Handful Blog

ENTERTAINMENT: Luvin' and Rockin' is their business

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:48:57 GMT

By Annagrisel Alvarez
tú Decides correspondent

When speaking about energy, passion, quality and luvin’, people can certainly identify with the Seattle based band Handful Of Luvin.’

Starting as a soloist singer, David John, met fiddle player Andrew Joslyn back in 2003.

They started playing together and decided to form a bigger group of musicians. They added bassist Patrick Files and drummer Mike Knight.

Their innovative mixture of rhythms and genres has delighted crowds of all ages. They have three original albums: Balance, Land of Giants and, the latest one, Life in Between.

The band tours around Eastern Washington on a regular basis. They have also performed around the west coast, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and California.

The name of the band, according to vocalist David, “is about coming together and having a solid handful of influences as well as love to bring to the music world.”

David is a graduate from Western Washington University who says that the band is in a good place right now; they are in the process of producing more music and the audiences are consuming more of their music.

“We’re huge fans of folk. Personally, I am a singer and a songwriter, I like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Bob Marley,” said David while speaking about his influences.

“I really love what I do. I don’t know if I could do anything else,” said David while joking about his look and saying it’s all about screaming that you don’t really care, “and I don’t really care.”

But the one thing he cares about is his band and the plans they have as a group: have fun, compose and spread their name in the communities.

They already have plans for the next year. They are going to release an EP composed of six songs and another production in which they will be mixing their favorite compositions in a full length album with orchestra and choir; on top of that they plan to continue with their touring in and out of the state.

Within 5 years David wants to be fully living off of music: to be touring successfully “when we want to, where we want to, so we do a big tour, make our living and come back home and create again.”

The quartet is also planning to release a couple music videos and a live studio album. They have been hitting bigger cities and want to keep touring.

“The band is my business, music is my life,” finished David. ?

http://tudecidesmedia.com/entertainment-luvin-and-rockin-is-their-business-p1959-128.htm

Review of Handful of Luvin' at Moxi Music

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:47:22 GMT

Handful Of Luvin's newest release, ‘Life In Between’,
offers a liberal and ambitious blend of styles. Self-described
as “fiddle driven roots rock”, H.O.L.’s developing sound eludes
labeling and that’s a good thing for this Seattle based quartet.
While sometimes reminiscent of contemporaries Dave Matthews,
Wilco and ‘Ten Sumner’s Tales’ era Sting, ‘Life In Between’ also
summons influences from classic rock, blues, reggae, ska, pure
Americana folk and even spoken-word to define the group’s own
burgeoning signature.

David John’s acoustic guitar and vocal phrasings are ably
propelled into an accessible pop realm by a staunch and adept
rhythm section made up of bassist/background vocalist Patrick
Files, drummer/percussionist Michael Knight and classical wizard
violinist Andrew Joslyn. The group also welcomes some lovely
guest spots by Samantha Boshnack on trumpet and flugelhorn
and Caleb Hegg on cello.

The opening track, ‘Born Lucky’, begins with a nice
passage of muted banjo and violin plucking that sounds like
Chinese strings. When the passage comes around again after the
first chorus, it’s a sweet piece of arrangement.
The next track, ‘Breadcrumbs’, is a bold bluegrass bop
with a main vocal melody that hangs around in your head for a
while after the tune ends. A ‘Specials’-ish reggae lilt carries the
next song, ‘Kickdrum’, a soulful homage to music’s healing gifts.

On ‘The Pilgrimage (Into Chaos)’, ethereal violins
accompany a recorded lecture by late British philosopher/writer/
spiritualist Alan Watts as his words serve to vividly illustrate the
very heart of the album’s central themes of life, death and how
we spend the time in between.
There’s a deftly performed instrumental track, ‘Harry
Met Rona’, a Celtic Rock hoedown that sounds like The Pogues
jamming with Dixie Dregs.

The album’s final track, ‘Fingers’, is a fitting close as Alan
Watts’ voice is once again employed to effective dual purpose.
Firstly to help people look beyond the veneer of what they see
and, more importantly, to understand that the life in between
birth and death should be lived morally, correctly and with the
purpose of creating a valued life. We are all living the ‘Life In
Between’ and Handful Of Luvin’s pad is a good place to hang
out while we’re here.

http://www.moximusic.com/content/handful-luvin%92-life-between-128/

Folklife

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:43:44 GMT

Hello Everyone,

To start, we have sad news to deliver to all of you. The world lost a great man this last Friday, May 20, 2011. Charles Wilbur Files (our own beloved Patrick Files' father) passed away due to pneumonia complications at the age of 72... the godfather of dive bars and a Seattle icon for over 50 years, Charley will be sorely missed by all.

You can read more at:
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2011/05/charlie_files_owner_of_the_slo.php

Thank you to everyone that came out to the show at the Crocodile last Friday. It was an emotional night, but full of passion and real emotion. We really appreciate your support.

To everyone that was looking forward to the Tacoma show on Saturday, May 21 (on the day of Rapture ;)) we sincerely apologize. Hopefully in light of the recent news, you will forgive us. We promise to make it down to Tacoma soon to make up for our recent cancellation!

On a brighter note - Handful has been granted an Amazing slot at this year's FolkLife festival in Seattle!
Handful of Luvin' will be playing at 7:45 PM at the Mural Amphitheater stage on Saturday May 28. Come on out and support us on the big lawn.

The festival is FREE, ALL-AGES, and supports local artists! Check it out more at: http://www.nwfolklife.org/

We hope to see all of you there in force! Thank you all, and much luv!

-Handful of Luvin'

Artist Spotlight: Handful of Luvin' on the Silver Tongue

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 03:42:15 GMT

Seattle-based band Handful of Luvin’ is described on their website as “A rock quartet featuring a rocking classically trained violinist, Handful refers to their music as “fiddle driven roots rock,” and their cheerful blend of folk-rock, reggae and world rhythms, plus secondhand baroque and Celtic influences with catchy pop hooks, strongly recalls the vintage sound of Actual Tigers, the madness of Flogging Molly, and the moodier, more experimental side of Wilco.”

Handful of Luvin’ are:

David John: Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Andrew Joslyn: 5 String Violin
Patrick Files: Bass guitar
Mike Knight: Drums

TST had some burning questions that needed answering. Here’s what the band came up with:

TST: Handful of Luvin’ is described as “fiddle-driven roots rock.” I usually try and cover my roots – but what bands would you consider your roots? Who are your influences?

David: Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Paul Simon, Wilco and a lot of others.

Andrew: Andrew Bird, Vivaldi, Muse, U2

Patrick: punk rock energy, technicality of 60’s-70’s funk, world music influences.

Michael wasn’t available for comment.

TST: Andrew, you’re the fiddle player playing in a rock band. You ever get an urge to smash it onstage a la Pete Townshend?

Andew: I’ve actually been planning on getting a ratty old violin bow, and breaking it over the drums as a set closer at some point… but I have too much love for my instrument to ever smash it. I remember watching a James Bond film where he slid down a mountain on a cello – and I cringed the whole time for the instrument…

TST: Handful of Luvin’ is known for putting on a very high-energy electrifying live show. How do you try and capture that energy when recording in the studio?

HOL: This has been a hard thing for us to completely encapsulate in a recording — with the whole process of overdubbing and multi-tracking, sometimes recording all at once, and harnessing that ‘live raw’ sound is hard to cultivate. For our last album, it is definitely a lot closer to what we want to showcase to our fans – but not quite a exemplary capture of our live sound.

TST: Violinists/fiddlers in bands are becoming quite trendy these days. What’s your back-up plan for that? How are you on the upright bass? ;-)

Andrew: I’m not worried about this at all. It is trendy, but I’ve been playing in a band with the violin for over seven years – well before it started become a pretty normal rock format. Back-up plan – become more of a rocking violinist than the other players out there.

TST: Seattle is very well known for launching the grunge scene in the 90′s. What would you say the scene is known for today? How do you fit in?

HOL: Seattle currently is outputting a lot of indie underground rock acts like Fences, Hey Marseilles, Grand Hallway, Fleet Foxes, etc. which all seem to cater to a hipster audience. It also has a burgeoning hip-hop scene. Our main goal is to make audiences dance, lower their inhibitions, and have a good time. Unfortunately this is pretty opposed to the hipster scene, where there is less participation with the band.

TST: What song are you the most proud of? What song gets the biggest reaction from the audience?

HOL: “There’s No Right, There’s No Wrong” and “Pedestal” – usually get huge crowd responses. As for a track we are really proud of – that is hard to pinpoint. “Glass Ceiling,” ”There’s No Right,” and “Born Lucky” (which was a huge collaborative effort for the whole band in the songwriting process.)

TST: You have the audio tracks from the late Zen philosopher Alan Watts’ lectures on some of your songs. Tell me about how “Pilgrimage (Into Chaos)” came about.

HOL: We really wanted to include an instrumental track with an audio track over the top, either a politic speech or something riveting. Andrew’s parents are both Zen Buddhists and he grew up listening to Alan Watt’s lectures regularly, so in order to find a riveting track, including a lecture by Watts seemed like a natural selection.

TST: Dream venue to perform onstage:
HOL: Paramount in Seattle.

TST: If you collectively had a famous woman that you’d want to impress with your music, who would it be?
David: Norah Jones.

Patrick: Nina Simone.

Andrew: Ani Di Franco.

Visit Handful of Luvin’s ReverbNation page for the experience.

To read more from ALLISON, visit her blog at RadioPotato.com.

Full article available here: http://thesilvertongueonline.com/?p=20549

Handful of Luvin' News Update (October Edition)

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:14:11 GMT

Greetings Handful email listers!

Welcome to the October Edition of our email updates -- it has been a while since our last edition, and we have had a ton of people sign up since the last time (about 500).. and we want to welcome all of you to the family! Handful of Luvin' has had a very busy summer, and have a lot of great news to share with you.

