Random Hand

{{Short description|Ska band from Keighley}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{More citations needed|date=February 2020}}{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Random Hand

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = Keighley, West Yorkshire, England

| genre = {{hlist|Punk rock|ska punk|hardcore punk|heavy metal}}

| years_active = 2002–present

| label = {{hlist|Bomber Music Riot Music|Rebel Alliance}}

| website =

| current_members =

  • Robin "Russell" Leitch
  • Joe Tilston
  • Dan Walsh
  • Sean Howe

| past_members =

  • Joe Dimuantes
  • Matthew Crosher

}}

Random Hand is a British punk band, formed in Keighley in 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://myspace.com/randomhand|title=Random Hand | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos|website=Myspace.com|access-date=2020-06-11}} Their sound combines a variety of genres, including ska, reggae, punk rock, metal, hip hop and dub. The band is typically associated with the punk subculture, due to their ethics and sociopolitical lyrical content.

Biography

=Early career=

Formed in late 2002, the band's original lineup consisted of Joe Tilston (bass and vocals), Robin Leitch (vocals and trombone), Matt Crosher (guitar and vocals), and Joe Dimuantes (percussion and samples). Random Hand played their first show on 31 December 2002 in a friend's basement in Haworth{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}, with other shows around West Yorkshire, namely in Huddersfield, Leeds and Halifax.

In the summer of 2003, the band recorded a demo, which was given as a free release for download. In late 2004, the band spent time with producer TimG to record the On The March EP. The band set off on their first tour in January 2004 with Catch-it Kebabs and Zen Baseball Bat. This tour was soon followed by a self-booked UK tour in March to coincide with the release of their debut EP, On The March. The band then performed at events like Morcambe's Wasted Festival and shows with The Planet Smashers, Adequate Seven, Sonic Boom Six, Bad Manners, The Beat, Skindred, and Babar Luck. The latter teamed up with the band in the studio to record two tracks.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

=''Change of Plan''=

The band began to be represented by Hidden Talent Booking in 2006. This saw Random Hand playing shows on Adequate Seven's final tour, Lightyear's reunion tour and the Three Way Dance with Sonic Boom Six, Failsafe and Crazy Arm, before heading to the studio to record their debut album Change of Plan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.punktastic.com/reviews/2601/|title=Reviews – Page 2601|website=Punktastic.com|access-date=2020-06-11}} The record was released on Riot Music on 7 May 2007.

Following the release, the band toured with Voodoo Glow Skulls, Grown at Home, The JB Conspiracy and Left Alone, and played at the festivals City Invasion, Rebellion and Leeds Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leedsfestival.com/news/story.aspx?aid=0fa35654-c153-435c-8d23-95ad486a18d1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026155625/http://www.leedsfestival.com/news/story.aspx?aid=0fa35654-c153-435c-8d23-95ad486a18d1|url-status=dead|title=// L E E D S //|archive-date=October 26, 2007}} Songs from the album received regular play on the Mike Davies Show and were played on the Steve Lamacq Show, and the band recorded a session at Maida Vale Studios for the BBC Radio 1 Punk Show in late 2007. Their songs also appeared on several cover CDs for Big Cheese Magazine. In September 2007 Random Hand signed to independent music publisher Bomber Music also they use them to this day and for their newest album.

In 2008, the band went on their first headline tour of the UK, with 20 dates across the UK. The band then joined Voodoo Glow Skulls on their 2008 west coast United States tour. 2008 also saw performances at several festivals in the UK, in April at City Invasion in Bolton and London, and at the end of May as part of their tour with Sonic Boom Six and Big D and the Kids Table, and at Dunk Fest, Strummercamp and in August at Rebellion. The band appeared at the 2008 Reading and Leeds Festival on the Lock-Up stage.

=''Inhale/Exhale''=

In early September 2008, Random Hand announced the upcoming January 2009 release of their second album, Inhale/Exhale on Rebel Alliance Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rebelalliancerecordings.com/|title=- WELCOME!|date=21 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921203544/http://www.rebelalliancerecordings.com/|access-date=1 October 2020|archive-date=2008-09-21}}

The band again worked with Change Of Plan's producer Peter Miles. Random Hand recorded the album in November 2008 and it was released in February. Touring with ska punk legends Reel Big Fish followed a 21 date January headline tour in support of the new album. Separate tours with Canadian punks Propagandhi and Manchester peers Sonic Boom Six took place in April and May 2009.

Visibility and awareness of the second album in comparison to Change Of Plan increased with more investment from the band and new label. A video was released for debut single 'Anger Management', which was released on CD and download in September 2009. Prior to the release, the band embarked on a 14 date UK headline tour with UK reggae band The Skints.

=''Seething Is Believing''=

In late 2009, the band started writing material for a third album. During January and February 2010 the band took part in the Rebel Alliance Tour with The Skints, Mouthwash & Chris Murray, with all the bands having releases on Rebel Alliance Recordings. During this tour, drummer and founding member Joe Dimuantes decided to leave the band.

