At first, it's easy to mistake Handful of Luvin’ for just another set of passé ex-college jam band rockers in the Dave Matthews Band tradition, but a second look reveals a quirkier and more rewarding aesthetic. A rock quartet featuring a rocking classically trained violinist, Handful refers to their music as "fiddle-driven roots rock." The band’s cheerful blend of folk-rock, reggae and world rhythms, plus secondhand baroque, Celtic influences, and catchy pop hooks strongly recalls the vintage sound of Actual Tigers, the madness of Flogging Molly, and the moodier, more experimental side of Wilco.

Handful of Luvin' originally began in the spring of 2002 when frontman David John, and fiddle player, Andrew Joslyn, met at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. At the time David John was promoting his own second self-produced solo album Blue Room, and had a considerable fan following in Seattle and Bellingham. Andrew on the other hand was a classically trained musician who had decided to pursue freer styles of fiddle playing such as Scots Irish, Blues, Gypsy, and also rock fiddle. When the two met and began playing together, it quickly became apparent that Joslyn's fiddle perfectly complimented John's unique guitar work and soulful vocals. In the fall of 2003, the duo began performing to local audiences and immediately realized the potential of their sound, and quickly set about forming a band.

Moving to Seattle in 2005, David John and Joslyn fleshed out Handful with bass guitarist Patrick Files, and drummer Michael Knight. Files’ background with funk, rock, and thrash metal brought a whole new dimension of musical variety into the band, whereas Knight provided his own extensive expertise and uncanny attention to detail which he developed with his previous outfit, indie/jam-rockers, Carraway.

Working with Carol Tingstad (Tingstad & Rumbel, David Lanz, Gypsy Soul), Handful of Luvin’ quickly developed a rabid local following and the opportunity to share the stage with a number of iconic groups such as Phish, The Proclaimers, Carbon Leaf, Young Dubliners, Brett Dennen, and more. The band’s stirring live performances and recent full-length release, Life In Between, have earned the band critical praise from both fan and press alike, including a spot on King 5 Evening Magazine’s recent “Top 5 Best Local Bands in Western Washington” list and endearing reviews in places like Seattle Weekly, Tacoma’s Weekly Volcano, and many more.
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