Comprised of Jesse Selengut on trumpet, lead vocals and compositions, Clifton Hyde on guitar and hollerin’, Stefan Zeniuk on reeds and boy soprano vocals, and Peter “Baby Hands” Maness on bass and some singin’, Tin Pan evokes everything from Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong to Irving Berlin and Hoagy Carmichael. Founded in 2006 by Selengut, a long time New York based musician, and the curator of the Williamsburg Jazz Festival, the band sprung from what he calls, “a need for this kind of music.” He elaborates, “As soon as I started playing this music, it just felt so easy and natural. It’s simplicity demands that you be totally committed to it – there’s no hiding behind theory or pose.”
Finding players to fit his vision was challenging, but when Selengut met Mississippi native Clifton Hyde, who has played with Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Blue Man Group and others, he knew he found the right man. “I auditioned about 25 different guitarists,” Jesse recalls, “and right away I knew Clifton was perfect. He’s experienced with blues and jazz but isn’t constrained by excessive training. And he has an intuitive understanding of what dancers need.” Stefan Zeniuk entered the picture through Clifton, bringing in a touch of the avant-garde to the proceedings. “I’m not even sure Stefan is that interested in jazz. He’s just got incredible energy – (saxophonist) Tim Berne was his babysitter. I think that affected him for life,” says Selengut with a laugh. Bassist Pete “Baby Hands” Maness was chosen because when we discovered that he could slap the bass, spin the bass, and get every girl’s phone number all in the same tune.
Describing themselves as a “street band,” they often play in Central Park and in the New York City transit system. It’s the embodiment of the band’s belief that their music should be accessible – literally and figuratively. With two previous CD releases, Early Jazz and Americana and Alice McNulty, they sold a total of 6000 CD’s in 2008, a phenomenal total for an completely unsigned band, and earned rave notices in the New York Times and Huffington Post, among others.
And the singularity of their sound, coupled with the sheer pleasure of it, has earned the band a multitude of exposure, with some seemingly strange bedfellows. “We played a campaign event for (New York City) Mayor Bloomberg, we’ve played the Guggenheim…and we’ve played supporting for MC Hammer. It’s sort of surreal,” notes Jesse. Playing around 180 shows per year, mainly in New York, the band lives out their commitment to enliven through sharing this music.
On Hound’s Tooth, the band has honed and distilled their music to its most profound essence. Produced by Clifton and Jesse, the recording process is simple: set up the microphones and play. From the opening notes of “If The Sea Was Whiskey,” what you’re hearing are master craftsman recreating Americana anew. Clifton’s guitar meshes perfectly with the stand-up bass, and the horns are by turn mournful and celebratory, triumphant and heartbreaking – the sound of a newly found romance in a late night speakeasy, filled with foreboding passion. Jesse’s vocals, fervent and impassioned, are uniquely his own – he has found a space that encompasses everything from Bessie Smith to Tom Waits.
The band is expanding their reach – they are beginning to tour nationally and have found a place in the enormous swing dancing community. Best Buy has taken Hound’s Tooth into their stores for national distribution. And they’ll be playing the influential venue Joe’s Pub in June – another huge sign that this band has arrived. “We may have been together for three years already,” declares Jesse, “but I feel like it’s all just starting now. The band is playing beautifully. I’ve become more confident as a front man. We’re really starting to grab people and have them in the palm of our hand.” In the coming months, it seems assured that the legend of Tin Pan will only grow, as word of their excellence travels, but even more importantly, from the love with which they play.
Careless
Tin Pan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've fly through my head like wine
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love, oh love, oh careless love
In your clutches of desire
You've made me break a many true vow
Love, oh love, oh careless love
All my happiness bereft
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Trusted you now, it's too late
You've made me throw my old friend down
That's why I sing this song of hate
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Night and day, I weep and moan
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The song "Careless Love" by Tin Pan is an emotional and introspective reflection on the destructive nature of love. The singer sings of how love has caused so much pain and suffering in their own life and in the lives of others, as it flies through their head like wine, wrecking the life of many a poor girl, and almost spoiling their own life as well. The singer acknowledges that they are not blameless in this - love has made them break many true vows and set their soul on fire with desire. But ultimately, love has left them with nothing but weariness and sorrow.
Throughout the song, the singer addresses love directly, personifying it as a force that has consciously caused them harm. They talk about how love has made them forsake their old friends and sing a song of hate. They weep and moan day and night because love has brought the wrong man into their life, and they feel that their sins will follow them until judgment day. The lyrics thus suggest that love is a powerful and potentially dangerous entity that can cause people to act in ways they might later regret, and that the pain of love is not just an individual experience but something that can have far-reaching effects on others as well.
Overall, "Careless Love" is a poignant and reflective song that speaks to the complex and often tumultuous nature of romantic love. It suggests that while love can bring joy and happiness, it can also bring pain and suffering, and that it is ultimately up to each individual to navigate these conflicting emotions and try to find some sense of inner peace amidst the chaos of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, oh love, oh careless love
The singer is addressing love, which they believe to be careless and irresponsible.
You've fly through my head like wine
Love has made the singer feel dizzy and overwhelmed.
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
Love has ruined the lives of many innocent women.
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love almost ruined the artist's life as well.
In your clutches of desire
Love is depicted as having a strong hold on the artist.
You've made me break a many true vow
Love has caused the singer to break many promises.
Then you set my very soul on fire
Love has ignited a passion and intensity within the singer.
All my happiness bereft
Love has taken away the artist's joy and contentment.
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Love has caused the artist to feel sadness and depression.
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
The artist has become isolated and converses only with themselves.
Trusted you now, it's too late
The singer has put their faith in love, but now regrets doing so.
You've made me throw my old friend down
Love has caused the artist to betray a close friend.
That's why I sing this song of hate
This song is a result of the singer's negative feelings towards love.
Night and day, I weep and moan
The singer experiences constant sadness and despair due to love.
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
Love has introduced a bad influence into the singer's life.
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The artist feels guilty for their actions caused by love and expects to be punished for them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind