Described as a cross between the jazz-rock-art style of Frank Zappa and the psychedelic punk of the Meat Puppets, Ten Hands is known for their energetic and fun live shows. Born from Denton, Texas, in the mid-1980s, 30 miles north of Dallas, Ten Hands — Paul Slavens, Steve Brand, Gary Muller, Alan Emert and Mike Dillon — is once again pleasing crowds in their home state. Their music tends to be frenetic, syncopated and funky. Matched with Slavens’ vocals, and political assertions that denigrated the ruling elite, the complacent middle class, and environmental evils, Ten Hands have been one of the more politically oriented Texas bands of the era. They rarely forget to be fun, however, and their musical playfulness and lyrical absurdism belie any pretensions they may have.