The Temperance Movement

Currently on tour promoting their latest album, White Bear, The Temperance Movement have returned to the UK after a year’s hiatus touring the US, before continuing on to Europe. With their gripping interpretation of the blues, it is no wonder that they have been so well received stateside and have built up such a strong following at home.

The set begins with a fitting tribute to the late David Bowie, with a heartfelt rendition of Ziggy Stardust. This sets the tone for the evening, one of reverence and respect, for the musician but also the entire art of music. Beneath that there is a layer of mischief, exploration and freedom.

Eponymous track White Bear is a roaring rock anthem, designed to be belted out and allowing a platform for lead singer Phil Campbell’s ability to create a soft, smoky atmosphere before bounding into a raspy explosion of raw grit.

This flows into Get Yourself Free, a burst of 70s glam rock where the howl of the guitars is matched perfectly by Campbell’s lycanthropic creep, which engulfs the auditorium. He is almost Jagger-esque in his manic stage presence, while the rest of the band are effortlessly cool and equally lost in the music.  Alternatively, during songs like Pride, there is a softness present that demonstrates their ability to weave a tale and to tap into gut wrenching emotion, which leaves the audience moved.

The Temperance Movement are a testament to the idea that you can never have too many guitars on stage. Each one has a key role, moulding each track and carving out their own place.  Paul Sayer shines as he makes his guitar wail like an aroused banshee.

What makes The Temperance Movement so appealing is that they remain authentic: to blues, to rock and to themselves. They have managed to capture the true essence of bluesy rock, traditionally associated with the southern states of America, and lay some British charm on it, tinged with Campbell’s seductive Scottish brogue. This proves music’s, and particularly the blues’, ability to transcend location and act as a universal microphone of expression.

Yassine Senghor

For further information about The Temperance Movement and future events visit here. 

Watch the video for Only Friend here: