Sometime in late 1986, Mike Dillon, Gary Muller, and Matt Chamberlain were playing in Dallas-based band Zane Grey, who actually appeared on Star Search. They did not win, but Muller did get to touch Ed McMahon (specifically, his hand). Meanwhile, Steve Brand and Slavens were playing in a Denton band called the Gonemen. Dillon, Muller, and Chamberlain lived in the same Denton house as other members of the Gonemen, and when dissatisfaction with both groups began to appear, the idea for a new band was spawned.
The first Ten Hands rehearsal (documented on videotape) took place late 1986 in Denton. Shortly thereafter, Zane Grey's manager, Tony Johnson, accepted an offer to manage the fledgling band. For the first year, Ten Hands played mostly small venues in Denton and performed a weekly gig at the Prophet Bar, a seminal Deep Ellum club in Dallas. During this time, a studio recording was made and handmade cassettes were sold and distributed in and around the Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Denton area.
Chamberlain and Dillon were already well-known in Denton as top players in the University of North Texas Jazz program, and interest in the band soon grew. It was also during this time that the New Bohemians were becoming a major draw in Dallas. It happened that several members of that band were friends with a few Ten Hands members, and ultimately, New Bohemians finagled some opening slots for Ten Hands at Deep Ellum's celebrated Club Dada. The Club Dada shows helped expose the band to a much wider audience, and the venue would later host many of Ten Hands' most memorable performances.
In late 1988, Earl Harvin joined the band as drummer after the Matt left to play with the New Bohemians. The band went into the studio to record Kung Fu...That's What I Like. As New Bohemians vacated Dallas for bigger and better things, Ten Hands stepped in to fill the void and began what would be a three or four year run as one of the region's most popular draws. The band won numerous Dallas Observer Awards in 1988-1989, and shortly after the release of their first live CD, The Big One Is Coming, and sold over 20,000 copies. Joe Cripps joined the band to replace Dillon on percussion.
Earl left the band to play with Mike Dillon's Billy Goat and "Big" Al Emert became drummer. Ten Hands started to tour heavily and built a large following with college audiences.
At a SXSW performance, the band was offered a record deal by an independent producer in L.A. Desperate to release an album after two years of inactivity, the band agreed and began work on Be My Guru in late 1991. While the album contained some of the band's best songs, the recording itself was a disappointment and the relationship with the label grew stormy. By the time the band left the label, much of their earlier momentum was lost.
As the band's popularity began to wane, a friend of the band, Byron Wilson, offered to produce a CD. Jazz for Jerks was recorded in early 1993 with the assistance of the band's friend and longtime collaborative producer, Dave Castell.
Steve Brand left the band in 1993. New guitarists, Chris Claridy and Chad Rueffer joined and the band wrote some new songs and continued to gig around the area. In the next incarnation, guitarist, Ed McMahon (in a strange twist of fate), and drummer Greg Beck were hired. A demo record was recorded with the brand new lineup, but the album was never mixed or released.
Ten Hands continues to play, with various lineups, several times a year in the Dallas area.
Spade Tight
Ten Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got your cards, mama
You lay them on the table
I can't keep up with you
*%$*&!!! I can't believe it! She's...
Spade tight!
I got you where I want you
I'm leading my best cardShe's right on top of me
*%$*&!!! I can't believe it! She's...
Spade tight!
Woman's got a hand full of trump
[Don't try to tell me that you don't know how to dance
When the secret to the rhythm's at the end of your pants]
.....SHAKE YOUR SHOES!!!!!!
I gotta make this hand now, mamma
But your picking up every trick
Here she comes...
*%$*&!!! I can't believe it! She's...
The lyrics of Ten Hands's song Spade Tight tell a story of a game of cards between two people, most likely in a romantic context. The first person, who seems to be the singer, is struggling to keep up with the second person, who is portrayed as having an advantage in the game. The lyrics use expletives and emphasize the frustration of the singer, who can't believe the second person's skills. The phrase "spade tight" is repeated throughout the song as a nod to the spade suit, which is often considered the most powerful in card games such as poker. As the game progresses, the second person seems to have several winning cards, including a hand full of trump, which further frustrates the singer. The song ends with a mention of the second person picking up every trick, which suggests that they will win.
The lyrics of Spade Tight can be interpreted in multiple ways. On one hand, it can be seen as a simple game of cards between two people, with the frustration and expletives used by the singer adding to the intensity of the moment. On the other hand, the use of metaphors such as "spade tight" and "hand full of trump" can be seen as an allegory for power dynamics in a relationship or a wider social context. The reference to dancing at the end of the lyrics also adds to the ambiguity of the song's theme. Overall, the song's lyrics are a curious mix of frustration, admiration, humor, and power play.
Line by Line Meaning
Spade tight!
Emphasizing that the situation is intense and crucial.
You got your cards, mama
Acknowledging the other party has their strategy/cards in place.
You lay them on the table
Making things clear and upfront for all parties involved.
I can't keep up with you
Admitting difficulty in staying up-to-date with the opponent's moves.
*%$*&!!! I can't believe it! She's...
Expressing shock, frustration and disbelief of the current state of the game.
I got you where I want you
Asserting a sense of control and dominance in the current situation.
I'm leading my best card
Being strategic and calculated in the approach to the game.
She's right on top of me
Feeling pressured and under-attack by the opponent.
Woman's got a hand full of trump
Acknowledging the opponent has a strong position and advantage.
[Don't try to tell me that you don't know how to dance
Suggesting that the opponent has hidden talents or strategies that they may not have revealed.
When the secret to the rhythm's at the end of your pants]
Implying that the true power or strategy of the opponent may be hidden and unexpected.
.....SHAKE YOUR SHOES!!!!!!
Encouraging action to be taken to push through the current state of the game.
I gotta make this hand now, mamma
Acknowledging the importance of winning the current round of the game.
But your picking up every trick
Noticing that the opponent is making progress and gaining the upper hand.
Here she comes...
Feeling the pressure of the opponent's next move or play.
*%$*&!!! I can't believe it! She's...
Expressing shock, frustration and disbelief of the current state of the game.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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