"Some bands aspire to have an 'independent' sound, but Burden|Hand has reached acclaim by our own blood and sweat, which keeps us separate from alot of so-called 'Indie' bands who are as 'dependent' as my ex-girlfriend...” is the explanation drummer Lucas Ives gives about the path that led a jazz quartet that met weekly in friend’s garages into what SF Weekly said "breaks new ground...with their brand of upbeat rock mixed with elements of Latin rhythms, improvisation, and folk melodies." Ives continues "...and I tell the same thing to my ex as I do critics: 'Stop calling me, I'm over you."
Since forming in 2004, Burden|Hand’s reputation has gotten the attention of the Northern California music scene. A grassroots video for the song “Anthem” is currently getting played on television (SF Sound) and online (CNet, MySpace). But for anyone who’s seen the band, it’s obvious that their chops and improvisational flair is best seen live. Fans trading show bootlegs, internet radio podcasts, and West Coast performances at respected venues all across California (including their home in San Francisco) has spread the sound that’s behind the buzz.
Burden|Hand may be young, but its members are quickly becoming namedropped all over the San Francisco music scene. Most recently in Spring 2006, special guest bassist Felix Pastorius (Jeff Coffin Mutet, Way of the Groove) joined the group for their tour, shows which were recorded for a live album (for release in summer 2006). Guitarist Joe Michiels has a style all his own which developed partially from the tutelage of guitar guru Will Bernard. Singer Brian Johnson has been described with "a soulful style that resembles a young Jack Johnson." Drummer Lucas Ives (9 Red Sun) adds experience and versatility from years on stage. Separately, the band’s talent as musicians speaks for itself, but together they explode in a fireball of energy, spontaneity, and dense layers of musical color.
