Live: The Temperance Movement @ Forum, London.

by | Feb 1, 2016

Live: The Temperance Movement @ The O2 Forum Kentish Town

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

I’ve been lucky enough to have been experiencing one of Britain’s most promising new rock acts The Temperance Movement since the days when their beautiful ballad Chinese Lanterns was performed from in front of the microphones. Just two years ago, an estate agent would have struggled to sell the venues as deceptively spacious. Since then, the fan base has exploded and support slots on stadium stages with the Rolling Stones have cemented their pedigree. The long-awaited sophomore album White Bear was released to rave reviews on January 16th and currently resides in first place on the UK rock album chart.

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

Tonight marks the end of the current UK tour and the venues are causing the estate agents less stress. This London show ought to have been played in the grand surroundings of the Shepherds Bush Empire. One of my favourite places to see a band, the Empire contains so many levels it looks like a wedding cake that’s been injected with growth hormone. But the current structural woes in Shepherds Bush meant that the gig was switched to The Forum, Kentish Town – a room with the aesthetics of a Tupperware container. Still, it did mean more ticket sales.

The Sheepdogs (Support to The Temperance Movement) performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Sheepdogs (Support to The Temperance Movement) performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The support tonight came from The Sheepdogs, surely the best band that practically nobody in the UK has ever heard of and certainly one that has caused a stir at every show they’ve played on the tour so far. Looking like 4/5 of a geography teachers field trip, only bassist Ryan Gullen appeared conventionally rock ‘n’ roll, pawing away at a Fender Precision as his flailing hair defied gravity on the off-beat.

The Sheepdogs (Support to The Temperance Movement) performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Sheepdogs (Support to The Temperance Movement) performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

Although Canada’s finest export since Rush and checked lumberjack shirts, their southern country blues-rock sound of harmony guitar and vocal lines belies their Saskatchewan roots and owes not a little to The Allman Brothers and Creedence Clearwater Revival. By the time they closed out, the floor of the Forum was full and the crowd was highly appreciative. A headline tour beckons in the spring and I would urge anyone with a passing interest in Americana to go along. You’ll be glad you did.

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

So The Sheepdogs delivered mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres, but there was obviously a heightened sense of expectation as The Temperance Movement took The Forum stage. The entrance was much as their stage persona in general: four members of the band exuding quiet confidence as they assumed their positions whilst vocalist Phil Campbell bounced, strutted and swaggered his way to the mic. Campbell, in silk varsity jacket and aviators, is an alumnus of the Jagger school of stagecraft – his arms and legs making random staccato moves as if a maniacal puppeteer were controlling him from above.

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

What happened next defied expectations. Paul Sayer from stage left fired up Mick Ronson’s iconic opening to Ziggy Stardust and The Forum was engulfed in a further wave of Bowie nostalgia. It was certainly a heartfelt and emotive tribute and Campbell’s skywards look at the close with hands held above his head was extremely moving.

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

Bowie notwithstanding, the set list tonight was a well-judged mix between the promotion of White Bear and the familiarity of tracks from the excellent eponymously titled debut. By the time the brilliantly catchy Midnight Black came along, Campbell had dispatched the jacket and was in vest-top only mode, more sensible attire given the levels of energy he exudes. Whilst the antics at the front were very familiar, the dynamics at the back have certainly changed. Luke Potashnick, one half of the original twin guitar partnership, left the band prior to the commencement of the tour and occupying his place tonight is Matt White, who previously performed with James Morrison amongst others. Opposite White, Paul Sayer took a more commanding role, coming to the stage apron several times. His extended solo in the excellent Pride was a great piece of work, though the vibe is of a reluctant guitar hero lost in the moment rather more than of one wanting to show off to the crowd.

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The new songs were very well received but it’s during the anthemic numbers such as Only Friend and Take It Back that the band are truly in their element. The community ‘Ohh, Oh Ohh’s’ during the latter could probably be heard in Chalk Farm, though it does help if you write tunes that people can sing without necessarily knowing any of the words. The set ended in a sea of smoke (the smoke machine salesman did really well tonight) with the funky strains of Battle Lines, a great cut from the new album (White Bear). Having rocked out for a good 90 minutes, the encore triumvirate of I Hope I’m Not Losing My Mind, A Pleasant Peace I Feel and Lovers And Fighters provided an opportunity to reflect upon a great night and wallow in the other half of The Temperance Movement coin. There is an exquisite fragility in the air whenever Campbell gets his acoustic guitar out.

