GLASS HANDS "DETOX" EP & SHOW REVIEW

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On June 3rd, 2022, Glass Hands put out their very much anticipated EP and last final project with frontman Adam Anderson titled, “Detox”. On June 25th, 2022 they played their release show and what would be Adams' final show with the band, at the home for local bands alike in Indianapolis, the Hoosier Dome. As a music listener, I have been extremely vocal about what this band has done for me and how their music has spoken to me these past several years. This EP is oddly enough the beginning and end of two different chapters for the band and the members in it. Jack Rainbolt (guitar), Jon Iosue (guitar), Spencer Tillman (bass), Nathan Pearson (drums), and Adam Anderson (former frontman), have always made it easy to be entirely captivated during a live set. Though Nathan joined on drums only four years ago, this collective group has been making music and/or playing music together for the last twelve years. In everything this band has done, every member has made a mark and a legacy. Through their music, through their genuineness, and through putting on some of the craziest, most heart-felt, emotional live performances I have ever been able to watch and capture. 

Though the band will be moving forward without Adam, even after hopes from what seems like everyone that the tables will turn at the last minute for this one, Adam has been very vocal about his love for the remaining members but insists it is his time to move on. It is clear no matter what the future holds for this band, they will all be supporting each other just as they have been, for all of these years. The love these members prove to have time and time again is clear and will never disappear. 

Sitting and figuring out what I could say about this band that I haven't before, I have come to the realization that I will never be able to put into words what it has meant watching this specific lineup, live. There is nothing I could write or words that could ever leave my mouth, to let anyone know what it is like to stand at the front of the stage and watch this band perform. Standing there screaming words right back to them, watching every single member be in their element and give to us everything they have in those moments. It is something that goes without saying in the Indy scene right now, there are very big shoes to fill in Glass Hands moving forward but I do not believe this is anything to be sad about. As a fan and someone who has adored this band and music for years now, I was sad to think of the band without a key component until I watched them at this release show. Adam does not make Glass Hands. Glass Hands does not define him as a human. There is legacy and talent that will always remain with the songs that he was a part of but this band, this damn band in every aspect has all the potential they need to grow and go even further. I believe that so deep in my heart. It shows tremendously on stage and on this latest EP. 

Glass Hands from an outsider looking in, is just getting started. 

Since this is the last collection of songs the current lineup of the band will put out and there are only five songs, I wanted to really dive (no pun intended) deep into what I learned from it. I wanted to find out what it really means to hear these songs and stories and accept what they were telling me personally. Music is so subjective. The following outline of “Detox” the latest EP by Glass Hands, is all from my own perspective and interpretation. By no means is any of this based on factual information, only what I personally have taken from each song. 

“Detox”

1. Manic State; Noticing that you are unable to be truly honest about yourself, what you want, and who you might truly be. A feeling so out of body thinking about your life, who you are, and what your mind really thinks about you. Feeling overwhelmed with two very different versions of yourself. Blaming yourself for the constant fear of turning out to be exactly who your mind tells you, you are. It's the breaking point of pretending to be anything or anyone else, just written in the form of a song.  
2. How Do You Feel?; Loving someone you never intended on feeling anything for. Someone, you were never truly meant to align with. But somehow, you can not stop thinking about them. The thought of remembering daily how they make you feel even when you never want to admit it. “How could you steal my heart, and never even say hi?”,  is knowing they never knew how you would feel and believing they never really cared to know.
3. River of Agony; A perfect representation of finding out everything and everyone you ever believed in, only wanted to see you fail. They never wanted to love you, to accept you but only to take you apart piece by piece and change you and prove to you that you were always the problem. It really is a suicide note to faith and the people who you once had faith. “There is no mercy, there is no pain, when there is no light left, release me.” somehow this song still spirals in the hope that when we all are gone, there is peace somewhere. Peace from every need to be anyone else for anyone else. An acceptance of the state of oblivion but knowing there is a choice to grow beyond it. 
4. Falling Out; Emotions from being at such a dead end with yourself or even someone you believed you never wanted to live without. You gave it everything you had. You would rather jump from the highest point of view than ever have to look fate in the face and accept what you already know. Being at such a desperate place with yourself or some else to just feel what you used to. “It's not a conversation you're running and I’m chasing, Fuck it all, I’m jumping off this bridge, In a minute and I won’t look back, So what were you thinking? Now my heart is racing, And I can’t shut it, I can’t shut it off”. The ending of this one has made it my favorite from the entire EP. I can close my eyes and actually picture what it would be like to free-fall away from all of my own feelings and issues. It makes the song come to life like nothing else I have heard before. 
5. Honey; An open apology. An open, honest letter about what can actually happen when you are trying to break away from any kind of substance. Even if that is someone else. Noticing all you have done to contribute to everything you feel. The process of accepting what role you played in your own addictions. It is the step about making amends even with yourself. Knowing deep down, that you will never deserve something that you can't even give to yourself. 

Detox is a collection of songs for just that. Detoxing from people, places, and substances. It is finding comfort in trying to change for the better. It is finding hope and accepting what you feel about what you have done. Who you are. Who you have loved. It is a gasp for air when you have been sinking for so long. This is collectively one of the most captivating records I have listened to in the last few years. It is angry, it is groovy, it is a whole other world. Glass Hands never, ever disappoints. They always seem to bring light to the most vulnerable feelings we can have as humans. They are never short of bringing hope to the surface when dealing with your past and your vices. With or without Adam, moving forward all I hope for this band is to continue making us feel something. Making people like me feel heard. Making music listeners like me feel like there is a safe place to go when my mind gets carried away. 

I expect nothing less from this band and I look forward to all that is to come for them.

“Detox” was written by Glass Hands themselves and produced by Andrew Wade. 
Stream “Detox” on Spotify NOW! - https://open.spotify.com/album/5OU8YfZcklY4ZoL5WFwm3l?si=TiamCZvVR6iJhzI-gRaxDA
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Photo & Review written by: Cass Martin