Stealing Handshakes, a new and refreshing up-and-coming 4-piece alt-rock band from Pampa, Texas (USA), released their six-track self-titled EP.
Sooner or Later : The lead single on the EP has hit #17 the week of 8/18/2026 on the SMR Top 50 Mainstream and Active Rock chart in the United States, charting along with some heavy hitters such as Foo Fighters, Nickelback, and Greta Van Fleet.
The six-track EP consists of the lead Sooner or Later featuring energetic guitars, a catchy chorus, powerful drums, and a bass line that makes you move. The Fallout is the first track on the EP, which captures the tension of strained relationships. Ellipsis is about fractured communication that is a building block in the album that has some atmospheric tension. Chloroform tackles the heavy and serious topic of addiction and alcoholism for a raw song dealing with issues of substance abuse. Maybe it’s Alright is a passionate alternative rock anthem about a broken relationship. And finally, Black Waters closes out the EP with a powerful message of living in a society where everyone tears each other down both physically and emotionally without trying to fix the problem and instead blames one another for society’s problems.
Stealing Handshakes has a vibe of 90s alternative rock while combining familiar sounds with a modern twist. The EP is powerful, impactful, and takes you on a rock journey mixing elements of metalcore, folk, hard rock, alternative rock, and a 70s feeling with new age sound.
It’s not hard to see the appeal of Stealing Handshakes. There is grit and weight to their songs, the kind associated with alt-rock classics, but they also lean heavily on melody. They don’t just show up when the choruses hit, they land. The guitars slay and the vocals scream with rawness, a dirty roar that provides the authenticity so painfully lacking in much of modern rock.
True rock isn’t dead just yet. Stealing Handshakes is proof that rock is still alive and they are making that statement rather loud with their debut self-titled EP.
Stealing Handshakes will be performing their hometown show on Saturday, August 22nd where they take the main stage at PampaFest in downtown Pampa opening for Stoney LaRue.
Stealing Handshakes consists of Nolan Burr, lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ryan Rivera bass, Gerard DeDad lead guitar, and Danny Garcia, backing vocals and drums.
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