First and foremost - Handful of Luvin' has yet again been nominated for the King 5 Best of Western Washington Contest for Best Local Band! We are currently at Number 5, and voting ends October 12, 2010 --- so we need your help to finish out at Number 1 this year!!

Here is how to vote:

Go to this URL and register and vote for us!
http://best.king5.com/handful-of-luvin/biz/134814

Note: You can vote multiple times (with different email addresses); and we fully encourage ballet stuffing! :) Please help us out with this!

As for October and beyond check out our upcoming show calendar --

(calendar update) The show on October 29, 2010 at the Oddfellows Grill on Leary has been cancelled due to a schelduling conflict. No worries though - we will be coming back there probably in January or Feburary of the new year!

October 15, 2010
Raw Space,
Ellensburg, WA
9:30 PM
http://www.raw-space.net/files/

October 16, 2010
The Pub
9:30 PM
7001 W Clearwater Ave
Kennewick, WA 99336-1721
(509) 735-7868

October 23, 2010
Wilde Rover Irish Pub and Restaurant
Kirkland, WA
9:00 PM
http://www.wilderover.com/

October 30, 2010
Handful of Luvin' Halloween Extravanganza
John's Alley
Moscow, ID
http://www.alleyvault.com/

Handful of Luvin' was recently interviewed on MyNorthwest.com by Sean Detore's MixTape! Check out the interview and live footage here at:

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=570&sid=370008
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=577&a=21050&p=14&n=the%20mixtape

This is the main updates for the upcoming month - but we are sure to have plenty of more news in the near future!

Much Luv!

Handful of Luvin'

Recent Press Reviews of Handful of Luvin':

"Handful Of Luvin's third full length release is the work of a band just coming into it's own. Confident and self-assured, obliterating the demarcation lines where genres stake out their turf, Handful happily incorporate influences from Vivaldi to Vasser Clements, from the Stones to Riverdance, refracted through Pop sensibilities, with bright hooks and melodies that remain. ......If I have one caveat it would be this.....To my mind the sound is a bit slick, an almost pop-ish veneer that belies and betrays the rootsy origins of the music. The sound could use a little of the husk & busk immediacy of a more "live" sound. But its really a minor quibble.....and as Handful Of Luvin' tthemselves will tell you....There's No Right, There's No Wrong........" Full review at: http://mog.com/deadmandeadman/blog/2177755 "JULY 9, 2010

- With the music industry squarely focused on pulsating electronic pop sounds, one would begin to wonder whatever happened to that 90's college radio aesthetic which rewarded musicianship and content above celebrity. The Seattle-based Jam-Americana band HANDFUL OF LUVIN have both musicianship and content to spare on their latest offering LIFE IN BETWEEN, an engaging concept album (a first for the band according to violinist ANDREW JOSLYN) detailing the rocky, winding road of life. Despite the heaviness of this oh-so ambitious approach, the music is never weighed down by good intentions . In fact, HANDFUL OF LUVIN are an adept band of troubadours who aren't about to let their rich, earthy sound grow stale or have it fall upon deaf ears given their ability to change rhythms at a moments notice. The results here are amazing, memorable and - above all else - catchy." - Brian Lush (Rockwired.com and Rockwired Magazine) Podcast and Interview at: http://www.rockwired.com/rockwiredprofiles4.html

"From start to finish Handful of Luvin’ is one impressive catalog of music. The music is highly original, uplifting, & extremely entertaining. Note for note, song for song there isn’t a weak piece on this entire catalog. The writing & playing abilities of this 4 piece are rock solid. The lyrics are catchy lyrics, & the melodies are well crafted & hooky. Last but not least the vocal presence from frontman David John is world-class. All in all - “Life In Between” is one of the best CD’s that’s come across my desk this year. If you like Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews Band with a splash Celtic flair then you should definitely jump into “Life In Between” head first!" - Cyrus Rhodes (Muse's Muse) Full article and album review at: http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-handfulofluvin-life.html

Handful of Luvin': The New Folk? (Review Written by Daniel Burnett)

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:59:09 GMT

Seattle based band, Handful of Luvin’, have seen some notable local success since their 2005 inception. In 2008 they were voted third best local band of Western Washington by King 5 Evening Magazine and have been selling out venues across the Northwest with their avid touring schedule. During the course of the next 30 days the band will be seen at over 17 venues around Washington, Idaho, California and Oregon.

Their four-piece line-up consists of a vocalist/guitarist, violinist, bassist, and drummer that together produce a succinct relationship between folk and reggae with touches of bluegrass, blues and rock weaved in. True to the implications of these musical tonalities, the lyrical content is authentically blue-collar and often ponderous and reflective.

In the vein of many successful bands prior to Hand of Luvin’, moments of their most evident lyrical melancholy include the most splendid and tender melodies of their work. The song “Stand Strugglin’”, from their 2007 release Land of Giants acts as a testament to the care and thoughtfulness put into the melodies in a marriage of blues and classical compositions.

