album of the week

cut off your hands interview


One of the bands that we want to check off our list of live acts is New Zealand indie pop band, Cut Off Your Hands. Their addictively catchy and energetic debut album You and I brought them to our attention in 2008 and after a rollercoaster of international travel and performing during the last couple of years, they are hitting the stage alongside the likes of Jay Reatard, No Age and Stereolab for the 2009 Laneway Festival

Cut Off Your Hands front man, the dashing (and ever so polite) Nick Johnston, generously took some time out from recording the band’s second album of blitzing powerpop to chat to Album of The Week.

AoTW: Hi Nick how are you? I hope I’m not interrupting any serious rock star shenanigans.

Nick: I’m well thanks. Actually, we’re just in the studio doing some recording for our next album at the moment.

AoTW: How’s that going?

Nick: It’s going well so far. It’s just good to be back in the studio and working on some new stuff

AoTW: Hopefully we’ll get a sneak peak of some new material from Cut Off Your Hands at the Laneway festival. The band must be looking forward to it...

Nick: Yeah definitely, we love Laneway. We played a couple of years back and had a great time. It’s got such a cool intimate set up. We’re definitely looking forward to it.

AoTW: it’s a pretty amazing line up – anyone you’re particularly excited to see?

Nick: I know – a lot of great bands are playing this year. I’m really looking forward to seeing Jay Reatard and Stereolab. But especially Jay Reatard because I’ve been a fan of him and his music for a long time.

AoTW: and he’s got plenty of material to choose from...

Nick: Exactly. It’s pretty amazing for a guy his age.

AoTW: It’s probably going to be about 35 degrees Celsius this year. How do you prepare? Do you have special warm weather outfits or perhaps girls waving palm fronds from the side of stage?

Nick: (giggles) that would be nice! Last time we played Laneway the Brisbane show was crazy. The ground was all black and you couldn’t stand in certain places because it was so hot – the asphalt was practically melting. I had heatstroke and it was really bad. We played in the midday slot so it was the peak heat of the day – 40 degrees or something.

AoTW: brutal

Nick: It was bad. Luckily this time we’re playing at around 6pm so it should be a lot less painful.

AoTW: It will be good to have you back – it wasn’t so long ago that Cut Off Your Hands were touring around Australia. How have you found the crowds’ response so far?

Nick: Really good. Particularly Brisbane – it was one of our favourite shows-

AoTW: (interrupts) are you just saying that because you know I’m from Brisbane?

Nick: No seriously! The Brisbane and Adelaide shows were some of the best - in terms of crowds. In Sydney and Melbourne you’re banking on a big crowd, but when you aren’t expecting it a really big, enthusiastic crowd is really exciting. Like when we play in New Zealand we always expect to have a good crowd in Auckland, but it’s really exciting when a big crowd turns out to shows in Christchurch for example.

AoTW: So you’re back in New Zealand at the moment after a lot of international touring over the last 12 months. You’ve shared the stage with some pretty amazing company – most recently Foals and Friendly Fires. Two questions: Who has been the most fun to tour with and who has been the most inspirational for Cut Off Your Hands as a band?

Nick: Definitely Foals for both of those questions. We had two weeks on tour with them and we get along really well – we’re all best buddies. They have a really similar attitude toward their live shows that we try to have: they put on a great show every night no matter what. That was definitely inspiring for our band. Foals have been a stand out from everyone we’ve toured with.

AoTW: I noticed that on your blog there’s a picture of you with Murray (Rhys Darby) from Flight of the Conchords – how did you hook up with him?

Nick: Murray (laughs) - I mean Rhys! - he was MCing a kind of New Zealand showcase gig in New York last year when we met him the first time and became friends with him, and then we both (Cut Off Your Hands and Rhys) did the same thing again this year.

AoTW: So as a fake band manager did he offer you any pearls of wisdom?

Nick: (chuckles) Yeah… No.

AoTW: Nick, I’ll let you get back to recording, but thanks for chatting to us – we’re looking forward to seeing you at Laneway.

Nick: Thank you. We’re looking forward to playing it. Thanks a lot.

Nick told us that when the band eventually has a break from touring they’ll be spending their downtime writing for future recordings. Downtime? “Well, I guess it’s not really downtime, but it’s what we love doing”. Lucky for us.
After their Laneway tour dates Cut Off Your Hands are heading to the US for a tour with excellent New York indie band, Ra Ra Riot.

*Cut Off Your Hands have recently announced that guitarist Mikey Ramirez is leaving the band following the Laneway shows. Stay tuned for news on the replacement.


cut off your hands myspace
St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2009

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