The band took a few months out to practice with new drummer Sean Howe who had been formerly of The Wayriders and Out From Animals. As well as to finish writing their third album. In the meantime, singer/trombonist Robin Leitch and bassist Joe Tilston played solo shows whilst the band took a break from touring.

To make up for the shows missed due to van problems Random Hand played a clutch of "pay what you want" shows to repay fans for cancelled shows.

In June 2010, the band self re-released their first album, Change of Plan via Bomber Music with some added tracks from their "On The March" EP as Another Change Of Plan and in July the band toured to promote the release. The cover was designed by Simon Mitchell, who has provided the artwork for t-shirts, posters, album and EP covers for many underground bands such as MikeTV.

On 12 December 2010, the band played a triple headline show along with The Creepshow and The Skints. The Hydropaths and ACiD DROP also performed as part of the Slam Dunk punk and ska all day gig at The Cockpit in Leeds.

The third album Seething Is Believing was released on Bomber Music in March 2011.

In April 2012, the band announced that founding member and guitarist Matthew Crosher had been told to leave the band, with Dan Walsh confirmed as his replacement.

=''Hit Reset'' and hiatus=

On Facebook (on the 15th February), Random Hand announced that they would be going on indefinite hiatus to allow them to spend time with their families.{{cite web|last1=Tilsdon|first1=Joe|title=Random Hand|url=https://www.facebook.com/randomhand?fref=ts|website=Facebook|access-date=14 September 2015}} They ended this stage in their careers with a tour{{Cite web|url=http://chimeo.com/article/Random-Hand-Farewell-for-Now|title=chimeo.com Random Hand, Farewell for Now|date=10 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210201853/http://chimeo.com/article/Random-Hand-Farewell-for-Now|access-date=1 October 2020|archive-date=2015-12-10}} and PledgeMusic Campaign to release their final album Hit Reset,{{Cite web|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/randomhand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311151721/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/randomhand|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-03-11|title=Random Hand: Leaving Present on PledgeMusic|date=2015-03-11|access-date=2020-02-05}} which was made available to download for donators on 13 September 2015. They ended their live career in spectacular fashion with their sell out final gig at the Camden Underworld supported by friends in Faintest Idea, River Jumpers and Sonic Boom Six, in the latter of whom provided a lot of support to Random Hand in their early days.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

In October 2017, after a two year break, Random Hand announced their return in 2018 with appearances at Mighty Sounds Festival in the Czech Republic, and OutCider Festival and

Manchester Punk Festival in the UK.

=''Hit Remix''=

In late October 2021 Random Hand released a collaborative album with bands and artists such as Sonic Boom Six, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Call Me Malcom remixing their previous album Hit Reset featuring the Hit Reset album cover with the appearance of distortion.

= Random Hand =

The band released their eponymous fifth album (coinciding with their twentieth anniversary) on the 20th of September 2023.

Members

=Timeline=

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Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/2002 till:02/01/2019

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2002

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2002

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals,_trombone

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass,_vocals

id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar,_vocals

id:drums value:purple legend:Drums

id:line1 value:black legend:Studio_albums

id:line2 value:pink legend:Minor_releases

LineData =

layer:back

color:line1

at:09/25/2007

at:01/25/2009

at:02/13/2010

at:03/04/2011

at:01/01/2015

color:line2

at:02/21/2003

at:08/04/2004

at:01/18/2013

BarData =

bar:Robin text:"Robin Leitch"

bar:Tiltson text:"Joe Tilston"

bar:Matthew text:"Matthew Crosher"

bar:Dan text:"Dan Walsh"

bar:Joe text:"Joe Dimuantes"

bar:Sean text:"Sean Howe"

PlotData=

width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Robin from:01/01/2002 till:end color:vocals

bar:Tiltson from:01/01/2002 till:end color:bass

bar:Matthew from:01/01/2002 till:03/10/2012 color:guitar

bar:Dan from:04/20/2012 till:end color:guitar

bar:Joe from:01/01/2002 till:05/27/2009 color:drums

bar:Sean from:08/24/2009 till:end color:drums

Discography

=Studio, live albums and compilations=

class="wikitable"

|+List of albums

!Year

!Title

!Label

!Notes

2007

|Change of Plan

|Riot Music

|

2009

|Inhale/Exhale

|Rebel Alliance

|

2010

|Another Change of Plan

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|Compilation of Change of Plan and On the March

2010

|Inhale/Exhale

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|

2011

|Seething Is Believing

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|

2013

|Live In K-Town

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|

2015

|Hit Reset

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|

2021

|Hit Remix

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|

2023

|Random Hand

|Bomber Music
Our Records

|

= EPs =

class="wikitable"

|+List of EPs

!Year

!Title

!Label

2003

|Buy This, Copy It and Give It to Your Friends (Demo No. 1)

|Self-released

2005

|On the March

|Self-released

=Singles=

class="wikitable"

|+List of singles

!Year

!Title

!Label

2009

|Anger Management

|Rebel Alliance

2011

|Find What's Out There

|Bomber Music

2011

|Bones

|Bomber Music

References