Rock and Roll in Safe Hands
Friday night in Leeds and we are in for a rock and roll show, that kind of Stones/Free/Crowes type of rock and roll, the good kind! And the band providing that spirited life-force is The Temperance Movement. Far from their teetotalism namesakes, we’ve all had a couple, and we’ve already seen some good time southern style R’n’R in the form of The Sheepdogs (see previous reviews).
So we are fully warmed up, and as frontman Phil Campbell bounces up on stage with all the fervour of a cat on hot tiles, he’s greeted as an old friend by the ‘Movers’ at the front, and he’s bouncing around like Tigger and dancing to the chant of the crowd and the beats in his head. Three Bulleits crashes in, stutter start and all - and we are off to a flying start.
Campbell epitomises a truly great frontman, like Jagger circa ‘72, he is constantly on the move and when he has that cheeky glint in his eye, you know its going to be a good night. This is a distinct contrast to the last time I saw them in Holmfirth, where I felt they looked a little sombre, and that in comparison to the shows 3 years ago when they really shined in the small venues. Now, having played as support to the Stones themselves, they have a new songs to play, they appear fully energised to excite this sold out Yorkshire crowd.
As you would expect they are here to promote their superb new album ‘White Bear’ and so we get the majority of that album live, and I’m pleased to say some of the polish in the studio is wiped away with a much rawer sound. ‘Oh Lorraine’ is a great driving song and tonight it takes on a real boisterous relentless feel - reminds me a lot of Aerosmith’s ‘Sweet Emotion’ except at 45rpm rather than 33.
The band are now minus an original member as Luke Potashnick prefers the studio to live shows, but his replacement on the road is Matt White and he’s capable of some tasty lead breaks himself as Paul Sayer lets him loose occasionally.
The newer stuff is carefully punctuated with plenty of favourites from their first album, like ‘Pride’, ‘Midnight Black’, ‘Ain’t No Telling’ and a stupendous ‘Smouldering’ dedicated to the ladies in the room – Campbell, like a dog with two tails, blowing kisses to them all.
‘Get Yourself Free’ then explodes with him screaming at everyone to “Get on the good foot” and this meshes into ‘Only Friend’ just like it was meant to be, the new songs becoming quickly absorbed into a strong setlist. ‘Only Friend’ is like the signal to say we are on the home straight now, and its followed by ‘Take it Back’ and there isn’t a soul in the house that isn’t doing “woaah wah ho” along with the Duracell bunny Campbell, he’s still got plenty of energy in the tank even after 14 songs. He jumps down from the stage and runs along the audience with maracas, joking with the crowd he offers a plastic bottle of water to one, before tipping it all over his head !
‘Battle Lines’ closes the set and after a short couple of minutes we get ‘I Hope I’m Not Losing My Mind’, White Bear's only slow number, but it’s a dark brooding tune live and bonds nicely to the next one. One of the highlights from the new album for me is ‘A Pleasant Peace I Feel’ and it is saved for the encore and doesn’t disappoint live. Opening and closing with a bass heartbeat provided by Nick Fyffe, it builds from a military snare through to a Beatlesish riff and then an exultant chorus, before it becomes this swirling psychedelic dervish rising up towards the end, can they develop this more and become a great jam band? who knows, but there is something in that song that shows real promise.
To crown it all at the end with ‘Lovers and Fighters’ is a master stroke, it’s a ballad yes, but for those that have followed this band for some years, it’s the last track on their first EP Pride, which many of us probably bought at one of those early shows back in 2012/13, it feels like it’s one for the ‘Movers’, the hardcore group that have been there from the start. It’s delivered with all the glory of an anthemic ‘We are the Champions’ piece, a great ending.
What a show, rock and roll is in safe hands, Shine on, Brothers and Sisters, Shine on.
COMMENTS
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Please read my Sheepdogs review too, what a great support they were and coming back to the UK in April for some more dates !
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Great pictures and review as usual
