The Idle Hands

The siblings Ciaran and Criostoir, who trace their origins to Ireland before growing up in the American Midwest, relocated to Minneapolis—a locale they characterize as “Dr. Zhivago with bands”—in order to craft glam- and Brit-pop-tinged indie rock that satirizes Williamsburg hipster excess while also tracing the sorrow of heartbreak. Drawing from Pulp and the Dandy Warhols, the Idle Hands fuse Brit-pop’s elegant ennui with the emotional ache of Midwestern heartland rock. Their first release arrived in 2006 as the EP Loaded, issued by LaVolta Records. Following modest U.K. indie-chart traction, the group followed the example of their inspirations by entering the studio alongside Tony Lash, producer for the Dandy Warhols. The resulting full-length debut, The Hearts We Broke On the Way to the Show, appeared in 2009 on Pretty Kids Collective and incorporated both selections from Loaded and additional new songs.