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Westword Music Showcase Awards Best Blues Band Nominee for 2001 and 2003
Photo by JR Wolfe Photography
Westword music showcase awards 2003 Best blues band nominees!
Voted one of the Top Ten Blues Bands in Colorado!
Selected as one of the Best Underground Bands in Colorado by the Denver Post, July 2003
Nominated for Best Blues Band in the 2001 Annual Colorado Springs Music Awards
Two of our original songs have reached the top 5 on the top 40 chart on MP3.com in Blues Rock category.
Articles: (click the titles below to read the articles)
Colorado Blues Holler Oct-Nov 2005
Blues Performer Returns Favor with Concert for Inmates
Down on Bourbon Street there's a party going on
DON'T LET TEMPA NEAR A SHARPIE
TEMPA AND THE TANTRUMS NOMINATED IN BLUES
The Canon Beat, March 2003- Volume 2, Issue 2
Paroxsymal Blues shake out the Old Dillon Inn
Tempa and Wendy Are Back at The Annex
Tempa and the Tantrums, "Foo Ya Live."
Tempa and the Tantrums, July 12
Tempa and the Tantrums, A premium blend of several blues styles.
Tempa and the Tantrums At the Pikes Peak Blues Fest lntemational
Blues backers pick Top 10 local bands
Tempa and the Tantrums kick off Reggies music series
The thermometer burst when Tempa and the Tantrums took the stage...
Red Hot Weekend, Denver Blues & Bones Festival
Colorado Blues Holler Oct-Nov 2005
by Dan WilgingTempa and the Tantrums made up for any such meteorological misgivings by opening with Koko Taylor's vexing "Voodoo Woman" and slithering through several Louisiana chestnuts such as Cleveland Crocket's "Sugar Bee," King Floyd's "Groove Me" and the Neville Brothers' "Yellow Moon." Dancing about the stage barefoot, at times the entranced Tempa seemed to slip out of her skin while the spirits of Janis Joplin and Marie Levauex seeped inwards.
Blues Performer Returns Favor with Concert for Inmates
By Kean Reamy, Staff writer, The Times IndependentFor the last two years, work crews from the Trinidad Correctional Facility have helped set up for the Trinidaddio Blues Festival, and afterwards have helped clean up.
Their assistance in contributing to the success of the festival is so appreciated by one of the bands that appears at the show the group performs a live concert at the prison to return the favor.
Tempa and the Tantrums generally do a 45-minute gig at the festival. But the following day, the group performs a two-hour show for the inmates.
"The first year we didn’t know what to expect,” says Tempa Singer (yes, that’s her real name). “They’re highly appreciative. They really like it. Blues concerts really go well with a group in prison. It’s our way of saying thanks.”
It’s an audience Tempa and her Tantrums don’t have a difficult time connecting with..
“I like to tease them,” she says. “I tell them, ‘Okay, when you all get out of here, this is a song about how you’re going to treat your woman, okay?” The 39-year-old singer doesn’t change the subject until her audience agrees with her and promises to treat their women right!
So how did the group get the name “Tantrums?”
She was born Tempa Singer and as a child, a family friend would visit and often say, “Well, there’s Tempa, where’s the tantrums?”
“When we were trying to figure out what to call the band, I thought, Wow, we can use this,” she says. The band is six years old, as old as her friendship with Neil Sexton, festival organizer.
Tempa does lead vocals during performances and injects a generous mix of swing, blue grass, some gospel and occasional funk. The question arises, however, about who’s the boss. Does Tempa throw a tantrum to get her way?
“We’re all good friends, we’re all adults, we don’t need a boss,” she says.
Tempa is in her 20th year as a full time musician and singer. She has toured extensively from her home base in Denver, but has slowed down this year due to the release of a double-disk CD collection of Blues and “infuse.”
“I have to play enough to pay my bills,” she says. “But we’re looking to go to Europe next summer.”
The band has not performed outside Colorado at all this year. But when they strike up a number from their repertoire, their music style appeals to “listeners from 19 to 99,” according to Termpa. “When you play the ‘Blues’ it’s widely popular,” She says. “It’s so universal, it incorporates so many styles. It’s very acceptable. It doesn’t have an age border. It just seems to have an appeal to people everywhere.”
Tempa says that Blues, like its cousin, Blue Grass, is uniquely American, even while it’s diverse.
“People don’t often realize how different Blues artists can sound,” she says.
“There’s hard Blues rock, like the Jimi Hendrix style of rock. Then you have more of your piano style and Blues jazz and Blues funk.”
She says many notable artists were heavily influenced by Blues. “The (Rolling) Stones took old Blues tunes, and the Beatles took from Little Richard,” she says. “So did Janis Joplin and Elvis.
“Rock and Roll has blues as its Daddy!
I think Blues music is a music that takes the emotions you’re feeling and imparts them to the audience. It’s the best way you can impart emotion. People feel your emotion. If you’re sad, or drunk or happy and you can sing it, and people are going to feel it.”
While it’s a distinctly American art form, Blues was harmonized by people all over the world.
