The Temperance Movement Oxford Academy 2 10-07-13

First up was a short acoustic set from Samuel Taylor.


A singer/songwriter from Sheffield who released his debut ep earlier this year. His laid back style and excellent voice brought the songs to life.

"Some Nobody To Me" has had some airplay on Radio 2 and his set brought a larger crowd response after every song.

One to keep an eye out for.

Next up was Blackwolf from Bristol who hit the stage like a whirlwind and said "Look At Us"!

A 5 piece who released their debut ep "Taking Root" last year and after a support slot with The Union earlier this year they oozed confidence.

With a huge bluesy classic rock sound with Scott Sharp's enormous rock howl at centre stage they really did impress the expanding crowd.Riffs, groove, thunderous drum and bass rhythm work and some wonderful soloing from the lead guitarist.

Who do they sound like? Bits of AC/DC,Black Stone Cherry, Great White,The Answer, Rival Sons,Tesla and Led Zeppelin thrown into a blender!!

With songs like "Stairway Ticket", "Seeds", "Mr Maker" and "Finding Fables" all showing a maturity and class way above their tender years their debut cd out later this year a bright future awaits.

The best young UK band I've seen since I saw The Temperance Movement support Little Angels at the end of last year.

Wow how this band have seen their stock rise in a short space of time. 

This was the last show on their debut UK headlining tour which has seen sold out notices across the country and this show was moved 150 yards down the road from The Bullingdon Arms due to the amount of tickets sold.They also shared the bill with Bruce Springsteen at the recent Hard Rock Calling show in London.

In front of a packed house their 80 minute show took the best bits of last years "Pride" ep and songs from the soon to huge September release of their debut cd on the Earache label.

Here is what they played.

Be Lucky
Midnight Black
Morning Riders
Pride
Ain't No Telling
Smouldering
Know For Sure
Lovers And Fighters
Chinese Lanterns
Only Friend
Take It Back
Encore of Serenity

Not as heavy rock as Blackwolf earlier with a more laid back Black Crowes/Rolling Stones/Free groove to them but that's not to say they don't hit hard.

For me the song "Pride" is already a classic.Bands on their first ep don't write songs like this. With it's acoustic start and Phil Campbell's soulful vocal delivery live it is just enormous. It builds into a 2 seperate guitar solo monster of a song that will be a staple of their set forever and be on every rock compilation sold for years to come.

All of the band play their part.The rhythm section of Nick Fyffe on bass and the hard hitting Damon Wilson on drums keep it all together with both Luke Potashnick and Paul Sayer on guitar able to pick, riff and solo and groove all at the same time it seems.

At the front Phil Campbell is a wonderful frontman. Not only with the hugest of voices adept at a quiet soulful approach or roaring out with a bluesy tone, he has some amazing moves that keep you mesmerised and you can't keep your eyes of him.

For the first half of "Chinese Lanterns" the band totally unplugged and with no amplification you could have heard a pin drop as the band did a quite jaw dropping version with class oozing from every pore.

With the soon to be classic "Take It Back"  ending the set with it's groove and huge woah woah chorus leaving us all dripping and bellowing for more.


The band didn't disappoint and returned for the laid back "Serenity" which again built to another guitar driven monstrous groove before the band left us wanting more.

Arenas and stadiums beckon for a band that will be huge and with the September release of their debut cd by Christmas everyone will know The Temperance Movement.


A wonderful evening that gives you hope that when all the classic British Rock acts head off into retirement their places can be filled by bands like this.

The price for this night was only £6 so their is still a bargain to be had if you look hard enough.


Quite brilliant.





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