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        The 4-Piece Acoustic and Soft-Rock group Off The Handle you now know is not the band it always was..

        Back in November of 2006 Brad Allen, Baux Tarr, Jarrad Clarke and Aaron Hunter began limping into the music scene, learning not just covers but also how to work as a musical team. A few weeks of deciding whether or not they were destined for greatness, they decided it was worth a shot and the name Carpe Diem was chosen (Here's a little bit of trivia -- 'Carpe Diem' is Latin for 'Live For The Moment'). About a month in with a few rehearsals under their belt, Aaron went his own way and Carpe Diem was left as a 3-piece. Carpe Diem went on practising covers until Christmas of 2006, when they began their first original creations, breaking out the acoustics and the gentle drums to create a mellow, almost ambient signature sound. By this time their band name had taken another 2 transformations, finally settling on Off The Handle.

        The 18-04-2007 marked their first live performance during Mildura Muso's Club at The Sett's, consisting of 3 songs which included an original. The crowd's ears picked up a new sound once they began their self-written material, and while word started to get around about Off The Handle, The Muso's Club asked them to come back as a guest band when they had a more substantial setlist of roughly 10 songs. Once things started happening, Off The Handle became eager for a deeper element to their outfit.. A bassist. Jason Carter was their first sub-octave recruit that unfortunately, due to work commitments, had to leave the band after about 2 months. He didn't make it to their first gig as a 4-piece.

        Back playing as a 3-piece, Off The Handle kept the Muso's habit up, also performing at some charity gigs, taking any chance to build their fanbase. The group decided they wanted to move on from the world of the cover bands and started working hard on their orignal pieces.

        One day in March Baux met Dan Probst over a few drinks at a local bar, and conversation quickly turned to music. Baux mentioned the band and Dan had seen them play before and enjoyed their originals. Dan told Baux about how he was a bassist searching for a band, and with barely another word spoken, they were at the Off The Handle rehearsal room, playing music and trying to establish whether Dan had what it took to blend with the rest of the group. It was a quick decision for both parties involved and since that time Off The Handle have sustained this lineup.

        At present, Off The Handle are kicking off the new year by playing hard, preparing for the studio where they will record their first full-length release.

Check out our music video for Life Lessons, chopped up from studio footage filmed by our bassist.