The Painted Hands

Upstart garage punks The Painted Hands release the youthful, scruffy, and energetic Rapscallions on June 5th. The band joins headliner Papa Watzke and Bad Hex at 10 P.M. at the Willow Uptown. - New Orleans Gambit

On June 5th, One Eyed Jacks hosted a triple album release show, including the debut from garage punks The Painted Hands, Rapscallions has an early replacements vibe. Self destructive, explosive, irreverent and loud, and adds a few brass riffs, Strokes worship and rabid, straight-forward rock n' roll. "What I like's what I like turns out to be "LSD" and Pecan Pie" on gaste crashing opener "Pecan Pie." "Kiss Me" steals the riff from "Wild Thing" and blows it to smitherines {opening line: "She was high on blow, and I was drunk as piss / We never change and I can't remember shit"). - Alex Woodward. New Orleans Gambit

Painted Hands Rapscallions Released June 2015

Rapscallions is inescapably fun and gritty, weaving a tone of dirty southern bars and late night dancing with an experimental and unconventional spin. The Painted Hands are light-hearted with a subtle grit, casting the perfect atmosphere for a Friday night on the town.

Every detail of the album is built on a solid southern rock foundation, from the easy going guitars, to the course vocals, mixed with jazzy piano, and the occasional trumpet in the background– Painted Hands wear their region with pride, and what else would you expect from a band of young New Orleanians? The southern style shapes the tone and direction of the music, even as they experimentally infuse the tone with psychedelia; using unconventional distortion (check out the outro of “China Dolls”) and song structure– “Big Brother” and “Rapscallions” both feature an interesting breakdown style bridge that’s present in several places on the album– as well a an electric keyboard, and what seems to be the occasional synth.

Painted Hands unique fusion is brilliantly exemplified by their second track, which samples their wide range with an infectious swing beat. The track opens with a brief keyboard riff that seems to feel almost like ambient or dream pop– that is until the rest of the band joins in jazzing up the piano, adding a trumpet, a subtle drum, and of course the barroom vocals that complete this alluring package. The track is addictive, it makes you want to get up and dance on on a hot summer night and spend your evening in a grimy bar, but Painted Hands never let’s you settle comfortably in the groove, taking a languid ritardando in the chorus, pulling the tempo to a crawl to remind you: “big brother’s watching is”, until hitting the final outro that proclaims in punctuated statements “it’s all in your head”, with a slow and steady beat you just want to melt into.

Painted Hands specialize in a unique blend of southern rock and psychedelic punk– full of swing be and that specific regional flare. The whole album is unbeatably exciting. - Abigail w/ Standoutnoise

The Painted Hands is a band that will likely make you rethink everything you thought you knew about music in New Orleans. I frequently associate New Orleans with jazz music and a whole lot of great food that I’m missing out on. That changed when I was sent Rapscallions by The Painted Hands. It’s the bands debut, post punk album. And this definitely makes me wonder how much other music I’m missing out on from New Orleans.

Let’s return to The Painted Hands, though, and their debut album. The six piece band has four members shouting out lyrics at any given moment, yet the lyrics are catchy and the melodies are a joy to listen to. As soon as the album started, I got the vibe that these guys were born in the wrong decade. I felt that the music would have been perfect around the tail end of The Clash’s career. They have that same tone and attitude with their music. The album starts with “Pecan Pie” and the lyrics that instantly stood out were “what I like’s what I like.” It’s such a simple statement but at the same time it says so much. I was drawn in and that song seemed to be the perfect choice for the album opener. If you’re a fan of 70’s punk music and the post punk that evolved from that, chances are you’ll like these guys. I also suggest checking out the title track and “Daddy Issues.”

I love being sent music by bands I’ve never heard of for this exact reason: some of them will stick and you’ll greatly enjoy them. I’m glad this band contacted me and I hope you’ll check them out. - Deanna Chapman

The Painted hands hail from Slidell, Louisiana, just a car ride down the I-10 but a world away from New Orleans. The young band - they're 20 and 21 - play some of the hippest and sharpest rock you've heard in some time. Dreux LeBourgeoise, Atomic Aaron and Jesse Wood all managed to find the Happy Hour gig without too much of a problem. Michael, the band's singer, did not - though he did manage to call in on someone else's phone to give you a peek inside what it's like being in a band. The Painted Hands could well be the next breakout band from around here. If you haven't, check out their music - you can steal it here. - Itsneworleans.com