The Hand in the Ocean

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trio summons an authenticity much greater than its prepackaged radio counterparts. Since its formation in 2011, the group has slowly been making a name for itself in southeast Michigan with its simple but powerful rustic style.

The members of the Hand in the Ocean--vocalist Nate Tapling and guitar/banjo players Jordan Evans and Jeremy Dulac--are all former school friends in one way or another. Tapling and Evans met in high school and began collaborating under the moniker Bullfrog and the Dragon. Dulac joined the band while the three were attending Ferris State University, after which the group's name was changed to the slightly less confounding the Hand in the Ocean. Despite that pesky "folk" label, the players are drawn together by diverse musical influences ranging from indie rock to hardcore punk, along with some contemporary folk.