Music
Press
“Two Handed Engine is a bridging band, of sorts. There are strong stylistic touchstones to the Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage and early REM from decades ago, and more recent Jacob Dylan and Wilco.” (Roger Kuhns)
“‘Steal Away’ is a full band production from the start, and I have to say I love the concise bass line – clipped and staccato to sliding on the refrain, fits in really nice with the sing-song nature of the tune. . . The band sounds tight, and this is a good song.” (Roger Kuhns) - Music to Ears
Discography
"Good Misdeeds" EP
Photos
Bio
Two Handed Engine started in early 2007 when guitarist Tim Moran and bassist Joe Goodwill met and started jamming together in Philadelphia. Moran brought his experience playing in Asheville, NC’s roots-punk band No Radio, and Goodwill brought a history of playing in western NY bar rock band Hector Manfield and the Proles. Each member contributed original songs to form a musical repertoire decedent of bands like Crazy Horse, Dylan, The Replacements, Built to Spill, and Wilco. Tom Mlcoch (former drummer for the Philly local favorite, The Sheep) joined the band in the spring of 07,’ and filled out their sound by adding the thunderous skills of his drum work. The boys cut their teeth on folk and blues numbers as well as originals, playing weekly at a condemned dog food warehouse/practice space in the gritty Kensington neighborhood of north Philly.
Gigs started rolling in, and Two Handed Engine quickly earned fans with their energetic rock performances at fine Philly venues like The Kieber, The Tin Angel, and The World Cafe Live. The power trio considered adding more instruments, but finally decided to keep the raw, sparse, and versatile sound of a three piece. Through practice and playing live, they honed in on a sound and created their own brand of big-hook bar rock and Nuggets-era garage mixed with shifty Americana.
In early 2008, Two Handed Engine decided it was time to make an album, and put their DIY aesthetic to record. With the help of Tim Moran’s long time friend, sound engineer, and fellow Athens, Ohioan Bob Astrum, the boys started tracking in Moran’s basement. Using Astrum’s Pro Tools and patchwork of recording equipment, they laid down various sessions of drums and bass and then filled in guitar and vocals in the months in between these meetings. After Astrum’s extensive mixing, a completed song deleted and redone from scratch, and enough Yuengling Lager to souse the entire eastern seaboard, the band finally finish their first EP, "Good Misdeeds."
In the short time since the release of their EP, the band has been featured on City Paper's Local Support Podcast, been selected as a forthcoming "Artist to Watch" on Skopmag.com, and opened for Domino recoding artist Benjee Ferree at the M-Room. Download all the songs from the EP here, and/or visit our webpage: www.twohandedengine.com
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