News

Handshake Saints perform live on Good Day NWA

Good Day NWA

Promoting their upcoming show at the Metro Guitar Gallery with the Downtown Livewires, the Handshake Saints perform one of their original songs, You Gotta Roll

The Handshake Saints – “Three Songs & The Truth”

ReadJunk.com / Album Reviews

This band from northwest Arkansas knows from where they come, as is reflected in their boppin’ new EP, whose name is a take on the quote by Harlan Howard that country music is “three chords and the truth.”

#WebExtra Handshake Saints Bring Their Own Brand of Classic Rock

Good Day NWA

The Handshake Saints have been described as indie, rock-n-roll, roots, R & B, alternative, soul and a whole lot of fun!

Watch as the band performs an original song titled “You Just Wanna to Be Free.”

The Handshake Saints Roll into the Weekend with Some Rock

Good Day NWA

The Handshake Saints have been described as indie, rock-n-roll, roots, R & B, alternative, soul and a whole lot of fun!

Watch as the band performs an original song titled “Hard to be a Saint,” and find out where you can see them perform live at an upcoming gig.

Later with Jason Suel KNWA/Fox 24

Season 9 | Episode 5

Latest episode of Later with Jason Suel featuring Brandy Goddard - Health Lifestyle Coach + Jessica Keahey + music performance by the Handshake Saints.

LIVE PERFORMANCE TRACK: Whole Lotta Shakin Going On  

A new live performance by the Handshake Saints of Whole Lotta Shakin Going On is now available on all streaming platforms. This live cut by the band, which took place as an electric encore for a 2020 rooftop show, pays tribute to the original rock-n-roll piano man, Jerry Lee Lewis.   

The live performance was recorded by Blue Audio Visual. The final live track was mixed by producer Aidan Parks.  

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE HERE

 

REVIEW: Hard to Be a Saint (single), by The Ark of Music  

The Handshake Saints – a rock band out of Northwest Arkansas – have aptly defined their style as a “decidedly modern twist on a vintage sound“. This concise descriptor couldn’t be more accurate, as the group’s bright take on a familiar classic rock tone is all over their debut single, Hard to Be a Saint. 

The group formed in 2019, and consists of Aaron Mullins (piano), Roger Norman (drums), Phil Cristofaro (bass), and Josh Masten(guitar). Their influences are broad, ranging from Otis Redding to The Beatles to Tom Petty, but the resulting sound from this group is uniquely their own. Hard to Be a Saint is most prominently defined by a funky, bouncing bass rhythm, a distinctly 70’s guitar tone, the light but ever-driving percussion, and an impressive vocal performance that has a distinctly retro cadence. The track most certainly leans into the “vintage sound” that the band embraces, but the well-balanced production does bring a modern element into the song.  

READ FULL REVIEW HERE