“It started in the cotton fields, and before long, took on a life of its own. We have African rhythm — people from allover the world created Blues.
“You have a Blues feel and a Blues chord that touches a Blues bone.”
Tempa herself was influence by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday. She also studies classical female singers in a never-ending musical education process she doesn’t think will ever end.
“It’s all about learning and then creating your own sounds,” she says,
During the festival, Tempa’s Tantrums will play drums, bass, guitar and sometimes flute. During her off times, Tempa does massage therapy for other musicians who feel the strain and tension of touring and performing. Plus, there’s always a certain stress if an audience is not connecting well with the performance.
“You gotta play with the same energy for ten as for 10,000,” she says. “You have to play for each other in the band.
We’re doing it for each other as much as for anyone else. Some of the most amazing things happen with the energy that’s created. The guys and I had a great time once when there were only 75 people in a huge room.”
Tempa is married to her guitar player, but she also teases, “in order to be in my band, you have to be married to me.”
THE VAIL DAILY
HOT SPOT: Wolcott’s music venueDenver-based Tempa and the Tantrums come to the Wolcott Yacht Club Sept. 3. Tempa describes the sound as eclectic-blues-Americana, which incorporates blues, jazz, zydeco, R&B, funk and soul into the mix.
Tempa and the Tantrums have been a prominent fixture in Denver’s music scene for the past several years. Recognition includes multiple nominations for Westword’s Best Blues Band and The Denver Post’s Best Underground Band awards.
Tempa Jane — a southern girl whose real name is Tempa — wields a dynamically soulful blues voice often compared to Janis Joplin’s. She loves writing songs as well. With her first at age 4. She says she “can’t stop writing.” but promises to complete her new album sometime this December.
Symbolic of her personality and live shows, her songs do not contain a lot of fluff. They are raw, emotional and even controversial. One song about evangelism and crack-whores elicited some fierce criticism from a few people.
“I really like to connect with my band and the people who come to hear music. That’s my religion,” Tempa said.By Pete Fowler
Meet...
Tempa
If you haven’t felt Tempa sing the blues, let us introduce you. Tempa is the soul piercing passion that has shared the stage with such notable acts as BB King, Jeff Beck, Bernard Allison, Luther Allison, Lucky Peterson, Tab Benoit, Lonnie Brooks, Shemika Copeland, Coco Montoya and Anson Funderburgh at major festivals and theaters across the region. Her band, Tempa and the Tantrums, was selected as one of the Best Underground Bands by the Denver Post 3 years running and won the Colorado Springs Music Awards, “Best Blues Band” in 2001.
Yes, we did mean “felt” . When Tempa sing the blues, you feel the blues and that seems to be part of a divine plan. From the receipt of the perfect stage name shortly after birth, to her unusual upbringing, to the colorful people she has met along life’s path, and a healthy dose of her own passion, Tempa has been molded into a one of a kind performer with a haunting, magnetic quality that holds her audience spellbound.As she tells it, “I was two weeks old when my mother brought me to my Mamaw (Southern for grandmother). Mamaw said she had a dream that my name should be Tempa Jane. That’s the story. My Mamaw dreamt my name should be Tempa…” And so a singer was born. Tempa wrote her first song at the age of four and sung it on the radio the age of seven.
She lived in a West Virginia “Holler” with her grandparents until the age of five when her “hippie” mother re-claimed her. “I wanted to be a Singer/Songwriter from the first moment I heard music,” Tempa said. “My formative years were spent listening to and singing Gospel and Bluegrass, but I never had a favorite genre of music when I was young. It all was magic to me. After the age of 5, I lived with no electricity in a school bus. Having no TV, I read books and listened to music on battery powered radios and I had a tape recorder. I would go out into the woods and practice singing for HOURS recording and re-recording my vocals, I think not having a television was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Tempa didn’t always sing the blues. She moved to Colorado at the age of 19 and began playing with local bands. She was playing with an alternative band called the Flesh Mannequins at Cricket on the Hill when that all changed. “A musician called Sundance walked up to me,” Tempa said. “He said to me, ‘Baby Girl, what you doin’ singing this music? Your voice was meant for the Blues.’ That was it. Shortly after, I started singing Blues.”
Today she is the mother of three children and married to her guitar player Joseph Barton. When we asked her about the marriage, Tempa replied, “Oh, haven’t you heard? To be a member of Tempa and the Tantrums, all band members must marry me!”
Tempa has a new CD about to be released titled, “Holding on to the Blue.” She’ll be performing at Manny’s on August 20th and at the Trinidaddio Blues Festival on August 27th.
Tempa
 |
From What's Doing in Denver.com, May 1, 2005 Down
on Bourbon Street there's a party going on. More restaurant than
bar, Bourbon Street in Greenwood Village is booking top notch bands
every weekend. Saturday it was Tempa and the Tantrums.
