Icecream Hands

Icecream Hands (also seen as Ice Cream Hands) were a power pop[1] band formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 1992 as Chuck Skatt and His Icecream Hands with Charles "Chuck Skatt" Jenkins as lead singer-songwriter and rhythm guitarist, Arturo "Arch" Larizza on bass guitar, his brother Dom "Benedictine III" Larizza on lead guitar and Derek Smiley on drums.[2][3] They shortened the name and released a self-titled extended play on Rubber Records in 1992. After a year Douglas Lee Robertson had replaced Arch on bass guitar.[4]

Icecream Hands
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genrespower pop
Years active1992–2004, 2007–2008, 2011, 2019
LabelsRubber, Shock, BMG, Not Lame, Dust Devil
Associated actsThe Mad Turks From Istanbul, Root!
Websiteicecreamhands.com.au
Members
Past members
  • Arch Larizza
  • Dom Larizza

In 1997 Marcus Goodwin replaced Dom on lead guitar and their second album, Memory Lane Traffic Jam was released in the United States (US) on Not Lame Recordings; it was acclaimed by AllMusic reviewer, Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "immediately catchy, but [the songs] grow stronger upon each listen – a hallmark of a truly fine pop album."[5] They were twice nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Award, for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' in 2000 for their third album, Sweeter Than the Radio and 'Best Independent Release' in 2002 for "Rain, Hail, Shine" from their next album, Broken UFO.[6] While on hiatus, Jenkins pursued his solo career before briefly reuniting the band which released another album, The Good China, in 2007. Jenkins then issued his third solo album in 2008, while other band members became involved in separate projects.[7]

History

Charles Jenkins had been a solo artist in Adelaide where, as Chuck Skatt, he formed The Mad Turks from Istanbul as their vocalist in 1984 with Dominic Larizza (as Dom Benedictine III) on drums and later on guitar, Martyn Christopher on bass guitar and Matthias Eckhardt on guitar. The band relocated to Melbourne by 1989, renamed as The Mad Turks after Eckhardt left, Jenkins took up rhythm guitar, and they disbanded there in 1991. Jenkins and Larizza recruited his brother Arturo "Arch" Larizza (ex-The Saints) on bass guitar and Derek Smiley on drums to form Chuck Skatt and His Icecream Hands in 1992.[4][8] The name was shortened to Icecream Hands which Jenkins took from the lyrics of a 1984 Robyn Hitchcock song "Flavour of Night" (from I Often Dream of Trains) and is an English term for masturbation.[9] Their debut release, Ice Cream Hands was a six-track Extended play (EP) on independent label Rubber Records and distributed by Shock Records.[2][4]

In 1993 they released a full-length album, Travelling... Made Easy, and Douglas Robertson replaced Arch Larizza on bass guitar—Arch re-united with Chris Bailey (ex-The Saints) in Bailey's backing band. Travelling... Made Easy was released in Europe in 1995 on Blue Rose Records with four additional tracks and was described as "quite an accomplished and ambitious effort".[10] In Australia they released their second EP, Supermarket Scene in 1994 followed by two more EPs Olive (November 1995) and Here We Go 'Round Now (July 1997).[2][4] On 11 June 1997 the band performed on the RMITV show Under Melbourne Tonight.[11]

Marcus Goodwin (ex-Yolk) had replaced Dom Larizza on lead guitar by August 1997 and they released their second full-length album, Memory Lane Traffic Jam. By then Rubber Records was being distributed by BMG and the album was released in the United States on Not Lame Recordings.[2][4] Three bonus tracks were added to the US release, which was acclaimed by AllMusic reviewer, Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "immediately catchy, but [the songs] grow stronger upon each listen -- a hallmark of a truly fine pop album".[5]

Sweeter Than the Radio, co-produced by Icecream Hands and Wayne Connolly,[4] was released in 1999. One of the singles, "Nipple" was written by Jenkins about an early girlfriend who attracted his attention at a bus stop.[9] With a lack of commercial success they nevertheless achieved critical acclaim when the album was nominated for an ARIA Music Award, for 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' in 2000.[6] Their next album, Broken UFO, produced by Shane O'Mara and East Van Parks,[4] contained the track, "Rain, Hail, Shine" which was nominated as 'Best Independent Release' at the ARIA Music Awards of 2002.[6]