When the band takes to the stage, however, their performances are filled with excitement and verve. None of the artistic care and heavy-handed lyrics become lost in the transition from the CD to the stage, yet the atmosphere does not feel burdened or bogged down by the serious material. The band seems to really enjoy themselves, confident and at ease during their performances.

Their third and most recent album, titled Life in Between, lends a more up-beat and readily accessible element to their portfolio; constantly adapting to new styles such as the Celtic instrumental “Harry Met Rona”. Some of their previous acoustic melancholy, that was a markedly compelling feature, is a little under-pronounced; however the album is a step forward for the band in many ways.

While imagining a band that is this eccentric in their use of commonly berated genres (such as bluegrass) becoming a feature in the musical landscape seems difficult and counterintuitive; it could very well happen. The nuisances of the band never actually over commit to a specific sound and instead creatively flitter and synchronize the apparent genre influences of the band. I used the words folk, reggae, bluegrass, blues and rock earlier in a vain attempt to construct an idea of their sound; however the final product is such a tight conglomerate of the influences that it essentially becomes its own genre.

Much of their strength seems to lie in the eclecticism of the band’s individual members. In addition to their performances with Handful of Luvin, three of the four members maintain side projects of very different sounds. Bassist, Patrick Files is currently a part of the Mobius Jones Everlasting Blues Band, drummer Michael Knight performs with rock band Blunt Mechanic and Violinist Andrew Joslyn plays with the hip-hop artist Macklemore as well as the Passenger String Quarter.

By Daniel Burnett
Article at http://bestnewbands.com/bands/item/580-handful-of-luvin%E2%80%99-the-new-folk

Handful of Luvin' Tour (September Update)

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:26:14 GMT

Hey Handful of Luvin' Email Listers:

So we are back home in Seattle after a very successful slew of shows in Issaquah (Treehouse Point), Yakima (Sportscenter), and Port Angeles (Olympic Winery). However, the fun doesn't end there! We are still in the middle of our summer tour season and we have a ton of shows coming up!

August 31, 2010
Safeco Field (Seattle, WA)
5:00-7:00 PM
Handful of Luvin' doing a busking set outside the field. (Hungry, Will Sing For Food Benefit)
http://www.opsacklunch.org/

September 1, 2010
John's Alley (Moscow, Idaho)
9:00 PM
http://www.alleyvault.com/

September 2, 2010
Seaside (Spokane, WA)
6:00 PM
http://www.seasidevenue.com/

September 3, 2010
The Brick (Roslyn, WA)
9:00 PM
http://www.myspace.com/thebricksaloon

September 4, 2010
Twisp River Pub (Twisp, WA)
9:00 PM
http://www.methowbrewing.com/

As for the Vashon Festival on September 10, unfortunately the show had to be cancelled. We apologize to everyone that was looking forward to that show - we will try and get something else scheduled in the future.

Handful of Luvin's latest album, "Life in Between" is getting some great reviews from a wide range of sources right now! Check out some of the reviews below:

"From start to finish Handful of Luvin’ is one impressive catalog of music. The music is highly original, uplifting, & extremely entertaining. Note for note, song for song there isn’t a weak piece on this entire catalog. The writing & playing abilities of this 4 piece are rock solid. The lyrics are catchy lyrics, & the melodies are well crafted & hooky. Last but not least the vocal presence from frontman David John is world-class. All in all - “Life In Between” is one of the best CD’s that’s come across my desk this year. If you like Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews Band with a splash Celtic flair then you should definitely jump into “Life In Between” head first!" - Cyrus Rhodes (Muse's Muse)

Full article and album review at: http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-handfulofluvin-life.html

"JULY 9, 2010 - With the music industry squarely focused on pulsating electronic pop sounds, one would begin to wonder whatever happened to that 90's college radio aesthetic which rewarded musicianship and content above celebrity. The Seattle-based Jam-Americana band HANDFUL OF LUVIN have both musicianship and content to spare on their latest offering LIFE IN BETWEEN, an engaging concept album (a first for the band according to violinist ANDREW JOSLYN) detailing the rocky, winding road of life. Despite the heaviness of this oh-so ambitious approach, the music is never weighed down by good intentions . In fact, HANDFUL OF LUVIN are an adept band of troubadours who aren't about to let their rich, earthy sound grow stale or have it fall upon deaf ears given their ability to change rhythms at a moments notice. The results here are amazing, memorable and - above all else - catchy." - Brian Lush (Rockwired.com and Rockwired Magazine)

http://www.rockwired.com/rockwiredprofiles4.html

"Have you ever wondered what it might sound like if you tried to break up a scuffle between Gaelic Storm, Bill Withers, and Dave Matthews Band? Oddly enough, I have. And it sounds like Handful of Luvin’, one of the best bands (with one of the worst names) you have probably never heard of. Life in Between is one of the most eclectic sounding records I have heard in a good long time without the whole mess “trying to hard” creates. These songs sound really natural, as if the band just sweat them out during a hot New York summer.

