| The Hands - NSW |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:00 | ||||
|
The Hands are certainly one of the best live acts to come on to the scene in a very long time. Combining the talents of brothers Clayton & Lachlan Doley on keyboards, where you have Clayton on Hammond organ and Lachlan on the Hohner clavinet, these young guys are redefining keyboard playing as we know it.
Their debut release “live and breathe” was received to critical acclaim and features guest vocalists Jade MacRae, Kara Grainger and Mahalia Barnes whose careers have sky rocketed since. They have developed a roots inspired sound with energy and sophistication that when combined with their catchy songs makes them instantly recognizable. The brothers Clayton and Lachlan started playing together on the family piano as children in their hometown of Adelaide and soon were working as professional musicians while still at school. Clayton moved to Sydney and joined The Mighty Reapers all by the time he was 18. He also began playing with the legendary Jackie Orszaczky when he was 19 and he continued to play with him for the next 10 years. Clayton also went on to play and record with Renee Geyer, Billy Thorpe, Kasey Chambers, The Whitlams and many other major acts in Australia before moving to New York. Lachlan then, having moved to Sydney began playing with the Mighty Reapers and started to make his own way up very quickly. Likewise playing and recording with Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes, Billy Thorpe and others.
Armed with many new songs, Clayton returned from New York and the brothers decided to form their own band. As a consequence, The Hands launched on to the Sydney scene in 2003 and have consistently built a reputation as a ‘must see’ live act as they work their way around Australia.
Lachlan won the Hip Hop artist of the year in 2005 MUSICOZ as his alter ego Lucky Dollar for his collaboration with Good Buddha. He has most recently been playing keyboards for Powderfinger on the Across the Great Divide tour and traveled around Australia and Europe with them throughout 2007. He has also toured and played with The Beautiful Girls, Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes and many more.
The first single ‘More and More and More’ was an itunes Single of the Week and the album an itunes staff pick. Clayton and Lachlan were also invited to perform at the ARIA’s Hall of Fame Ceremony as part of The Russell Morris Supergroup. “Everything Is Wonderful” is available in stores now. “The next time The Hands are playing locally, I’m over there in a New York minute – they’re that good!” Rhythms Magazine “great playing, great band!” Ian Moss “Dueling keyboards, soul originals with swagger and the spirit of Donny Hathaway” Tim Freedman, The Whitlams
For all bookings and enquiries please contact Belinda Krause - 0410 432 964
PLAYING AT SYDNEY BLUES FESTIVAL
|
It has been 4 years since the release of the first Hands album and the brothers have been busy. Clayton has most recently been touring as the keyboard player for the Divinyls. He is one of Sydney’s most in demand session players and has played on over 100 different albums for some of Australia’s biggest names. He has also built up a reputation as a songwriter having written tracks that are on albums by artists such as The Whitlams and Jade MacRae as well as many others. Clayton also spent part of 2007 as the musical director and band leader of the house band for Paul McDermott’s The Sideshow on ABC, which The Hands also appeared on. He has been playing with artists such as Jon Stevens, Jade MacRae, Guy Sebastian, Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges (USA), Richard Clapton as well as many more, and played with Silverchair at the 2006 ARIA’s in their tribute to Midnight Oil.
The brothers have once again joined forces to give us ‘Everything Is Wonderful’ a superb recording of vintage instruments through vintage microphones, and the glorious sound of tape that recreates the fat retro sounds popularized by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones. For this album The Hands have brought together some of the finest musical talents in Australia, culminating in a collection of soul originals performed with the cool restraint and explosive energy for which The Hands are renowned.