After featuring the Urbandub X Typecast 25th Anniversary World Tour in Dublin, Ireland - today let´s focus on Hands Like Houses, who have joined Urbandub and Typecast 3 months ago in Australia!
Back story
Hands Like Houses are an Australian rock band from Canberra. Formed in 2008, the group is currently independent. Their debut album, Ground Dweller produced by Cameron Mizell (Sleeping With Sirens, Memphis May Fire, etc), was released in 2012, charting at number 141 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. In the following year, they toured in the US with We Came as Romans and Attack Attack!, and some months later with Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens.
Their second album, Unimagine, was released in 2013 via Rise Records, during their route on Warped Tour, continued by an EU headline Tour.
In 2015, Hands Like Houses performed on Silverstein's Tour and also appeared at the UK's Download Festival. In addition, they have been the main support for Enter Shikari's Australian World Tour and later that year filled in with A Day to Remember, The Amity Affliction, and Motionless in White. The 3rd album Dissonants was then released in 2016 with James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Paramore, The Getaway Plan) as producer, followed by joining Northlane on their Tour in Australia in 2016 and 2017.
In 2018, the band released their fourth studio album, Anon via UNFD/ Hopeless Records. The album's second single, "Monster" was the official theme song for the WWE Super Show-Down in Melbourne.
In early 2024, Hands Like Houses announced the addition of Josh Raven, formerly of "the Faim" (Summer Is a Curse), as their new lead vocalist. The band continued to release new music and released the EP Tropo – Volume 1, exploring themes such as mental health struggles, societal disillusionment, and addiction. Later in the same year, they released the EP, continuing the themes of numbness and mental health.
Their fifth studio album, Atmospherics, was released on 14 February 2025. In the following months, the group has released there newest records Love & Affection, Wicked Game (Chris Isaac Cover), Lotus and Dead.
Their new EP Lótus was released on 22nd May 2026.
19.05.2026 - MTC Cologne
Hands Like Houses made a stop in the Cathedral City during their current tour, transforming the MTC club into an energy-charged experience that filled the air with post-hardcore, metalcore breakdowns, and emotional moments. For this evening´s show, Lifespark. was the opening act instead of Broadside.
As early as 7:00 PM - when doors opened, the first fans had already gathered outside the venue. Hands Like Houses and Lifespark. , manned their own merch tables, personally selling shirts and vinyls while taking the time to chat with fans.
Shortly before 8:00 PM, the MTC began to fill up rapidly. The evening started with Lifeispark from Koblenz- a band, that has already garnered a considerable following, particularly in the Aachen-Cologne region.
The group blended modern alternative rock elements with high-energy metalcore passages, getting the crowd moving right from the start. Between songs, the band shared personal remarks with the audience and spoke about their debut album. Their final song, featuring rave-like elements and ramped up the energy in the room ahead of the headliner.
After an 20 minutes change, Hands Like Houses began their set at 9:00 PM. From the very first minute, it was clear that the band will bring a lot of heat into the club air. Frontman Josh, made a point of constantly engaging directly with the audience: on several occasions, he ventured right into the crowd to chat with fans, ask how they were doing, and energized the atmosphere through gestures and interactions. Between songs, the band also shared some personal reflections.
They spoke about the importance of live concerts and shared experiences in today's world, viewing them as spaces where people can truly be themselves. "A place where you can be yourself" and "Keep on going" stood out as some of the most emotionally resonant statements of the evening. Throughout the performance, a sense of community and solidarity filled the emotions of the audience.
Musically, Hands Like Houses delivered an intense set up of classic songs and new tunes, combined with heavy breakdowns. Songs such as "Paradise," "Colourblind," and the emotional finale, "Heaven," sparked loud sing-along moments. Their cover of Chris Isaak’s "Wicked Game" was also well-received by the fans. Furthermore, with "Lótus"—set for release on May 22nd, the band offered a preview of their new material.
Hands Like Houses demonstrated exactly why they shine so brightly in a live setting: the band lived completely in the moment. At various points, a few German phrases were spoken, announcing their intention to learn even more German before their next visit to Cologne, a friendly gesture to the audience.
Even after the concert had ended, the evening was not yet over. Inside the venue, the musicians once again took the time to chat and pose for photos with their fans and welcomed everyone with warmth and friendliness.
The concert at the MTC was more than just a live show; it was an energy-charged evening with positive vibes, that allowed both fans and band to leave the everyday life behind for a few hours, creating a shared memory that is for sure a long time in our minds!
Some personal words
Thank you to Hands Like Houses for letting me be part of this event and welcoming me so friendly - how this connection started was truly a culture and continent exchange. I hope that you as a reader hopefully discovered some new tunes today and get a feeling of this great day, if you were not yet familiar with these bands! This evening was surely a memorable experience, and hopefully not the last!
As it was already mentioned, moments like these give us a place to just be ourselves, feeling connected to a community, and give us positive energy, new connections, and shared memories - the fuel to continue.
Setlist
Lótus
Love & Affection
Perspectives
ICU
Flowers
Hollow
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
Space
DEAD
Paradise
Colourblind
The Water
I Am
Heaven
© Hands Like Houses / © Discomfort Wings