The Temperance Movement Are Back – I’ll Drink To That

★★★★★ (5/5)

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT PERFORMING AT NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE’S BOILER SHOP
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST

After five long years of silence, the return of The Temperance Movement to the live stage felt less like a gig and more like a reunion of old pals. The venue, Newcastle’s Boiler Shop, buzzed with a mix of nostalgic reverence and restless anticipation. It’s a space that retains an industrial edge—raw brick, vaulted ceilings, sweat in the walls—and on this night, it was the perfect crucible for the rebirth of one of Britain’s most soulful rock outfits.

Before the main event, the crowd was treated to a supporting set by Sam Palladio, best known for his role on the TV show Nashville, but carving out an increasingly respected reputation as a singer-songwriter in his own right. Dressed in a fitted black jacket, white vest and wielding an old Gibson acoustic, Palladio’s set was intimate, full of Southern charm and Brit-folk sincerity. Songs like “Tennessee” and “Spill Your Heart” had a gentle, heartfelt pull, but it was his finale of “Jenny” that whipped the Boiler Shop to a frenzy at the end. With a tight two-piece band, Palladio warmed the room not with fire, but with a pleasant slow, glowing ember.

Then came the main event. As the lights dimmed and a hush fell, five silhouetted figures took their places under the pale spotlights. And then, without a word, they began. “Chinese Lanterns,” the gentle closer from their 2013 debut, reimagined here as a haunting a cappella opener. It was a bold move—a few strums of the acoustic, no drums, just Phil Campbell’s raw, gravelly vocal intertwining with harmonies from the rest of the band. The room stood still, hanging on every breath, not a dry eye in the house. The Temperance Movement were back. By the time the first guitar riff of “Only Friend” roared to life, the Boiler Shop just about exploded.

Formed in 2011, The Temperance Movement built their sound on the bones of classic rock, Southern soul, and blues grit. Following three studio albums and a steady rise through the ranks of modern rock, the band went on hiatus in 2020, their future uncertain. Tonight marked another step in their triumphant reformation—a full-circle return, with the (almost) classic line-up back in place and somehow sounding more mature and yet tighter than ever.

The setlist was a celebration of every chapter of their journey. From the swaggering stomp of “Only Friend” to the soaring catharsis of “Another Spiral” each track landed like a cherished old friend. Campbell, ever the magnetic frontman, moved like a man possessed—part preacher, part poet, part rock 'n’ roll shaman—his voice somehow rougher and richer than ever. He spoke sparingly between songs, but his grin said everything: he was home - back on stage with these friends.

The crowd, a mix of longtime devotees and younger fans catching their first live glimpse, were focussed throughout. There was singing, swaying, even tears during “Pride” and you could feel something shift in the air—joy, nostalgia, maybe even a little healing.

The encore was pure catharsis. Out came the surprise of the night: a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” It was unexpected and utterly perfect. The band leaned into its swampy Americana roots, drawing out the heartbreak in the lyrics with aching restraint. Campbell’s vocal cracked in all the right places, and the chorus swelled with the kind of unity that only happens in rooms like this—where strangers suddenly feel like kin.

The night closed, fittingly, with “Midnight Black” As the final notes faded into the brick and steel of the Boiler Shop, there was a moment of stillness—no rush for the exit, just a collective need to savour what they had just witnessed.

It wasn’t just a comeback. It was a resurrection. The Temperance Movement didn’t return with fireworks or pyrotechnics. They returned with soul, with fire in their bellies and songs that still matter. On this night in Newcastle, they reminded everyone what rock and roll feels like—not just the sound of it, but the heart, the grit, the grace.

And damn, did it feel good.