Cut off Your Hands on Myspace
The band was originally called Shaky Hands, but was forced to change to avoid legal action from another band with the similar name The Shaky Hands, from Portland, Oregon. Cut Off Your Hands has since been interviewed about the name change on New Zealand's national television channel TV3.[3][4]
Cut Off Your Hands experienced success after the release of their EP Cut Off Your Hands, by Speak 'n' Spell Records in New Zealand and Australia, during July 2006.[1][2] They have since played the Auckland leg of popular international music festival Big Day Out in 2007 and 2008,[5] Australia's St Jerome's Laneway Festival and have also toured on their own and as support with a number of visiting internationals including Love is All, We Are Scientists, Ratatat, Bloc Party, the Wombats and locals the Datsuns and Shihad. Some of their more well known songs have had a lot of playing time on New Zealand music channel Juice TV, with the videos for "You and I" and "Expectations" receiving the most airtime.[citation needed]
In 2007 Cut Off Your Hands played a number of shows in Los Angeles, at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas and New York.[1][6] They also played a series of shows whilst in London, England as well as recording a BBC live session for Steve Lamacq.[7]
In April 2007 the band recorded a new EP, released in Australia and New Zealand in June of the same year. Titled Blue on Blue, the recording comprised four tracks and was produced in London by Bernard Butler of Suede fame. Butler has played and worked with artists such as The Libertines, Manic Street Preachers and The Verve.[citation needed] The band released their original Shaky Hands EP in October 2007 through LA indie label IAMSOUND Records. The band recently supported Foals and Friendly Fires on a UK and Germany tour.[citation needed] They spent early 2008 touring and recording their debut album. They've now finished recording the new album in London, which was released October 6th, 2008 They are touring Australia in February as part of the St Jerome's Laneway Festival