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

The Temperance Movement performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town 27/01/16 (Simon Reed)

Drummer Damon Wilson shared his birthday with us all tonight. As he left the stage, he had the strains of Happy Birthday ringing in his ears from the hard core faithful at the front. I doubt he’s had many better birthday presents than that.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000EQGbac3lMCA” g_name=”The-Temperance-Movement” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000zvdDowmwN1U” g_name=”The-Sheepdogs” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Live Review and Photography by Simon Reed. Simon has his own photography website here: www.musicalpictures.co.uk

The Temperance Movement @ The Forum, London 27th January 2016.

 

Lizzie Esau @ The Grace (Kalpesh Patel

Lizzie Esau Unleashes Explosive New Single ‘Bugs’ — A Dark, Defiant Step Forward From A Rockshot Favourite

Rockshot Magazine favourite Lizzie Esau continues her rapid ascent through the UK’s alt-rock landscape with the release of her most accomplished single to date, Bugs. A darkly euphoric track filled with emotional grit and lyrical nuance, Bugs sees the 25-year-old Newcastle native confront the chaos of creative self-doubt with ferocity — and catharsis.

EMMMA (João Viegas)

EMMMA Finds Power In Heartache With Stirring New Single ‘Wednesday’s Child’

EMMMA is no stranger to vulnerability — but with her latest single, Wednesday’s Child, the rising UK-based alt-pop artist turns raw emotion into a seismic act of self-empowerment. Released as the next step toward her second EP, the track is a defining moment in her artistic evolution: darker, bolder, and more emotionally fearless than anything she’s released before.

Jon Allen (Michael Walker)

Jon Allen Unearths Gritty Past Of 18th Century London With Immersive New Album ‘Seven Dials’

British singer-songwriter Jon Allen invites listeners into the fog-shrouded streets and shadowy corners of 18th century London with his latest album, Seven Dials. Known for his earthy blend of folk, blues, and Americana, Allen trades modern-day themes for a haunting historical portrait that’s as cinematic as it is emotionally raw.

Josh Groban (Sami Drasin)

Josh Groban Shines Bright With New Career-Spanning Album ‘Gems’

Josh Groban is entering a new era of reflection and celebration with the release of Gems, a deeply personal,...
Sophie Grey (Maximilian Stafford)

Sophie Grey Is Not Waiting Anymore — She’s Putting You ‘On Hold’

Rising electro-pop artist Sophie Grey. is back with a brooding new single, On Hold, and it’s everything we’ve come to expect from the multi-talented producer, performer, and provocateur — shimmering synths, bold visuals, and an anthem for the digitally disenchanted. Out now with an equally cinematic music video, On Hold is a hypnotic blend of retro-futurism and raw emotion, delivered with Grey’s signature flair and fiercely independent spirit.

Lorde (Thistle Brown)

Lorde’s Rebirth: ‘Virgin’ Ushers In A Raw, Unfiltered New Era

In an industry that thrives on reinvention, Lorde has always moved to the beat of her own creation. Now, four years after the sun-soaked introspection of Solar Power, the enigmatic New Zealander has announced her fourth studio album, Virgin, due out on 27th June — a project that promises to be her most emotionally exposed and artistically unguarded work to date.

Blondshell @ MOTH Club (Kalpesh Patel)

Blondshell Faces The Fire With New Single And Sophomore LP ‘If You Asked For A Picture’

Alt-rock torchbearer Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) is preparing to light the fuse on her next era with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, If You Asked For A Picture, arriving this Friday, 2nd May via Partisan Records. Today, she offers one last taste before the full detonation with the release of her latest single, Event Of A Fire—a smoldering slow-burn that builds from embers to an emotional inferno.

Pistol Daisys (Matthew Pearson)

Pistol Daisys Return With Shimmering New Single ‘Calling Your Name’ — A Heartbreak Anthem For The Bold And Open-Minded

Scotland’s genre-blurring alt-pop outfit Pistol Daisys are back, and they’re diving deep into unexpected truths,...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing