THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
DATE:
VENUE:
Monday 21st April 2014
The Engine Shed in Lincoln, UK
Reviews by RIck Tilley; Photography by Mark Holmes
BROTHER & BONES
BROTHER & BONES
Support on this leg of the tour is being provided by Brother & Bones, a brand new name to me, but if the quality of this performance was anything to go by then a name I will be hearing a lot more of in the future. Their classic rock meets folk meets indie/grunge rock (yeah, I know I'm not usually very keen on that particular genre) sound was superb from start to finish and I've rightfully read nothing but positive comments about this band since. Their music was blessed with one of the best mixes I've ever heard a support act receive (it really was as clear as a bell) and, in Rich Thomas, they have a vocalist with the talent and looks to go a long way. Delicately seductive and quiet one moment, and huge riff rocking around the stage the next, songs such as opener 'To Be Alive' are well constructed, full of melody and hooks, and played with heaps of talent and passion. I've seen Mumford & Sons mentioned as a comparison. Well, Brother & Bones stomp all over them with huge boots and more. If they are the future of classic sounding rock with a modern edge then I'm one very happy reviewer and it won't be long before they, themselves, will be headlining The Engine Shed. Brilliant!
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The Temperance Movement at The Engine Shed in Lincoln, UK, 21st April 2014
Photograph copyright © 2014 Mark Holmes - www.metal-discovery.com
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
There was very definitely an air of anticipation in the venue for the arrival on stage of The Temperance Movement. Over the last eighteen months, they have been hammering away almost nonstop and really do seem to be on the verge of breaking through. First night of a tour, a very healthy sized crowd and playing a city that is starting to, once again, be featured on many bands’ gig schedules, I got the feeling that many present wanted this performance to kick off the spring/summer months in style. Did we get that? Well, on the whole, the answer was yes. TTM certainly know how to rock, they have a great arsenal of songs, are completely at ease on stage, and had a majority of the crowd in the palm of their hands from the off. What let them down tonight was an extremely muddy sound.
I've heard much worse over my many years of gigging but, considering Brother & Bones got a near faultless sound and mix for their set, this really was something of a letdown. Vocalist Phil Campbell (who I think bears a resemblance onstage to Jamiroquai's Jay Kay) has a superb voice but I couldn't make out a word he was singing, and I wasn't the only one saying that. Bassist Nick Fyffe and drummer Damon Wilson were also way too high in the mix. I love a good rhythm sound but this wasn't Slayer or Motorhead playing, this was The Temperance Movement, and I didn't need my bowels and stomach buzzing every time a bass string was plucked or a bass drum thumped. I tried standing in various places but the result was the same, which was a shame, because TTM actually put on a superb gig. They played almost their entire debut album and some new material (I hope I'm correct in saying 'Oh Lorraine' and Spinning Lies'), which seemed to go down very well with the audience and bodes very well for a second album.
Just about everyone I saw left the venue with a smile on their face but, on the night, Brother & Bones took the honours for me. The Temperance Movement deserved a much better sound than they got and I hope that, as the tour progresses, that issue is resolved for them. You certainly couldn't fault the quality of the songs, though.
I've heard much worse over my many years of gigging but, considering Brother & Bones got a near faultless sound and mix for their set, this really was something of a letdown. Vocalist Phil Campbell (who I think bears a resemblance onstage to Jamiroquai's Jay Kay) has a superb voice but I couldn't make out a word he was singing, and I wasn't the only one saying that. Bassist Nick Fyffe and drummer Damon Wilson were also way too high in the mix. I love a good rhythm sound but this wasn't Slayer or Motorhead playing, this was The Temperance Movement, and I didn't need my bowels and stomach buzzing every time a bass string was plucked or a bass drum thumped. I tried standing in various places but the result was the same, which was a shame, because TTM actually put on a superb gig. They played almost their entire debut album and some new material (I hope I'm correct in saying 'Oh Lorraine' and Spinning Lies'), which seemed to go down very well with the audience and bodes very well for a second album.
Just about everyone I saw left the venue with a smile on their face but, on the night, Brother & Bones took the honours for me. The Temperance Movement deserved a much better sound than they got and I hope that, as the tour progresses, that issue is resolved for them. You certainly couldn't fault the quality of the songs, though.
Click on thumbnails for larger images:
