hall, where the quartet were mixed by Shaun Holton, someone who would become a very close part of the band a whole year later.

The fifth member

After five local shows, Double Handed were unleashed upon Adelaide on March 3rd, 2005 at the Enigma Bar. They were incredibly well received as an opening act to a small group of fans from the South Coast plus newcomers. The band continued to play small venues in Adelaide until one night at the Hackney Hotel they played with another local band, MopeDialer, whose singer was the same mixer from the Moana show, Shaun Holton. After playing a few shows togther, Shaun became closer to the DH guys, who eventually asked him to join as the stand-up vocalist for the band. Double Handed played their first gig as a 5 piece at the Flinders Uni Tavern on June 10th, 2005.
<br />Feeling that all the pieces were finally in place, DH started work on finally recording a publically available EP. Unfortunately this would take longer than expected when Simmo severed the tendon in his right index finger, Fox suffered from intense RSI in his wrists and Shaun lost his voice for an extended period of time, all within about 3 months. The band pushed on though, with a healthy fanbase building at their shows helping to spur them on.

Therapist

In July 2006, Double Handed's first EP was released as a short 50-piece pressing and previewed on their first full band tour of Melbourne. After slight production alterations, the second pressing was released in Adelaide in September. The CD launch was held at the first Adelaide venue Double Handed played - the Enigma Bar - with quite a few more fans present this time! The launch coincided with the release of an art anthology by Kylie Voros (Foliage Designs) which included the cover painting plus a painting inspired by each of the five tracks on the EP.

Releases

Therapist (2006)
<br />1. The Sex
<br />2. Sit Still
<br />3. Parks Without Trees
<br />4. The Anarchist
<br />5. The Decline

Interstate ventures

Melbourne 2005: Shaun, Jess & Fox played as an acoustic trio at the Laundry, Fitzroy on 26/08/05.
Sydney 2006: The first full band tour in January '06.
Melbourne 2006: DH played extensively in Melbourne, previewing their debut EP during July '06.