Tempa delivers her songs with a passion that pierces the soul...
when she sings the blues, you feel the blues. The partygoers were
so determined to keep this band on stage that when the last song
was announced for the second time, a woman grabbed the band's tip
jar and began circulating it among the audience to give them an
incentive to play one more number.
|
|
Autumn
Phillips It’s
hard to listen to Tempa’s growling voice without thinking of Janis
Joplin. Like Joplin singing “Cry Baby:’ Tempa (who does not use
her last name) is a good woman who’s unappreciated. She boils over
into the microphone. She sings from the heart. From Steamboat Today, December 24, 2004
|
Tempa and the Tantrums have played in Steamboat several times before at The Tugboat Pub & Grill and most recently at the Steamboat Mountain Brewfest. |
Artists
in the spotlight - Tempa And The Tantrums
From DenverLocalMusicScene.com
DON'T LET TEMPA NEAR A SHARPIE
If your going to see Tempa And The Tantrums play, you need to realize a few things. First, if you just want to sit there and have a beer it's not going to happen, you can't sit still and watch this band. It's not going to happen...just trust me on this, your ass will be shaking. While your groovin' to the music you're also going to be fixated on Tempa. The woman has some kind of weird magnetic stage presence that you can't ignore. Tempa needs her own paragraph...
Tempa Singer has a voice that sounds hand crafted for the blues. Her sultry vocals can go from smooth and soulful to raspy and powerful in an instant. She goes from bouncing around, tossing her red hair up in the air to closing her eyes and holding notes that almost seem unreal. My personal favorite song of the evening would be her version of "Shaky Ground." I was honestly picking my jaw up off the ground after that song. Can you tell I was impressed? The original song sounds absoluetly nothing like Tempa's version. Apparently, she was doing the song one night and it just sort of morphed into disco classics being mixed in and random catchy verses from other songs that really fit well for some reason. It's great to see people dancing to this one, nothing but smiles on every face in the venue. My other favorite was the cajun spiced original "Zydeco Jam." I swear I never saw it coming, Fantastic music!
It's obvious by the band's name that Tempa is the highlight, she ties the whole group together. Don't be so quick to discount the talent of the musicians she has behind her though. Joe Seph handles the rhythm guitar along with some lead. I kept trying to figure out how his hair wasn't getting caught in the strings with all the moving around and furious playing. The man has truly gifted hands. Joseph is not only an essentail addition to the band but he's also Tempa's husband. The chemistry between them comes out in their music just as strong as any note. If these two didn't make music together i would consider it a travesty.
Brian McClure is the drummer, The man wasn't off once!! Now with the blues there is always room for improvisation. You can't just play a blues song off a piece of paper and expect it to sound right, you need to feel the blues and it's evident that Brian does. Rolling with every punch and making it look effortless is not easily done. Steve Wilcox "Red" is the bass player, vocalist and the dirtiest old man I think I may have ever seen on stage. Adding a huge dose of character to the band, Red was putting bras on his head, rocking the crowd with psychobilly songs and slapping that bass with a passion. Only male band member to date that grabbed my ass after being introduced. Kenny Doooooooooright is the other guitar in the bunch. The dude has been playing gigs for a while now with a screwed up ankle, that's what we call dedication around here. Taking the lead on some vocals and keeping everything tight... It's really an interesting dynamic between all the members and it proves to be an interesting combination.
The Little Bear in Evergreen Colorado and Fado's in Lodo were the 2 places I saw this band perform. I had to see them more than once, I kid you not..they blew my mind.
After the music stopped and Tempa had a minute to speak with me I asked a few questions. Now here is where the title comes in. The entire time we were speaking, Tempa was very busy writing on various parts of me with a sharpie. Yeah, it's cute at first but I looked like a page of notes in high school when she finished. If you have a sharpie marker don't go near her...I'm telling you this for your own good.
Take a look at the short interview and be sure to check out Tempa And The Tantrums at their website www.TempaAndTheTantrums.com and you'll only kick yourself later if you don't check out a show.
denverlocalmusicscene.com
What is the best part of being on stage and entertaining people for you?
Tempa: I would have to say the exchange of energy between an audience and myself is better than any drug I could take. I live for it!!!
denverlocalmusicscene.com
Do you think the show aspect is just as important as the music or is it
just an added bonus?
Tempa: Music FIRST..the show is just frosting.. tastes good but too much gives you a stomach ache..I just want to be real and share what I am feeling through my music
denverlocalmusicscene.com
I've noticed that you take great care of your voice, not talking for days,
using certain remedies to recoup from the smokey bars...any advice for
other vocalists?
Tempa: well..your voice is not an amp or guitar, you cant replace the strings or a tube and fix it. Vocal rest in between shows is key. Try not to talk in between your sets. If its a smokey, go outside. LOTS OF WATER!!! AND LEARN HOW TO SING CORRECTLY!! Invest in a good vocal coach or speech/vocal therapist, it's worth it. I didnt find this stuff out until later on in the game..Trust me, it will save you a lot of pain doing it before you have problems.
denverlocalmusicscene.com
So why the blues? I think your voice is hand built for the blues but I
can tell you feel the music too...any particular reason you gravitated
to this genre?
