Temples Songs LIVE @ Dalston Birthdays

This promising young band, from Manchester, have already picked up support from XFM, BBC 6 and NME for their debut EP ‘Passed Caring’. This EP is a solid introduction to the 4-piece and sets out from the off the scuzzy, psychedelic pop music as the mantra they adhere to. The guitar riff and catchy ,lo-fi, looping vocals make the lead track on the EP an addictive listen and that only grows with every listen from thereon after. In a time where guitar music is once again getting a kick up the backside from the likes of newbies Palma Violets and Peace it is with open arms we welcome another victim to the fold.

The small taster of the band I had before the gig only made my appetite even greater and so I made my way to the venue just in time to catch support band, Whistlejacket who compliment the sound of Temple Songs nicely. It is already evident that the venue is a great platform to showcase small up and coming bands. It’s as a gig venue should be, small, underground and noisy. It is so noisy at some points that it does lead to a lack of transparency of lyrics between band and audience. The PA levels throughout the night do not necessarily compliment the fedback, muddy nature of this bands sound and sometimes makes the lead singer inaudible. As the Tim Burgess lookalike whisks his way through a brief, 30 minute set interaction is minimal and kept to a thanks and a wave every now and again. However for what the band lacks in charisma they make up for in tunes. It is obvious this band is going to make some noise on the scene and turn some heads as each song sounds familiar even though they was probably the first time a lot of the audience, including myself, have heard them before. The gig itself will not go down as a groundbreaking, ‘ I was there’ moment however it does sufficiently fulfil the appetite until more music is revealed by the Mancunians. You get the impression this band will sound great on record and will pick up a lot of radio support on the way. Only time will tell if that is the case.

The biggest moments of the night come from the aforementioned first single, Passed Caring and also newly released EP ‘I Can’t Look After You’. This latter offering sounds like the love child of surfer pop-rock meets King Tuff whilst also having a brief love affair with Yardbirds. It’s fun, not too serious, but equally credible, pop music that will have you bopping your head all the way to the last tube.