The Temperance Movement at The Barrowlands

AFTER days of trudging through snow and slush, empty shelves and cabin fever, the only light at the end of the tunnel was that of the Barrowlands, as the Temperance Movement returned to Glasgow, bringing with them their usual rock n roll antics.

The broad appeal of the band was evident when looking at the crowd who braved the cold and icy pavements to get to the Barrowlands. Music fans of all ages and styles from kids and teenagers to old rockers had crammed themselves into the legendary ballroom to see one of the best live bands in the country.

The band emerged on to the dark stage and immediately launched into the opening track, ‘Caught in the Middle’, from their latest album A Deeper Cut. The guitar-driven track acted as the ideal start to the show, in typical Temperance Movement style it was brazen, loud and pure rock n roll. Those who have seen the band before will be well aware of how frontman and Glasgow’s own Phil Campbell commands the stage and audience alike, in a manner not unlike some of the true icons of music.

The setlist rumbled on to showcase some other stand out tracks from the band’s latest release including ‘Love and Devotion’ and ‘The Wonders We’ve Seen’, but the undeniable highlights of the set were when the band looked back to their 2013 debut album, The Temperance Movement. ‘Be Lucky’, a marriage of the Rolling Stones and the Kinks with a huge, singalong chorus was undoubtedly a fan-favourite five years ago and still remains to this day one of the finest tunes the boys have ever produced. Before remerging to the stage for an unforgettable encore which included the riotous ‘Midnight Black’, a stand out of the band’s debut, Phil Campbell and co. provided the crowd with a quieter glimpse at the Temperance Movement with soft ballad ‘A Deeper Cut’. This song, with its gentle start and huge, anthemic choruses will no doubt be one that the continues to thrill and rally audiences around the world in a shared experience of pure, live and real rock n roll music.

There really was no better way to end a relatively bleak week than in one of the most iconic venues in the world, with one of the best crowds and the best live band in the country right now. It may be a long time before the Barrowlands sees something that real and that special again.