Ten Hands – Dada
I usually post geyser-sized plumes of praise for my favorite bands, friends and artists. Because of this, there is no way to go beyond it when something truly wonderful comes along. Annoying preamble aside, let me make the following statement:
There has never nor will there ever be a Texas band as good as Ten Hands.
All others myself included are mere pretenders compared to them. Even after a 15 year hiatus Ten Hands delivered a show last night I’ll never forget. I literally held back tears of joy as I listened to tune after tune played with the same energy, verve, humor and passion as when they were THE band in Dallas. You can say I suffer from good-ol’ days syndrome, but objectively I can’t name another band that matches their combination of musicianship, song-smithing, improvisation, originality and stage presence.
The fans filled up the stage-side and many were dancing and singing along even more ecstatically than myself. Many intricacies within each song could have easily been omitted or dumbed down for the one-off performance. They rehearsed a mere two hours Sunday afternoon to ensure that each beat stab, off-timed stop and ending dive was there. Every part was effortlessly recreated so that more attention could be paid to the energy driving it. They also did two off-the-cuff improvs about Club Dada and Beard the Doorman. Any other band would have spent hours trying to craft something with similarly complex sonics and lyrics. Ten Hands just played ’em like they had known ’em for years.
Rather than drone on and on about it, just watch a bit of it here and listen here too.
meanwhile, jeff cranks up some Dave Mathews and downs some Shiner. *rolling eyes severely*
Hi!
It´s so great to hear that Ten Hands still rules!
Are they playing together or is it only for one time!
I used to live in Denton in the early 90´s, and they were THE band to see and hear.
Trip to Carrolton is my favorite american song!
I wonder though, if one can still download the whole albums as I´ve been looking for them but without success. Do you have some information on that?
I had a chance to see The Police. I would truthfully rather see Ten Hands. Got high on these guys starting in about 88 or 89. My wife is a Dallas girl and turned me on to these amazing musicians. Not just musicians, but showmen and humorists and great lyricists. I can’t say for certain that they are the best band from Texas, because there are so many. But they are certainly the best at the eclectic brand of music that they craft. It’s a shame that troubles with their label kept these guys from getting the chance that the New Bohemians got. Their music is still timely and has crossed the 2 decades from their formation with little show of the time passed. Still a great sound and I’m sure a great show. Sorry I missed it.