By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Hot Tamale plays the blues ‘Hot Off the Grill’

A 26-year veteran of the stage, wife, mother of two teenagers and business owner, 50-year-old Cindy Grill knows a thing or two about life’s ups and downs. Over the years, she has rolled with the punches singing everything from Big Band, to Rock ‘n’ Roll, to R&B, to Top 40 to help make ends meet and to quench her endless thirst to perform. But no other form of music feeds her soul day in and day out like the blues she plays with her band Hot Tamale & the Red Hots.

“It’s the people,” she said. “They enjoy it more than any other form of music I know. They listen more. They’re in tune with it more. With R&B and Top 40 they’re there just to dance and drink and you’re just background music. You don’t feel that when you play the blues at places like Blues on Grand.”

The band’s fans will be dancing, drinking and paying attention to the music when Hot Tamale & the Red Hots host a CD release party Friday at 9:30 p.m., at Blues on Grand to unveil its debut full-length studio album, “Hot Off the Grill.” The album is an engaging blend of original material (“Angel of Mercy,” “I’ve Had Enuf”), standards (“Let the Good Times Roll,” “Little By Little”) and biscuit roller blues (“I’m A Woman,” “You’ve Got to Use What You’ve Got”).

“Our main goal is to make people happy, and to have fun,” Grill said.

Pursuit of such a goal is unthinkable unless each member is on the same musical page, as evidenced by the common passion for the blues Grill shares with her bandmates Kevin Bodtke (harmonica), Bobby Cassady (drums), Alan Smith (guitar) and Rod Moulin (bass). Grill, Bodtke and Cassady founded the group in January of 2005. After the recent addition of veterans Smith [who along with his duet partner Willie McKnight won the 2007 Solo-Duo Iowa Blues Challenge] and Moulin, the band decided it was time to record an album.

“We’re an entertaining live band and we wanted to portray that and to showcase Cindy and let her take over,” said Bodtke, adding that he hopes the new album will help the band book more gigs.

Bodtke says two songs in particular, “Angel of Mercy” and “I Don’t Want No Man,” highlight Grill’s ability to belt out the blues and the band’s increasingly boogie and swing-oriented sensibilities.

“Her style lends itself to tunes like that,” he said. “Then again, I’m partial to the swing stuff, which is kind of the direction the band is going.”

When the Minnesota-bred Grill moved from Birmingham, Ala., to Des Moines four years ago she said she wasn’t sure what kind of a blues scene Des Moines had to offer. Inspired by the honest blues she first heard as a teenager on Bonnie Raitt’s 1971 debut and self-titled album, she said she wanted to find players with equal conviction for traditional blues. After making the rounds at a few local jams and getting in touch with the blues community through the Central Iowa Blues Society, she said she quickly discovered a wealth of like-minded players.

“Whenever you go to a new town you have to start over again,” Grill said. “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been performing. I just pounded the pavement and lucked out.”

Bodtke said the feeling is mutual and that the band’s camaraderie is an important part of its success.
“We’re all friends and stick up for each other,” he said. “Everyone lives and breathes the blues. It’s always on our minds.”

Scene Notes
Saxophone player Nate Peoples, one of Des Moines’ most talented and dedicated young jazz musicians, is moving next week to Austin, Texas, to further pursue his musical career. The 27-year-old Peoples, who teaches at Reiman’s Music and plays a number of gigs including with The Blue Band and the host band for the Thursday Jam at Blues on Grand, says there aren’t enough jazz gigs in Des Moines to sustain him. Peoples was a member of the Monday Night Jazz Jam that was previously held at Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co. and Raccoon River Brewing Co. before both downtown venues dropped it this summer. “I’ve been frustrated a little bit, I guess,” he said. “Last month I played two jazz gigs, and jazz is my first love, so I felt it was time for a change.” … Three of the 2007 Iowa Blues Challenge’s participating blues societies have each submitted a new independent CD by a local blues band for the Best Self Produced CD award at the 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis next January. They include “Hot Off the Grill,” by Hot Tamale and the Red Hots (Lizard Creek Blues Society), “The Soul Searchers” by The Soul Searchers (Mississippi Valley Blues Society) and “Be My Friend,” by Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts (Central Iowa Blues Society). The first round of competition will be held next month where the field will be narrowed from entries around the world to the top 10. The top five will be announced in January. Visit www.blues.org. … The 14th Annual Ames Jazz Party will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Trombone player Dan Barrett’s sextet will perform. Tickets are $45. Call (515) 232-2145. … Oskaloosa native and Dallas, Texas, jazz saxophonist Rusty Johnson hosts his second annual American Dreams concert Saturday at 7 p.m. at Hoyt Sherman Place. All proceeds benefit the Iowa Friends of Foster Children Foundation. The 26-year-old Johnson, who has shared the stage with gospel artists like Steven Curtis Chapman and Cynthia Clawson, is a former foster child and when he is not performing he volunteers for child welfare advocacy groups. Tickets are $10-$48 and available through Ticketmaster and Hoyt. … Five-time Grammy Award winning R&B singer John Legend headlines a rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Nollen Plaza before the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner. The rally is free. … The Turtle Island Quartet will perform selections from their latest CD, “A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane,” on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium as part of the Civic Music Association’s series. Tickets are $7.50-$35. Call 280-4020 or visit www.civicmusic.org. … Renowned jazz saxophonist Adam Niewood and his Rabble Rousers jazz quartet from New York City play Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall of the Harmon Fine Arts Center at Drake University. Admission is $5-$8. The group will also perform with the Des Moines Big Band at Adventureland Inn in Altoona on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5-$6. … After selling out the House of Bricks last month, The Envy Corps will play two shows Dec. 22 at People’s Court, including an all-ages show at 5 p.m. and a 9 p.m. show. Tickets are on sale now through IowaTix.com for $10. The first 50 people to buy tickets will be able to attend an exclusive acoustic in-store performance by the band at Homer’s in Urbandale on Dec. 21. CV

Hot Tamale & the Red Hots host a CD release show at Blues on Grand on Friday at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Visit http://www.hottamaleandtheredhots.com.

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