The album opens with the stellar track “Born Lucky” and it’s a hard song to top but they certainly follow the “Put Your Best Foot Forward” rule. When those soulful vocals hits they meld with music just right and take you somewhere else. As a matter of fact, the whole record is like that. The band expertly transports you to another place, offering a journey not quite like anything else out there today. The gentle, yet edgy songs, “Washington” and “Lazy Men” are absolutely mesmerizing and so soulful you’ll geek out trying to imitate it with your acoustic guitar. If there were an Acoustic Guitar Hero game, these songs would be among the most popular. Other highlights include the boppy “Glass Ceiling,” the experimental, sample-heavy, and slightly creepy “The Pilgrimage (Into Chaos),” and the other bookend “Fingers,” which has a slightly Bluegrass bent that I really love.

Overall, I wouldn’t have given this band a chance at all if it hadn’t come from a publicist I trusted to offer quality music. The cover art is bland, the name is ridiculous, and there is nothing eye-popping about the packaging, but once you listen you are immediately hooked on Handful of Luvin’. They truly have the potential to be one of this generations greats… you even get kind of used to the name after awhile. Don’t miss out on Life in Between, you’ll be glad you sought it out."- Mark Fisher (Colossal Pop)

Review at http://www.colpop.net/handfulofluvin.html

Also - it is that time of year again - KING 5's EVENING MAGAZINE BEST OF WESTERN WASHINGTON CONTEST! Handful of Luvin' is currently number 8 even with the polls just opening up - so let us try and get to number 1 this year!

You can go, register, and vote at: http://best.king5.com/handful-of-luvin/biz/134814

Much Luv!

Handful of Luvin'

Great Review about Handful of Luvin's "Life in Between" at the Ripple Effect

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:11:36 GMT

Full Review at: http://ripplemusic.blogspot.com/2010/08/handful-of-luvin-life-in-between.html

Seattle. According to Bobby Sherman “the bluest skies you’ve ever see are in Seattle.” It is the city from which sprang late-1980’s grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Okay, they were great bands, but, what has Seattle done for us lately? Can’t really say grunge has survived or evolved since the late 1990’s. So what is the new Seattle sound

Handful Of Luvin. Founded in 2002 and in Seattle since 2005, Handful Of Luvin has crafted a unique sound. Part folk, part Celtic, part classical, all alternative rock - the band mixes the guitar and vocals of singer David John Wellnitz; the violin, viola and keyboards of Andrew Joslyn; the bass, banjo and background vocals of Patrick Files; and the drums and percussion of Michael Knight.

Who do they sound like? Their publicity package places their sound with groups like the Dave Matthews Band, Phish and Wilco. It also categorizes the music as “Roots Rocks [sic], Folk, Celtic, Jam, Americana.” You can hear some elements of these bands and genres on this, their third album, “Life In Between,” but, Handful Of Luvin’s sound is unique to Handful Of Luvin. It has the lilt of Celtic music, but it is American. It is cerebral. It is different.

Even their album is unusual in today’s “one hit song download at a time” culture. There are few “concept albums” being produced today. The sum as greater than its constituent parts album is slowly becoming a lost art. There are almost no more “Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “The Wall” or “Days Of Future Passed” -type albums being made. The focus today is on the song as the ultimate expression of music - not the album. Album sales have steadilly dwindled along with sales of all types of CDs. The internet has made the single song download for $.99 the new standard. Many artists don’t even attempt to produce an album. Instead EP’s have become all the rage. Handful Of Luvin bucks the trend, “Life In Between” is a modern take on the concept album.

The opening track, “Born Lucky,” is a catchy, plucky, string-based alternative rocker that asks that how long one should should keep pursuing their passion when it has yet to bring the results one seeks. Then comes an upbeat bluegrass/folk/rock tune, “Breadcrumbs,” about fading relationships and the need for the help of a friend to achieve one’s goals. The album moves on to“Kickdrum” a rather odd shuffle. The violin is made to sound like an Native American reed flute. The lyrics are an homage to the power of rhythm and music.

A folk-picked guitar ballad, “Washington,” speaks from the point of view of a prisoner who can’t concentrate, is easily distracted, and can’t find any sense in his predicament. Then, Handful Of Luvin’ releases an angry epistle about the state of the American political psyche, “This Man.” Here’s just the first verse:

Built on a dead economy
Security found on our own bribery
Don’t get me wrong this is our accident
We side with the familiar – not the popular president

This man, with his foot in the sand
Puts a gun in my hand
Take the slip from the mail
It’s a media power facist nail

Middle America, so flat and so free
Tell me what does our, does our president mean
Is this our mothers and our fathers dream
That their freedom, has turned the color green?

I said, take your hammer construct a world
This is your people and children
This Man is our own disappointment.