Tempa: other genres for me tended to be a bit stiff and formal. With the Blues, I can cry and scream. The music accepts me. Its so hard to put into words...I let tears,anger, and happiness flow freely...What more could a girl ask for? It is the way I communicate...much better than talkin' shit!
denverlocalmusicscene.com
Anything you'd like to tell your fans or people that are interested in
seeing Tempa & The Tantrums Play?
Tempa: Come to FEEL the music...Cause I will figure out how to get to EACH and EVERY one of YOU personally!! Thats what this band does..We make people FEEL....hehehehe I love being cheesy like that.
- Josh -
TEMPA
AND THE TANTRUMS NOMINATED IN BLUES
By Dave Herrera
From Westword,
June 19, 2003
Tempa Singer is no run-of-the-mill blues diva. That is, unless the blues
in question contain a healthy dose of bluegrass. While this chanteuse
possesses a set of pipes steeped in the blues, she's not about to be painted
into any corners.
Raised by her grandparents until the age of five in a place she refers to as a "West Virginian holler," she garnered an appreciation for the banjo-based genre from her Uncle Harold, who toured with esteemed bluegrass troubadour Ralph Stanley. According to Singer, this time period was pivotal in her musical development.
"When you start with music other than rock or pop, it gives you more of an open mind," she says.
She also credits the time she spent growing up on a school bus in the Florida swamplands -- sans electricity, with her hippie parents -- listening to worn-out cassette tapes of Cat Stevens, Waylon Jennings and the Beatles for providing her with a profound appreciation of "an amazing plethora of anything musical."
After stints as a solo acoustic act and fronting an all-cop band called Night Beat, Singer formed Tempa and the Tantrums and hit the local blues circuit. Augmented by guitarist Joseph Barton, bassist/harp player Steve "Red" Wilcox and drummer Brian "Shmoopi-pie" McClure, the band has two albums under its belt: Its eponymous debut, from 2001, and last year's release, Fooya Live!. The latter was recorded at the Little Bear during a benefit for a friend who was stricken with cancer. According to the singer, the disc captured "everything, warts and all."
Armed with crisp bills from an unnamed private investor and bolstered by a potential knob twister in drum-virtuoso-turned-studio-impresario Kenny James, the band is in pre-production for its forthcoming album. The as-yet-titled disc will reveal Singer's love for reggae, psychobilly and zydeco-inflected Cajun music. Singer's also considering throwing some Bessie Smith covers into the mix. She seems excited and a bit unnerved all at once at the thought of being able to stretch her creative wings and break out of the mold.
"With this new album, everybody is going to freak. I'm hoping blues clubs will still hire me," says Singer. "I'm hoping it's not too big of a shock." -- Herrera
The Canon Beat,
March 2003- Volume 2, Issue 2
This
month, the Annex Ballroom brings back two local favorites, Tempa and the
Tantrums with special guest Wendy Woo.
Joining forces,
they’re performing on the same night, Saturday, March 15, 8:30 p.m. for
a tremendous night of music.
Wendy will open
with a solo acoustic show before Tempa takes to the stage.
If you haven’t
seen a show at the Annex Ballroom yet, this is the show to go and make
your acquaintence.
Tempa brings
a certain soul to her brand of pop and blues and Wendy Woo is simply amazing
as a songwriter and plays some pretty mean chops on the guitar as well.
Both have won
accolades from critics for their performances and we’re glad to have them
back downtown.
Paroxsymal
Blues shake out the Old Dillon Inn
By Eric Melvin - Summit Daily - November 2002
If you're a fan of tasty blues, Colorado blues legends Tempa and the Tantrums
will be serving up two good nights at Silvcrthorne's Old Dillon Inn Nov.
22 and 23.
I enjoy blues and have been eager to .see Tempa and Tantrums because they're
making a solid reputation across the state and are having a good time
doing it. They have two original songs that have landed in the top 40
on MP3.com Among their awards, they have a nomination for the Best Blues
Band for the 2001 Westword Music showcase, have been voted one of the
top ten blues bands in Colorado and have been nominated Best Blues Band
by the 2001 Annual Colorado Springs Music Awards.
Led by vocalist Tempa Singer, the band would be incomplete without her
natural abilities and smooth soulful melodies. Growing up in West Virginia
and Florida, Singer was the oldest of five children and lived in a school
bus for a time. She was fed a steady diet of bluegrass and gospel, among
many styles of music. She wrote her first song at age seven, was asked
to perform it on a local radio station and the rest is history. After
moving to Colorado at age 19, Singer began playing in local bands, getting
her start in Southern Colorado.
She was quoted in iViews as saying, "This is the first time I've
been the leader of a band." It's like an intense musical marriage.
Sometimes you have to be fierce and strong with all that male testosterone,
sometimes soft and feminine. I love those guys and that's the magic in
the band." The "guys" a.k.a. the Tantrums, include Joe
Seph (guitar), Red Wilcox (bass, harp), Fred Wolking (guitar), and Brian
McClure (drums).
If you like good blues, well experienced talent driving it and a story
behind the band these should prove to be shows not to miss.
The band has a live CD entitled "Foo Ya." For more information
visit their website at www.tempaandthetantrums.com
The Canon Beat, November 2002 - Volume 1, Issue 10
Tempa and Wendy Are Back at The Annex
Local favorites Tempa and the Tantrums are back for one show at the Annex Ballroom.
