CELTIC GROUP'S ROCK IS DISTINCTIVE
YAKIMA (Washington) HERALD-REPUBLIC
Friday,March 24, 2000
By MAISY FERNANDEZ
    
A breath of fresh air is blowing into town on the winds of March - the Celtic rock group Tempest is performing the March
Folklife concert.

Blending music from Scandinavia, Ireland, England and Scotland with hard-hitting American rock `n' roll, Tempest creates a one-of-a-kind sound that woos grannies and fills mosh pits.

Unlike many other groups, the five-man band fills a niche because it doesn't limit itself to using just one genre of music, said Lief Sorbye, the band's Norwegian lead singer.

"The main strength of the band is that whether you're into traditional folk music or rock `n'roll, we have something for you," Sorbye said in a phone interview from Oakland, Calif., the town the band calls home. "Whether you're 12 years old or 82, you're going to be tapping your foot. We do a mix of upbeat dance music; we also do some of the ballads."
   
Tempest, now in its 11th year of performing, has undergone a few personnel changes (the most recent: the addition of bass player Darren Cassidy, formerly of the swing band The Cherry Poppin'Daddies) but has remained true to its vision of making original tunes.

The diverse crew also includes Cuban drummer Adolfo Lazo, energetic fiddler Michael Mullen and a guitarist with experience in heavy rock, Todd Evans. In addition to vocals, Sorbye also plays a double-necked mandolin.
      
Sorbye said that while the band labels its music folk-rock, "world music" might be a more appropriate description.
   
"(Music genres) are a very interesting and very American phenomenon," Sorbye said. "In order to be able to sell records and sell yourself to the public, you need to have a label. (Celtic rock) is a very narrow description and doesn't incorporate all that we do, but it gives them an idea. We play traditional music in a contemporary setting - that's hard to define and fit into a label."

Tonight's concert features some of Tempest's new sounds, as well as some past favorites. And, like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get at any one of Tempest's shows.
  
"We do folk concerts to large clubs," Sorbye said. "We played a Celtic festival recently and we were the band with a mosh pit. The traditional folkies didn't seem to mind. It's a communication between the audience and the performer on stage."
  
"I hope (tonight's audience) will walk away with an experience they can take with them into their daily routines. I hope we can lift their spirits."