Whatever happened to the protest song? It used to be found in music like Country Joe MacDonald’s “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag” and The Animals’ “Sky Pilot”. Here it is with an intellectual bent. Following this political protest song Handful Of Luvin presents an audio clip of a lecture by the late British Philosopher Alan Watts. Watts discusses the philosophy of living which the band backs with an instrumental piece called “The Pilgrimage (Into Chaos).” Watts explains in his lecture that our system of schooling robs us of everything in life by expectation of a reward at the end that never comes. Watts’ presentation runs into a bluegrass blues “There’s No Right There’s No Wrong” that serves almost as a counterpoint to Watts’ lecture.

David John Wellnitz wrote and performs the next track, “Lazy Men,” as a solo. The song is reminiscent of the folk work of artists such as Tom Paxton and Tim Hardin. The lyrics muse about our inaction over what others decide is in our best interests. The song “Treaty,” a bluegrass rocker, is next. It questions whether a partner in a relationship has changed to fulfill their own agenda while the questioner insists he has remained the same. After “Treaty” is “Glass Ceiling” a song in which a father tells his son to not try, yet, remain humble because the “glass ceiling” will keep him from knowing the honest true. The son is told to ‘disrupt the norm but realize money rules.”

When Wellnitz sings “Bomb, Bomb” it is a clear song of protest over the way government treats complicated problems. Like Rodney King asking “Why can’t we all just get along?”, Wellnitz calls upon us to love everyone and everything as he fronts a slowly building crescendo of drums and violin. The traditional Irish melody “Harry Met Rona” follows in order to display the band’s instrumental virtuosity. The album ends with “Fingers,” a instrumental built around another Alan Watts lecture. This lecture is about prediction and its effect on people - of ultimately knowing everything will eventually fall apart and that having such knowledge is a basis for anxiety in the here and now.

Handful Of Luvin’s sound contains at least one element from the 1980’s Seattle grunge scene - angst-filled lyrics addressing social alienation, apathy, confinement, and a desire for freedom. Mix it with guitar, bass, drums, violin and viola and you have a truly different American sound,

“Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild
Full of hopes and full of fears
Full of laughter, full of tears
Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle
In Seattle.”

- Old School

(Ripple Effect - August 17, 2010)

Handful of Luvin' "Life in Between" Music Review

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:56:29 GMT

Handful of Luvin' just got a write up on Muzik Reviews by Keith Hannaleck. Check it out below!

http://www.muzikreviews.com/reviews.php?ID=1172

Cheers,

Handful of Luvin'

Handful of Luvin Website has been chosen for 'Bandzoogle Website of the Day'!

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:50:14 GMT

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to share that we were voted Website of the Day by our gratious web hosters, Bandzoogle! Take a look at the nice message they left us:

Hi there,

Just wanted to let you know that you were chosen 'Bandzoogle Website of the Day'!! We have posted this on Twitter and Facebook. If you have a Facebook account, you can add us at http://www.facebook.com/bandzoogle

If you have a Twitter account you can follow us at: http://twitter.com/bandzoogle
Feel free to share this with your fans/friends. You may also want to re-tweet our post promoting you and your site. Have a great day!

Thanks,
Allison
~ Bandzoogle

Free MP3 Download from "Life In Between"

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:55:00 GMT

Want a FREE Mp3 from Handful of Luvin'?

Visit our Facebook Fanpage: Handful of Luvin'
Click the banner and follow the instructions!
Simple. Easy. Free.

Then hit the share button and grab the code to share with friends or post on your own page or blog.
Everyone's support and help on getting the word out about our music is appreciated!

Handful~

June update: Dance party time!

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:10:28 GMT

Hello everybody,

I would like to thank all the folks that came out to our shows in NorCal. . .Humboldt hospitality was wonderful! There ain't no place like the fresh coast. . .

Tonight, Handful lays down the tunes @ Showbox Market for a good cause. Hugs for Haley benefits Haley Sweetser, a nine year old with rheumatory arthritis and a growth hormone disorder which translates into huge medical bills. It's gonna be a great night for a great cause. Doors @ 7pm; all ages $15 >> Handful plays @ 11pm.

Upcoming shows in June:
June 11th- Jet Bar in Mill Creek with opener> $5 doors@ 9pm. . . Dance Party! Holla!
June 18th- Red Bicycle Bistro Vashon Island- $7, Doors @9
June 19th- Edmonds arts festival 7:30pm
http://www.edmondsartsfestival.com/
June 20th- Hawthorne Theater Portland, OR. $8/$10door Publish the Quest, Eclectic Approach, Project Lionheart- gona be sweet!
June 26th- Tractor Tavern in Ballard with our friends Publish the Quest-Doors@ 9pm, $10/$12door> Seattle roots unite!
June 27th- Taste of Tacoma, 2:00pm @ The Bowl Stage www.tasteoftacoma.com

Also, for you interweb folk, Handful will be appearing live via webcast on the Marty Riemer show, June 23rd @ 9:30 am for a live in studio performance and interview!! More info>> www.martyriemer.com

Thanks again to all you wonderful people for helping us grow :)

Much Luv
HOL~

Seattle Weekly's 'Music on the Ferry' Video

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:34:01 GMT

Check out the videos we did for Seattle's Music on the Ferry a couple week ago!