They were voted one of the Top Ten Blues Bands in Colorado and nominated for Best Blues Band in the 2001 Annual Colorado Springs Music Awards. And this past August, they were selected as one of the Best Underground Bands in Colorado by the Denver Post.
Critic Jan McBee describes their performance as: “Belting out the blues, tossing her red mane, Tempa dominates the stage with distinct animal energy.”
“Yet she's quick to
credit her band, The Tantrums. ‘This is the first time I've been the leader
of a band,’ Tempa said. ‘It's like an intense musical marriage.’”
“Sometimes you have to be fierce and strong with all that male testosterone,
sometimes soft and feminine. I love those guys and that's the magic in
the band."
Just off playing the Belvedere Blues Fest and Oktoberfest, Tempa is becoming a familiar face around here. (Bring your dancing feet and shoes!)
Tempa and the Tantrums ROCKED at Oktoberfest in Canon City.
Park County Flume, September 6, 2002
Rave Reviews - your monthly look at books, mvies, music and more
Tempa
and the Tantrums, "Foo Ya Live." Music, blues
By Lora Abcarian
Editor
If you like the blues, or just need to get momentarily bluzey, check out
the latest offering from Tempa and. the Tantrums. It's called "Foo
Ya Live" (get your explanation at the website, www.tempaand- thetantrums.com),
and was recorded at Evergreen's Little Bear.
I've been a blues nut for a long time, and was really glad I discovered
Tempa and the Tantrums last year. Tempa has a voice which ooooozes the
bluuuuues, and she has a way of letting her vocals seep into your consciousness.
I really like that because it has a way of transporting you places. To
the deep South, for one place. The music has something of a Cajun feel
to it. Slap the CD on your player, close your eyes and see what happens.
Because the music is so sultry, you can feel that Deep South humidity
dripping off the liveoak trees. Watch the steam rise on the bayou in your
mind's eye. Take some time and smell the hotsauce.
Live recordings don't have that air of perfection that studio work does,
and this is a plus for "Foo Ya Live." Between cuts, you can
hear the band interacting with each other and the audience. It's another
great spontaneous element drawing the listener in to the music. The CD
offers a total of 15 cuts. Many are covers of songs which are familiar
to music lovers. Of these covers, my all-time favorite is "Spooky."
I've loved that song since I was a teenager when it first came out.
There are a number of other familiar covers including "Shaky Ground,"
"Knock on Wood" and "Chain of Fools." There are also
three original songs on the CD, all of which have the energy and dynamism
for which the group is known.
If this isn't enough, check out the groups signature pieces, including
the crowd-pleaser, "Mojo."
How can something feel so good and be so blue?
Tempa
and the Tantrums, July 12
Been a while since you heard great roadhouse blues? This terrific band
has been on the Black Rose Acoustic Society stage many times and we invite
them back every year for a very simple reason - this is no ordinary blues
band! And it's not just us; this fine group has legions of fans and was
voted one of the Top Ten Blues Bands in Colorado in 2001.
Tempa Singer is an expressive and powerfully talented blues vocalist with
an ouotstanding group of musicians at her side. The top notch players
in this band include fred Wolking (Yes, Frank's borhter) on llead guitar,
Steve "red" Wilcox on Boogie Bass and Harp, Joe Seph on Rhythm
guitar, and Brian McClure on drums.
Most importantly the group is entertaining. The group clearly enjoys performing,
and they make an immediate and lasting connection with the audience. At
the end of the evening, we know we were part of something special.
Ron Thomas - The
Black Rose - July/August 2002
Personal Space
Tempa, Tempa bv Jane McBee
June 27 -July 3, 2002
Belting out the blues, tossing her red mane, Tempa dominates the stage with distinct animal energy. Yet she's quick to credit her band, The Tantrums, for a schedule that's booked solid through October. "This is the first time I've been the leader of a band," she says. "It's like an intense musical marriage. Sometimes you have to be fierce and strong with all that male testosterone, sometimes soft and feminine. I love those guys and that's the magic in the band."
Tempa's musical career began in a West Virginia holler, where she spent the first five years of her life with grandparents, singing on the porch with uncles and cousins. One of these uncles was a songwriter who performed with country great, Ralph Stanley.
Retrieved by her hippie mom, Tempa spent the next few years in the swamps of Florida where the family lived in a school bus. She learned early to take the lead in caring for younger siblings, and making her way in the world.
Now at 36, Tempa is the mother of' three children and has successfully Photo By Jane McBee battled lupus for the last eleven years. Newly wed to her songwriting partner, Tantrums guitar player Joseph Barton, Tempa says she wants to be a good mom, be in love, and write make a connection with people through music.
-story and photo by Jane McBee
Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Friday/Saturday March 22-23, 2002
Tempa rocks Glenwood Springs tonight: Come Down and get down
We are proud to present the rockin' blues of Tempa and the Tantrums, at 7p.m. tonight at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts.
