Dead Hot Workshop
Encyclopedia
Dead Hot Workshop is an American
rock
band
based in Tempe
, Arizona
. They were a popular fixture of the Tempe
music scene in the 1990s
, when Tempe was being dubbed as "The Next Seattle" by music reps, and as a region that would produce many new, talented bands that would be ripe for national discovery. The band got their start at a Tempe club named Long Wong's
, which at the time was at the center of downtown Tempe's music scene and the starting point for bands such as the Gin Blossoms
, The Refreshments and The Pistoleros, who all (including Dead Hot Workshop) signed with major record labels in the 1990s. During the mid 1990s, the band toured using a used 1992 van
named "Sugar", that the Gin Blossoms had taken on tour ten times before Dead Hot Workshop acquired it.
In 1995 Dead Hot Workshop released 1001
which would be their first album produced by a major record label
. Even though they were considered to be in the shadow of the Gin Blossoms, the album was reviewed to have a "gritty, sandblasted edge" that the Gin Blossoms were missing. The music was described as having a mix of country
, folk
and rock influences from artists such as Neil Young
, Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan
, Johnny Cash
and Waylon Jennings
, while maintaining its "90s garage-band
relevance". In 2006, 1001 was listed as one of the "Top 25 albums by Valley bands", calling singer and songwriter Brent Babb the "Poet Laureate
of Mill Avenue", and the album explained why there were so many literature majors from Arizona State University
hanging out at Dead Hot Workshop shows during the peak of Mill Avenue's music scene in the 1990s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
based in Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. They were a popular fixture of the Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
music scene in the 1990s
1990s in music
For music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
, when Tempe was being dubbed as "The Next Seattle" by music reps, and as a region that would produce many new, talented bands that would be ripe for national discovery. The band got their start at a Tempe club named Long Wong's
Long Wong's
Long Wong's on Mill was a club in Tempe, Arizona. Long Wong's on Mill was the epicenter of the Tempe music scene, which peaked in the early 1990s, and it was where the Tempe band the Gin Blossoms got their start. In turn, the popular band made the club famous...
, which at the time was at the center of downtown Tempe's music scene and the starting point for bands such as the Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
, The Refreshments and The Pistoleros, who all (including Dead Hot Workshop) signed with major record labels in the 1990s. During the mid 1990s, the band toured using a used 1992 van
Van
A van is a kind of vehicle used for transporting goods or groups of people.In British English usage, it can be either specially designed or based on a saloon or sedan car, the latter type often including derivatives with open backs...
named "Sugar", that the Gin Blossoms had taken on tour ten times before Dead Hot Workshop acquired it.
In 1995 Dead Hot Workshop released 1001
1001 (album)
1001 was the first release on a major record label by Tempe, Arizona based rock group Dead Hot Workshop. It was released in 1995 and was described as mix of country, folk and rock influences such as Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings...
which would be their first album produced by a major record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Even though they were considered to be in the shadow of the Gin Blossoms, the album was reviewed to have a "gritty, sandblasted edge" that the Gin Blossoms were missing. The music was described as having a mix of country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and rock influences from artists such as Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, while maintaining its "90s garage-band
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
relevance". In 2006, 1001 was listed as one of the "Top 25 albums by Valley bands", calling singer and songwriter Brent Babb the "Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
of Mill Avenue", and the album explained why there were so many literature majors from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
hanging out at Dead Hot Workshop shows during the peak of Mill Avenue's music scene in the 1990s.