Open Hand

Rebecca Shapiro

Open Hand formed in Hollywood when singer-guitarist Justin Isham wanted to take his music in a different direction. Although he appreciated heavy music as a member of hardcore outfit I Awake, he wanted to create sounds in the vein of his musical hero Peter Gabriel. Thus, Open Hand was born in 1999... Read More

Open Hand formed in Hollywood when singer-guitarist Justin Isham wanted to take his music in a different direction. Although he appreciated heavy music as a member of hardcore outfit I Awake, he wanted to create sounds in the vein of his musical hero Peter Gabriel. Thus, Open Hand was born in 1999 and Isham made his new band a full-time project, recording demos and even embarking on a West Coast tour when the group was just five months old. Following the release of their Radio Days (1999) and Evolutions (2000) EPs, the band received some label interest and continued to tour with heavyweights like Thursday, MxPx, From Autumn to Ashes, Grade, and The Juliana Theory. After signing with new management and enduring some member shifts, Open Hand eventually signed with Trustkill Records and released their debut album The Dream, a collection of their EPs, in February 2003. In the summer of 2003, following a European tour in support of The Dream, Open Hand entered hiatus after several band members abruptly quit. Although the group's future was uncertain, Isham was determined to reinvent his musical vision; he spent the summer of 2004 recording at The Blasting Room in Ft. Collins, Col., with producer (and former Shiner bassist) Paul Malinowski. The result was You And Me, a 14-track tour de force filled with atmospheric rock, progressive metal, beat-heavy ballads, and a sultry rock n' roll swagger. Open Hand released You and Me in February 2005.