These guys ain't Peter, Paul and Mary. We're talkin' about blues. We're talkin' about rock and roll. We're talkin' about workin' up a sweat on the dance floor. Tempa and the Tantrums get down! Maybe I can illustrate this point.
Sample lyric, Peter Paul and Mary: "How many times must the white dove fly, before she sleeeeeps in the sand? The answer my friends is blowwwwin' in the wind. The answwwwwer is blowin' in the winnnnnnnd."
And maybe that's nice, on a slow day. But by Friday night, let's face it, We've been blowin' in the wind all week. We're ready to rock.
Sample (original) lyric, Tempa and the Tantrums: "You lost me. I'm slipping away. You're not payin' attention, and boy, I'm leaving you today... I didn't mean that much to you, anyway."
Relevant social commentary delivered in a smokey, raucous, bluesy voice that's a litle bit 'Retha Franklin and a little bit Diana Krall, while the band never forgets you're here to dance.
Let go, listen, and bust a move with Tempa and the guys. Tickets are available now and at the door. Prices are $18 for members and $24 for nonmembers.
Beverages and snacks will be on sale to keep you fueled for the dance.
When you're here tonight, dancing like crazy, singing out loud and having a great time while the rest of the world is slumped in front of the tube watching reruns, take a look at our second annual "Wild Women" exhibit, here through the 29th.
You'll be greeeted at the door (look up) by a life-size mermaid, crocheted out of wire by artist Janet Nelson. Celebrity appearances (rendered in various media) include Barbie-by-Mattel, Uncle festus and Madame Bovary. They're all here and you should be too. It's great art and it's great fun.
See you on the dance floor!
By Gail Mortell
From
The Queensland
Blues Association, Australia
TEMPA AND THE TANTRUMS
SELF-TITLED
(FanFare Records)
After fifteen years of cooking up the blues with various
bands in Colorado, Tempa Singer decided it was time she had her own band
to play her style of blues. She handpicked the cream of the veteran players
in Denver to form The Tantrums. They include Joe Seph-Lead Guitar, Fred
Wolking-Slide Guitar, Steve `Red' Wilcox-Bass and Harp, and Brian McClure-Drums.
Tempa and The Tantrums were together for only a few months when they released
their debut album with eleven well chosen blues and rhythm & blues
covers. Songs include Koko Taylor's Voodoo Woman, Junior Wells' Little
By Little, Muddy Waters' I Got My Mojo Working, along with tracks like
I Can't Stand The Rain, Rockin' Chair, and Spooky. A highlight on the
album is the treatment Tempa serves up on the Sippie Wallace song Mighty
Tight Woman. The two guitar attack works well with some really cool playing
from both Joe and Fred and they're boosted by a tight rhythm section who
keep the beat dead on the money throughout the entire album. The main
focus however are the fire brand vocals of Tempa. She has a good vocal
range and can growl the blues with the best of them or she can bring it
down low and soft when needed.A great debut from one of Colorado's newest
blues bands.
Eric Black
From Digital City Denver, Aug. 2001
Tempa and the Tantrums
A premium blend of several blues styles.
Average User Rating: ***** (5 stars)
The blues have always been the perfect place for independent women to
voice their troubles, a truth that
Tempa and the Tantrums have got a firm handle on. Frontwoman Tempa Singer
lends her smoky voice to
songs that swing from down 'n' out Delta blues to sultry, uppity Cajun
numbers without ever sounding
strained. While she doesn't exude onstage charisma, Singer puts her stock
in her performance: Audiences
get every ounce of her talent. Singer's pipes aren't the band's only asset,
however, as the Tantrums have
soaked up enough classic blues to back up their singer's wide-ranging
influences; they're also equally adept at getting crowds out of their
seats and boogying. Playing pure roadhouse blues of all sorts, Tempa and
the Tantrums aren't as concerned with sounding groomed and nice as laying
down the best of dirty, bawdy blues. A favorite of blues fans of all colors
because of their eclectic style, Tempa and the Tantrums keeps the rebel
edge in the blues without sounding too grimy. -- Matt Schild
From the Colorado Springs Independent: July 12, 2001
Tempa and the Tantrums
At the Pikes
Peak Blues Fest lntemational July 13-15 -1118 United States Air Force
Academy
The
Air Force Academy breaks formation this weekend to host the Pikes
Peak Bluesfest International. .Originally begun In Windsor, Ontario, Canada
In 1994, the fest has since expanded to London, Ontario; Novi, Michigan;
and now, Colorado Springs. This is the first year for the Pikes Peak installment
of the fest, and it is dedicated to the late, legendary John Lee Hooker,
who passed away last month.
A
whole slew of legendary bluesfolks are scheduled to play during the three-day
festival, including Leon Russell on Friday, James Cotton and Savoy Brown
on Saturday, and Vince Converse with the Michael Hombuckle Band on Sunday.
Also scheduled to perform on Sunday afternoon are Colorado's own Tempa
and the Tantrums.
Raised
in a bus by countrified hippies, Tempa Singer learned how to unleash her
ballsy voice after several practice sessions with a band member gently
standing on her abdomen. Up from that belly boils a strong, throaty but
always feminine voice that can easily handle the blues, but also dabbles
in bluegrass, country and soul on occasion.
