The Temperance Motion
O2 Discussion board Kentish City, London
18th March 2025
The Temperance Motion return after 5 years away, wanting and sounding revitalised. At O2 Discussion board Kentish City they dive into their again catalogue like a band with one thing to show.
The Temperance Motion open their first London present since 2019 with Chinese language Lanterns. A minimalist ballad from their debut album, it was beefed up in live performance because the audiences received greater. Tonight they’ve stripped all of it the way in which again once more: an acoustic guitar; all 5 members singing into one microphone, arms round shoulders.
Musically it’s wonderful, raise-the-hairs-on-your-arms stuff. Visually it’s epic, the proper image of a reunited band making a recent begin. Not solely is lead singer Phil Campbell again 5 years after his departure put the group in a state of limbo; co-founding guitarist Luke Potashnick has returned following a full decade away.
Whether or not it’s their time aside, a shared realisation that one thing particular occurs once they get collectively, or the fervent adulation from the O2 Discussion board Kentish City viewers, the group appear thrilled to be right here. Potashnick, guitarist Paul Sayer, and bass participant Nick Fyffe usually have a look at one another with “I can’t imagine that is taking place” smiles; Campbell — all arms, legs, and that ’70s Rod rasp — shares quiet moments with the guitarists and his gratitude with the followers.
“It is a blessing,” he admits at one level. “There aren’t many bands who can take 5 years off and fill this fucking place.”
In order that they take advantage of it.
The London cease of The Temperance Motion’s Ain’t No Telling tour simply surpasses expectations which have been constructing over half a decade. They offer it their all, ripping into songs from all three of their studio albums like a band with unfinished enterprise.
With a crystal clear stay combine that separates the guitars left and proper like a classic stereo recording and doesn’t flip the backing vocals into mush, the likes of swampy stomp Solely Pal, breezy Be Fortunate, slowburning Satisfaction, and arm waving Take It Again handle to sound intricate and layered, but as thrilling as being chased down Route 66 by the county sheriff.
Diesel and mud rockers like Constructed-In Forgetter, Caught In The Center, and Midnight Black discover Campbell’s voice at its most unleashed whereas drummer Simon Lea additionally provides his all. However the singer actually outdoes himself on Ain’t No Telling, which additionally permits Potashnick and Sayer to solo and commerce licks like they’re in a smokey Alabama bar circa 1975. The duo are equally spectacular on Oh Lorraine (with its impossibly slinky riff), the bruising blues of Battle Traces, and Serenity, which ends the evening in a tidal wave of screaming guitars, body-shaking rhythms, and unbridled singing.
It’s not all rocking within the free world, although. One other Spiral is the closest factor to a lighter anthem in The Temperance Motion’s catalogue. Smouldering is twangy folks guitar, delicate drumming, candy vocals, and a trippy breakdown.
And A Deeper Lower is strummed acoustics and Campbell at his most delicate, earlier than blossoming to finish with band and viewers singing “there’s at all times one thing” in unison. One of many evening’s warmest moments, it reinforces simply how a lot The Temperance Motion have been missed.
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You will discover The Temperance Motion on their web site in addition to Fb, X, and Instagram.
Phrases by Nils van der Linden. You may go to his writer profile for Louder Than Warfare right here and his web site right here.
Pictures by Simon Reed. His web site Musical Footage is right here and you may go to his writer profile for Louder Than Warfare right here. He tweets as @musicalpix.
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