Take 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtgUTFIsWTo

Take 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWdySNMgVeg

Also, here's the performance we did with Grynch if you haven't seen this one yet: http://www.youtube.com/user/HandfulofLuvin1#p/f

See these videos and more live performances be sure to subscribe to the YouTube page.

Much Luv
Handful~

Handful is Anchoring to Hardrock Seattle!!

Sun, 09 May 2010 01:49:16 GMT

Hello and happy days of May,

Handful has been rather busy since we last checked in. . .we have recorded a 'music on the ferry' video with Seattle Weekly (due out soon as we can get our hands on it), we are starting a radio campaign to promote Life In Between to a national audience, and we are gearing up for the busiest summer yet!! All these accomplishments could not have been achieved without you the loyal fan!! thank you all so much!!

If ya'll are roun' Everett this Saturday the 8th, Handful will be rockin' at The Anchor pub www.myspace.com/theanchorpub Kris Orlowski will be opening, Doors @9pm

Handful is stoked to announce TWO SHOWS @ Hardrock Cafe Seattle May 15 and 16!! www.hardrock.com/seattle

Saturday the 15th- brand new lineup including opener Andrew Vait and local favorite Luc and The Lovingtons(www.myspace.com/lucandthelovingtons) A fresh sound with diverse musicians will make this a great night of music! Doors@ 9pm 21+ $10

Sunday the 16th- ALL AGES!! Handful's first all ages show since the new CD dropppped!! Come one, come all and bring the fam!! Instrumental all ages band MIZU will open the night. . Doors@ 6pm $5 cover- All ages!!

Hope to see ya soon

Much Luv
Handful~

Handful on the Radio!!!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:52:13 GMT

Hey everybody,

Handful will be playing on 102.5 KZOK tomorrow morning around 9:00AM. That's right, early morning; listen on your way to work or in between the snooze button bashing. We will be playing live on the air with Bob Rivers morning show. Handful will be playing a special acoustic version of one of our new songs off Life in Between. By the way, if you havent picked up your copy of Life in Between, it is now available at Sonic Boom records and Easy Street records!!

Thanks to everybody who came out to Tacoma last Saturday, it was our first time at Jazzbones and it was tons of fun, thanks ya'll!! If you missed it, here are some upcoming shows:

March 6th
Crocodile cafe - with Bernjamin Doerr and Cody Beebe. $10 9pm doors downtown Seattle 2nd and Blanchard - tickets @ https://secure.thestranger.com/seattle/Ticketing/Checkout?t=3343929

March 13th
Rock Bottom brewery - with Mobius Jones and the everlasting blues band!! downtown Bellevue, doors @ 9:00pm - more info @ http://www.rockbottom.com/bellevue

March 17th
St. Paddy's Day!! Handful will be playing at both Fado Irish Pub and the Nectar Lounge. Come have a Guiness and take the day off!!
Fado Irish Pub 2-5pm http://www.fadoirishpub.com/seattle/
Nectar Lounge with Project Lionheart!! 9pm www.nectarlounge.com

The summer is quickly approaching so keep your radiated computer eyes peeled for tour dates up and down the best coast. Thanks ya'll

Much Luv
HOL~

Twitter, Youtube, and Bumbershoot Insider Deal & Handful of Luvin' at the Tractor Tavern!

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:36:11 GMT

Hello Handful of Luvin' Email List!

Well we have a ton of information and news to bring you up to date on!!!!

First off, Handful of Luvin' has officially stepped into the trend of Twitter and has a full on account where we tweet on a regular basis!! Check out our page at, and please feel free to sign up for following our stories on the road, in the studio, and just goofing off!
http://twitter.com/HandfulofLuvin

Second on the agenda - Handful of Luvin's new band secretary Leah Carbonell has graciously set up a new youtube channel for us at: http://www.youtube.com/user/HandfulofLuvin1 -- it is awesome! These are all videos which Leah took at some various shows-- if you have any videos you have taken over the years please let us know! We would love to post them through the channel for everyone to take a look at! Also, if you didn't already know, Handful of Luvin' is also up and running on Facebook - care of Leah once again!

Third: If you didn't already know- Handful of Luvin' is playing at Bumbershoot this year, and because of this, we have plenty of promotionl offerings we can now offer to our fans!! check out the below discount tickets you can order now!

BUMBERSHOOT INSIDER DEAL PRESALE ON NOW... SAVE 50%!

Here’s the scoop: Bumbershoot single day-specific tickets (Saturday, Sunday or Monday) go on sale to the general public on July 21 for $35/day. After August 21, ticket prices increase to $50/day. Bumbershoot is always a great value, but you're an Insider and want special perks...

