Glass Eye: June Review PO Box 2507, Toledo, OH 43606 TEMPEST Mickey Finn’s (Toledo, OH) 2 May 2000 Celtic rock stalwarts Tempest played their first-ever Toledo gig at Mickey Finn’s, and if you missed it, you missed one of the very finest shows to grace this too-often culturally bankrupt metropolis we call T-Town. Performing fan favorites like “You Jacobites By Name,” and “Buffalo Jump,” plus some Celtic standards in addition to some new preview songs from their soon-to-be-recorded next release, the band demonstrated a remarkable energy and rapport with the enthusiastic crowd. The band broke their show into two sets, the first very calculated to win over the audience, and it worked: frontman Lief Sorbye, strumming his double-necked electric mandolin, and violinist Michael Mullen marched off the stage and into the crowd, encouraging its members to dance and be merry. After an intermission, they came back for a second set that showed off their progressive side, concentrating on extended jams and solos. Everyone stood out and shone brightly, particularly ex-Cherry Poppin’ Daddies bassist Darren Cassidy, who just joined the band in February of 2000. Possessing a distinct Tony Franklin-like bass-playing style, Cassidy brings a whole new virtuosity to the already stellar musicianship of this unique band. While the band is grounded in Celtic and folk rock, they never hesitated to rock… HARD. Sorbye commandeered the small stage, often taking Steve Harris-style poses, pointing the double-necked mandolin at crowd members. Guitarist Todd Evans and drummer Adolfo Lazo exhibited ferocious chops that could earn them spots in any prog-metal band, and I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone play the violin with as much piss & vinegar as Michael Mullen. Having heard a few of Tempest’s studio albums, and now having seen them live, their studio work just hasn’t been able to capture the true style and sound of this band. Someone get them on a tour with Tull, and I mean NOW. These guys rule. - Mark Tinta