Rubber Records released a 2× CD greatest hits collection, You Can Ride My Bike: The Best of the Icecream Hands in 2004.[12][13] While on hiatus, Jenkins pursued his solo career to release two albums, Bungalow (2004) and The City Gates (2005) on Parole Records. Icecream Hands briefly reunited for The Good China, issued in 2007 on the independent label Dust Devil Music. Jenkins returned to his solo work and released Blue Atlas on Dust Devil Music in 2008.[7][14] Robertson (as "Doug Root") joined Melbourne-based alternative rock group Root! in 2008, he had guested on their debut album, Root! (2007).[15] They released a second album, Get Up Yourself in 2009.[16] Smiley also briefly joined ROOT as Smiley Root and recorded Surface Paradise with them before moving to his next project Buff Uncle. As from January 2010, Goodwin and Smiley perform as a duo, Buff Uncle.[17]

In early 2019, the band reformed for a tour commemorating the 20th anniversary of the release of "Sweeter Than The Radio" and are currently working on material for a new album.

Members
  • Charles Jenkins – vocals, guitar
  • Derek Smiley – drums, vocals
  • Douglas Robertson – bass guitar, vocals
  • Marcus Goodwin – guitar, vocals

Discography

Albums

Extended plays
  • Ice Cream Hands (1992) – Rubber Records, [Id/Phonogram[18]]
  • Supermarket Scene (1994) – Rubber
  • Olive (November 1995) – Rubber
  • Here We Go 'Round Now (July 1997) – Rubber

Singles
  • "Dodgy" (1998) – Rubber Records, BMG, Not Lame Recordings
  • "Nipple" (1999) – Rubber, BMG
  • "Spirit Level Windowsill" (1999) – Rubber, BMG
  • "Yellow and Blue" (1999) – Rubber, BMG
  • "Obvious Boy" (2000) – Rubber, BMG
  • "Rain, Hail, Shine" (2001) – Rubber, BMG
  • "Why'd You Have to Leave Me this Way?"
  • "When the Show Is Over" (2003) – Rubber
  • "Come Along" (2007) – Dust Devil Music
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References
  1. "EXCLUSIVE: Watch Icecream Hands' 20th Anniversary Documentary". themusic.
  2. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Mad Turks from Istanbul'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 23 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2010. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
  3. Ankeny, Andrew. "Ice Cream Hands > Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  4. Holmgren, Magnus. "Icecream Hands". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Memory Lane Traffic Jam > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  6. "ARIA Awards 2009: History: Winners by Artist: Icecream Hands". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  7. Mengel, Noel (29 October 2008). "Charles Jenkins delves into movies to sing the blues". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  8. Casmere, Paul (4 January 2011). "Icecream Hands to Reform for One-Off Gig". Undercover.fm News. Paul Cashmere, Roz O'Gorman. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  9. Jenkins, Jeff; Meldrum, Ian (2007). Molly Meldrum presents 50 years of rock in Australia. Melbourne, Vic: Wilkinson Publishing. pp. 81, 295. ISBN 978-1-921332-11-1.
  10. Damas, Jason. "Travelling... Made Easy > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Ziffer Daniel (7 December 2004). "Icecream Hands". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  13. Zuel, Bernard (5 June 2007). "The Good China, Icecream Hands". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  14. Murphett, Andrew (5 July 2007). "Icecream Hands". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  15. "Root! (album launch) - Esplanade Hotel, The". TheDwarf.com.au. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  16. James, Matt (18 November 2009). "Root! Get Up Yourself (Album)". TheDwarf.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  17. "The Wellingtons at Newtown Workers Club, January 28th, 2010". Photos. photographs by Santana. FasterLouder.com.au. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.CS1 maint: others (link) Note: User needs to click on tab '+More' near top right of photo display to access text.
  18. Rubber Records Catalogue
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