So, why don't you buy before everyone else, and pay a mere $25 per day? The Insider Deal is available now exclusively at bumbershoot.org/insider. Use your special promo code: "BUMBERBAND" and save 50%!

This is a limited offer that will expire without notice when these special tickets are kaput. Once the Insider Deal blows out, the $25 tickets will no longer be available anywhere, so don't say we didn't warn you! Please note: these tickets are day-specific. Be sure to check out the by-day lineup* before purchasing your tickets.

Bumbershoot runs Labor Day Weekend, Saturday 9/5 – Monday 9/7 at Seattle Center. For lineup details or more information about Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival, visit bumbershoot.org. *Complete lineup and schedule will be published mid-July.

Ok Ok... so we are almost through with this email!! This is by far one of the longest we have had in a while! But, like I said - we have a lot to share with you!

Coming up at the end of June, Handful of Luvin' is returning to the Tractor Tavern and performing with Yogoman Burning Band, and Seattle's Favorite Acoustic Rock Duo - Ari & Mesa! DO NOT MISS IT!!

For some color to this email - here is a promotional poster! (see below)

Last but not least - Handful of Luvin' is about 70% done with our new upcoming album... working title is "Everything and Everyone" and it has 14 tasty new tracks -- plenty of which NO ONE has ever heard before! We are excited, and I'm sure you all are as well!!

Until next time -

Much Luv,

Andrew
Handful of Luvin'

Nectar Lounge - May 30, 2009

Wed, 20 May 2009 03:37:20 GMT

Dear Handful of Luvin' email list!

So finally Summer is back upon us! If you have checked out our website, our Facebook account or our Myspace lately you will see our massive tour scheldule for this summer! (yes we are really becoming digitized lately.... be forewarned... we might even start Twittering soon!) Lots of great shows coming up - especially BUMBERSHOOT and playing at the GORGE in August for everyone in the Northwest.

Currently, Handful of Luvin' is in the studio for our new album! We have a couple of working title names for the album - such as Life in Between, Everything and Everyone, and some others! The album promises to be full of great tunes, and we are putting a lot of time and effort into this album--- we have even invited out a couple special guest appearances from local musicians like Samantha Boshnack (Publish the Quest), Oskar Kollen (Acorn Project), and Caleb Hegg (A Room Called Remember) to name a few.

We aren't sure when the album will drop ... but believe me!! you will know!

Coming up we have a great show lined up for the end of May after this Memorial Day weekend!

Saturday
May 30, 2009
Nectar Lounge
Handful of Luvin' with Big High
9 PM - $8.00 door

To even better announce the show here is a massive POSTER!!

Much Luv,

Handful of Luvin'

NEW YEAR's EVE AT THE TRACTOR

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:49:25 GMT

Dear One and All,

Just a Quick Note that the show at the Tractor Tavern tonight is sold out completely. I am not sure if tickets are still available at the Tractor Tavern Box office or Sonic Boom music stores - but online tickets are now closed. I even tried to buy one earlier and it locked me out!

Good luck to all, and we are definitely looking forward to the show tonight!

Much luv,

Andrew Joslyn
Handful of Luvin'

Terra Roots Foundation Support

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:47:33 GMT

Dear Handful of Luvin' Fans,

The show tomorrow at the Tractor Tavern is about to Sell OUT! If you want tickets please purchase tickets at the direct URL below:

http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=381474

Furthermore, for all of those who are coming please note that we are also going to have a bin for the TERRA ROOTS WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE. If you have any spare hand me down clothes, or white elephant clothes you want to get rid of, please bring them to the show, since Terra Roots has provided us a bin for donations.

Terra Roots Foundation recognizes the shared multicultural aspect of human expression and acknowledges that expression through art constitutes the uniqueness that defines humanity. Terra Roots looks to create and promote a contemporary artistic discourse as part and parcel of the greater modern sensibility. We identify this expression as a catalyst to present a unified voice, explore needs, foster communication, and cultivate solid communities.

We are proud to be able to assist Terra Roots with their efforts, and hope to see plenty of clothing donations tomorrow for the show!

Cheers, and Much Luv in the New Year,

Andrew Joslyn
Handful of Luvin'

NEW YEARS EVE ABOUT TO SELL OUT!

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:46:10 GMT

Hey Everybody,

Well I just got a text from Greg Garcia at the Tractor Tavern about the show tomorrow for New Years Eve, and it is about to sell out!!! in Presale alone! So if you are planning on coming out I would suggest buying tickets NOW! There is about 70 tickets left -- and after that all walk-up's will be turned away at the door.

Wed, Dec. 31
The Tractor & Smart Went Crazy present New Year's Eve with
HANDFUL OF LUVIN'
THE STAXX BROTHERS
9:30pm ~ $15
www.handfulofluvin.com
staxxbrothers.com
Tickets also available at Sonic Boom!*
BUY TICKETS HERE!

Hope to see all of you there! We are ready to rock out in the New Year!! 2009!!!

Cheers,

Andrew Joslyn
Handful of Luvin'