Backed
up by the equally flexible guitarists Fred Wolking and Joe Seph and drummer
Brian McClure, the band is a local powerhouse with little local presence.
Like many of the musicians on the Bluesfest lineup, Tempa and the Tantrums
don't often get the chance to perform down here, so this show is a rare
treat.
-Kristen
Sherwood
From the Colorado Springs Gazette, July 2001
Tempa & The Tantrums
This
Denver blues project has a touch of savory jazz and a hint of R&B.
Tempa J. Singer, the band's lead vocalist has the originality of Janis
Joplin and the red-headed sassiness of Bonnie Raitt.
Boulder Daily Camera, May 2, 2001
By Greg Glasgow, Revolutions per minute
Blues
backers pick Top 10 local bands
The results are in on local music fan Steve Pitt's online poll for Best
Colorado Blues Band. Nearly 10,000 votes were cast for more than 30 bands.
But for better or worse, the people have spoken, and the Top 10 are in
order as follows: Rikki Dee Hall & the VooDoo Hawks, Johnny O Blues
Band, Built for Comfort, Otis Taylor, Sol-Fed-Joe, Tempa and the Tantrums,
Catfish & the Crawlers, Johnny & the Jukes, Hazel Miller and Emilio
Emilio.
Page 10. MAY 24, 2001. High Timber Times
Tempa and the Tantrums kick off Reggies music series
by
Pamela Lawson, Reporter
Baliey – If food and
drink are worthy metaphors for an artist like Tempa Singer, lead vocalist
for the group Tempa and the Tantrums, then a hot cup of Cajun coffee might
fit her fare. Add a shot of Janis Joplin to that java, and a creamy dollop
of Aretha Franklin. and you’ve got a smooth taste of the blues.
To hear Tempa's.band
tell it, from an edibles point of view, they make up the bread from which
she rises.
Either way, the band
cooks.
A nominee for
Best Blues Band by the Westword Music Showcase 200, the rhythm and blues
five-some will hit the road this summer for a Blues Fest tour that will
include several southwestem states. On June 2, they will hit Reggies Will-O’
the Wisp restaurant and bar, near Bailey.
The band will
kick off a month long “Ladies Sing the Blues showcase" at Reggies.
featuring five female blues singers on a different Saturday night each
weekend in June.
In leather pants
and leopard top, Tempa can move an entire crowd to the dance floor with
one verse of Chain of Fools.
The mother of three,
who was raised in a bus with no electricity by hippe parents, started
out on Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn tunes. When she threw in Koko Taylor,
Bessie Smith and Bonnie Raitt tunes she left pure country behind and stuck
her claim with the blues.
"I finally found
myself, “ said Tempa, who learned proper vocalization when band member
Steve (Red) Wilcox would gently stand on her abdomen when she was 19.
The effort taught her
to sing from her lower quadrant and not damage the smooth sound in her
voice.
"He taught
me all I know,” she said, “He's family."
As are the owners
of Reggies. Which explains why she will sing with as much heart before
thee smaller mountain venue as she would for a crowd of 250 at the Acoma
Center in Denver .
Wearing a mojo bag around
her neck stuffed with lavender and stones and backed by a solid group
of perormers, Tempa will be making a living with her music, she said,
until she can't sit up in a chair.
The band's latest CD,
Tempa and the Tantrums, can be ordered online at
www .tempaandthetantrums.com.
A new CD with original tunes will be completed soon. Band members
include Brian McClure on drums, Steve Wilcox on bass, and guitarists Fred
Wolking and Joe Seph, who is also a songwriter.
From The Flume, Friday May 18, 2001
By
Lora Abcarian, Staff
Writer
BAILEY,
Colo. - June is Blues Month at Reggie's, and the joint will be jumpin'
with some of the bluziest women for miles around. Women
singing the blues, that is. We are not talking about the voices of angels
paying timid lip service to the tria1s and tribulations of being alive.
No, indeed. These are women who can belt, wale and ratchet up your heartstrings
a notch or two.
I love 'em.
Tempa and the Tantrums: Tempa, master
chef of song, cooks with fresh powerhouse blues, savory jazz, a helping
of R&B, and a touch of cajun for extra mojo spice. Add two parts grit,
beat till smooth: your instant recipe for the blues. - Nominated for beat
blues band by the Westword Music Showcase 2001
From Go-Go Magazine, May 24, 2001
By Judy B.
Denver seems to have a knack for cultivating a few styles of blues that have moved in from other parts of the country. Bands like Tony Luke Trio cultivate "real" Texas Blues, made most famous by the late guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn. Both Primock and Thomas see a growing number of of blues-rock bands geared toward bars and getting people to dance. Bands like Tempa & the Tantrums and Little Mary & the Tom Cats are good examples. "I definitely can't put my finger on one particular Denver style," said Primock, "but more people are playing and paying attention. And that great for everyone."
