Burden|Hand

"Some bands aspire to have an 'independent' sound, but Burden|Hand has reached acclaim by our own blood and sweat, which keeps us separate from alot of so-called 'Indie' bands who are as 'dependent' as my ex-girlfriend...” is the explanation drummer Lucas Ives [previously with 9 Red Sun] gives about the path that led to meeting bassist Felix Pastorius [Way of the Groove, Jeff Coffin Mu'tet], guitarist Joe Michiels [West Grand], and singer/songwriter Bryan Johnson [who has established a reputation in the bay area as a solo performer] as an offshoot of a jazz quartet that met weekly in friend’s garages. Yearning to take their intricate riffs into the rock realm, a new sound arose that is dense, hip, and just plain fun. Ives continues "...and I tell the same thing to my ex as I do critics: 'Stop calling me, I'm over you."

In just a few months, Burden|Hand’s reputation has already gotten the attention of the Bay Area music scene. A grassroots video for the song “Anthem” is currently getting played on television (SF Sound) and thousands of online viewers. But for anyone who’s seen the band, it’s obvious that their chops and improvisational flair is best seen live, so ComcastSF asked the band back for a 2nd time to tape a live set in their television studio, which has been broadcast all year long. SF Weekly and Pabst Blue Ribbon have also highlighted Burden|Hand in their Local Music Spotlight. Fans trading show bootlegs, internet radio podcasts, and West Coast performances at respected venues like San Francisco’s Last Day Saloon, Tongue & Groove, and Berkeley’s Blakes on Telegraph has spread the sound that’s behind the buzz.

Burden|Hand may be young, but its members are quickly becoming namedropped all over the San Francisco music scene. Bassist Felix Pastorius follows his father's (Jaco Pastorious) roots in bass mastery and recently has appeared in Europe and North America with Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck & Flecktones) and with his brother Julius in Way of the Groove. Joe Michiels has benefitted from mentor Will Bernard (Frequinox, Robert Walters 20th Congress) and in his previous band West Grand rocked a sold-out 1000+ seat benefit opening for Tesla, Night Ranger, and Pat Travers. Singer Brian Johnson recently placed as a finalist in a San Francisco singer/songwriter competition with a soulful style that resembles a young Jack Johnson. Separately, the band’s talent as musicians speaks for itself, but together they explode in a fireball of energy, spontaneity, and dense layers of musical color.

This winter the band is celebrating the addition of Felix to the lineup with a Winter Tour across California. Fans and friends are enjoying their accomplishments with a DVD sampler containing studio and live cuts from it’s breakout appearances in 2005. Their upcoming winter tour is an exciting lap around Northern California with stops in Chico, Modesto, San Francisco, & Davis with more dates getting added daily!