Cut Off Your Hands

Cut Off Your Hands
Cut Off Your Hands performing at Falls Festival, 2007
Background information
Also known as	Shaky Hands (until 2006)
Origin	Auckland, New Zealand
Genres	Indie rock, indie punk, post-punk
Years active	2006–present
Labels	French Kiss Speak N Spell Fifty One
Website	myspace.com/cutoffyourhands
Members	Nick Johnston Phil Hadfield Jonathan Lee Brent Harris
Past members	Michael Ramirez Elroy Finn

Cut Off Your Hands (COYH) is a post-punk band from New Zealand influenced by international groups such as The Smiths, Gang of Four, Orange Juice and Talking Heads, as well as NZ bands such as The Mint Chicks and This Night Creeps. Formed from the ashes of Auckland post-punk act Nova Echo, Cut Off Your Hands have since released a number of recordings on the labels Speak N Spell, Fifty One and French Kiss Records.

Cut Off Your Hands formed in Auckland in 2006 under the name Shaky Hands. Vocalist Nick Johnston, guitarist Michael Ramirez, bassist Phil Hadfield and drummer Brent Harris were previously in Auckland post-punk act Nova Echo along with Djeisan Suskov. When that band broke up, Johnston formed a new band called Shaky Hands and enlisted Hadfield, Harris and Ramirez. Owing to a Portland band of the same name they changed their name to Cut Off Your Hands (the original title of their debut EP). The name change saw them lose a pre-booked performance on a children's show in the process.

The band released a number of EPs and in 2008 released their debut album You & I which reached number 21 on the New Zealand music charts and received generally favourable reviews internationally.

In 2009, Michael Ramirez left the band, being replaced by Jonathan Lee. Drummer Brent Harris was forced to take leave from the band due to hearing loss, being replaced by Elroy Finn so that touring could continue in 2009. Harris subsequently rejoined the band at a later date.

In 2011, the band released their follow-up album Hollow. Reception was generally favourable, with critics praising their sound maturing while retaining the energy of their debut.