From the Black Rose Acoustic Society, August 2000
"The thermometer burst when Tempa and the Tantrums took the stage for our feature. The group sizzled the night away with the lovely show stealing Tempa Singer backed up by Fred Wolking (yes, Frank's Bro) on wailing lead guitar, Red Wilcox on Boogie Bass, Joe Seph's smooth rhythm guitar and Brian McClure Pulling it together on drums. Blues never sounded so good with 'Tonight's the Night' and 'Young Woman's Blues.' Tempa showed she could run with the big blues dogs as she wailed 'Muddy Water' and 'Busy Being Blue.' Multi-faceted group? You bet. We heard them dip into country with 'Angel' and comic bluegrass with 'Muleskinner Blues.' (Red has us in stitches). The group spiced up the set with tasty talent in a professionally subtle blend of Fred's hot lead guitar licks, Red blues harp, and Joe's jazz backup. Got old blues-funk favorites? How about 'Spooky' and 'Mojo' for starts? The tie that bound this performance was Tempa -- hot, expressive, and powerfully talented. When you have a standout blues vocalist backed up by highly flexible group of musicians, pumped up by a love for hard driving blues, you have a great evening"
From Go-Go Magazine, July 6, 2000
Up Tempa Blues
By Judy B.
"The Acoma Center is opening its theater doors to the music world.
Since the renovation of the historic theater three years ago, the Acoma
Center has given the Denver community numerous opportunities to see quality
theater in a classic, intimate atmosphere. Now our local musicians get
their shot. Local blues vocalist Tempa J. Singer is the first leading
lady to step up. “I want to invite all the local blues players down to
the Acoma to jam with me on Wednesday nights,” said Singer. “We need more
blues in this town.” Running through the month of July is “Lady Sings
the Blues,” the Wednesday concert series at the Acoma Center. Ms. Singer
is the hostess, and runs a sort of open-mic for the blues. Usually, the
crowd meets local talent, including female blues artists like Theresa
Lynne and Little Mary. Occasionally, a national singer will join in, as
when blues singer/pianist Kelly Hunt came through town. “The main reason
I took this gig was because of the great space at the Acoma Center,” said
Singer. With capacity limited to 250 persons, restored red velvet chairs,
a lofty mezzanine, and improved lighting and sound, every seat at the
Center is a good one. For music director Jody Conn, the Acoma Center presents
great opportunities for local bands. “I’m willing to present a variety
of musical styles and events,” stated Conn. “I’d like to bring some musical
notoriety to the Acoma. There is so much potential here. The Acoma Center
is a great part of Denver’s history.” Ms. Singer is attempting to bring
some of Denver’s blues history to the forefront of our ever-blossoming
music scene. Her band, Tempa and the Tantrums, performed at the Denver
Blues ‘n’ Bones festival over Memorial Day weekend. That has proved to
be a well-received and important performance. Tempa and the Tantrums have
been a blues band for just a few months. The members have decades of musical
experience between them. Ms. Singer is joined by guitarists Fred Wolking
and Joe Seph, “Red” Wilcox on bass and harmonica, and Brian McClure on
drums. “Even though I’ve been in the business for 15 years,” said Tempa,
“this is the first band of my own, and I love it.” Denver seems to have
welcomed this band. This city isn’t exactly known for its blues scene,
but between the rising popularity of acts like Hazel Miller, festivals
like Blues ‘n’ Bones, and the Denver Blues Society, it seems the Tantrums
have begun to hit at the right time. The Tantrums also have a plan. They
will release their first CD within weeks. They’re looking to play gigs
at places that are known for giving a good band a chance, like the Soiled
Dove, Brendan’s, Ziggy’s, and the Acoma Center. They want to take advantage
of the summer festival circuit and bring their music to larger events
like the Monterey Blues Festival. The original songs penned by Ms. Singer
are the typical stylistic fare of blues songs, which is the great thing
about the blues— the format is perfect, and hearing a good blues performance
can transform even the most hardened listener. Blues can be fast or slow,
happy or sad, simple or complex. But it must have feeling, and it must
sound genuine. Someone trying to fake their way through the blues is like
Ricky Martin and his “dancing” ... something seems terribly wrong... Tempa
and the Tantrums have nothing to worry about. Ms. Singer’s voice can handle
a variety of textures and twists, being deep and throaty enough to pull
off an occasional cover tune, but not too gruff, and sweet when it needs
to be. Two great ditties to listen for at upcoming shows are the slow
and sultry “Might Tight Woman” and the bittersweet “I Can’t Stand the
Rain.” Tempa J. Singer hopes to increase the amount and exposure of blues
bands in Denver. She’s especially supportive of any aspiring female singers
that may be waiting for the right opportunity. Finding support like that
given to Ms. Singer at the Acoma Center is vital, but she insists that
it is out there and worth the effort."
Red Hot Weekend, Denver Blues & Bones Festival 2000
By Tony Lombardi and Jim Primock
"...Tempa and the Tantrums. Tempa Singer is the lead vocalist, and sings the Blues with asounding passion. She has character and expression like I've heard only in singers like Lannie Garrett and Koko taylor. A refreshing talent to the area. This hot band played Blues straight ahead. See this act as soon as you can."
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