JSS/Tempestt in Dudley 2nd March
What do you do when you’re in a strange country, your support band are supposed to be supplying the gear for a gig (eg the drumkit), the doors are about to open, you're looking at a big empty stage, and then you find out the support band are not coming? That was the dilemma facing Jeff and Tempestt last night.
Fortunately they had the answer – send for SuperFrank! Young Uncle HeFTy, Jeff’s usual tour manager who was here just as a guest tonight, sprang into action to save the day. After a lot of frantic ringing around he managed to source a drumkit for hire and sped off to pick it up.
An hour later he’s back and the show can go on. The band finally take to the stage around 9.30pm – minus the support.
Yet again it was a poor turnout. JBs usually pulls in plenty of punters but, with little advertising, I guess most people weren’t even aware Jeff or Tempestt were in town.
However, Jeff always delivers and, despite the adversity, he and the guys from Tempestt put on a great show. The sound at JBs is never brilliant, and of course the band had no chance of any kind of soundcheck, but even so I think it was a much better show than Saturday’s show in London. The band were more relaxed and threw in more solos and impromptu jamming, displaying the fact they really can play.
When Jeff joined the band on stage, he threw them several curveballs in the form of last minute changes to the setlist and general playing around on stage (in his own inimitable style) and they coped admirably. In addition to his solo and Talisman material, and the inevitable Crazy, Jeff included a Purple Rain/Faithfully medley tonight, as a special Mother’s Day treat. He also dragged old pal Tony Marshall out of the audience and onto the stage at one point to show off his vocal talents, which must have confused the boys from Brazil. Even us Brits have trouble understanding Tony's Mancunian accent.
Jeff’s time on stage may be relatively short on this tour (only seven or eight songs per night) but he puts so much effort into those and always leaves the stage dripping with sweat. I don’t think anybody went home at the end of the night feeling disappointed.
Next stop, Wednesday in Sheffield. Unfortunately I can’t make that but for anybody up North looking for a good night out, get along to the gig. Jeff and Tempestt deserve a lot more support than they’re currently getting.
Marty
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Subject: Tempestt / JSS Tour 2008 
Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:12 am
We're anxiously waiting!
!
