Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
The Tantrums have been playing around the East Bay for a few years now, and I'm glad somebody finally stood up and took notice. Motels is a 6 song e.p. (also available on 10") that perfectly showcases what The Tantrums do best, mix a little punk and rockabilly, and make it swing, baby! These songs have roots in the '50's, and it's obvious that they have done years of homework studying the best early rock'n'roll, and the punk edge just helps bring it all home. The song "Motels" is a great ballad that X would be proud to have in their own discography, and the rest of the tunes are up-tempo rockers that will have you whippin' your baby around the dance floor in no time flat. (Mike LaVella) - Gearhead #11
These cats have it together. A completely consistent 10", from the moment I dropped the needle and started leafing through the little handmade photocopied and stapled booklet. They're trashy sultry rockin' country-billy, complete with the roadside motel theme all over the cover and with that sexy title track. Believe me, this record will make you want to go out and get yourself a Chihuahua. (KM) - Maximum RockNRoll #204
...I can't think of a single band to compare this to... which is a good thing in this case because this leaves shit marks on just about everything else. Femme fatale-fronted rockabilly, heavily rooted in pop punk (or punk pop heavily rooted in rockabilly, depending on how you look at it...) that seriously makes you want to dance. One of the best damn records I've heard in a long time, by one of my all time favorite local bands. Get this and you won't be sorry. Featuring ex-members of DING DANG, TILT, and CRIMPSHRINE, if that means anything...(BM) - Maximum Rock 'n Roll #204
Discography
Motels - EP
KSFS in San Francisco
KALX in Berkeley
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Tantrums are a punk-rockabilly band from Alameda, California. They started playing out in 1994. There have been many line-up changes, but the band members now are: Pete Rypins, guitar and vocals; Bucket Elkins, drums; Andy Contreras, bass; Devil Doll, vocals. Pete Rypins is already well-known for his bass-playing in Crimpshrine and Tilt, which included supporting Green Day on their major-label debut tour. Andy Contreras played guitar in a band whose name he won't mention (because they're pretty lame). Bucket played in Ding Dang before we stole him away. Devil Doll's voice has been heard over the airwaves as a D.J. on KSFS in San Francisco and KALX in Berkeley. Musically, we are a combination of punk, rockabilly, blues, country, rhythm and blues, early soul, surf.....music we listen to and love.
In May of 1995 we recorded at Billie Joe's home studio. It became a 7", "Big Dress" put out by Jesse Lucious' Zafio Records in January of 1996. Right after the recording, we were suddenly without a bassist or drummer. Pete and Devil Doll found Andy Contreras on the street; while driving down a street in Richmond, we saw him walking on the sidewalk, carrying an amp to a 1960's Plymouth Valiant. Pete got out of the car and talked to him. It turned out that we had mutual friends, and he was interested in auditioning, even though he was a guitar-player. He learned to play bass as we went in search of a drummer. We auditioned a couple and picked one, who played with the band for about ten months. It didn't work out, and a string of temporaries followed, including Vince from Tilt, Gary from The Hi-Fives, and Joey from Dead And Gone/Creeps On Candy, and Art from Water Dog/The Frustrators, all of whom are great drummers, nice people, and we thoroughly enjoyed playing shows with them. After a few dozen telephone interviews and auditions with drummers from all over the Bay Area, we found Bucket and we kept him.
Our 7", "Big Dress", sold out (the first and only pressing), and we needed to make another record. After being turned down by almost every label that initially showed interest in us (and even some who didn't!), Jimi Cheetah (another Tilt bass-player) said he wanted to put our record out. In June, 1999 we recorded a six-song e.p. at Nu-Tone in Pittsburg, CA. The CD and 10" vinyl came out in early 2000.
In August 2001, The Tantrums went on tour with The Beautys and The Pre-Teens to Southern California, Nevada, Utah, Montana, and Washington, and Northern California. Although it was rough at times, it was a great experience.
In 2002 we had some very successful shows with Tiger Army at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana and the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma. The guys in the band are very nice people and fabulous performers. In June 2004 we recorded three brand-new songs at the new Nu-Tone Studios location in Oakland. We have been sending copies to labels and college radio. We are very excited about these songs, and the feedback we have received so far is extremely positive.
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