Temples at the Rose Bar

James Bagshaw and Thomas Walmsley (background)

Vocalist/guitarist James Edward Bagshaw and bassist Thomas Edward James Walmsley played together as well as in rival bands in their hometown of Kettering, England. They started Temples as a home studio project in 2012, uploading four self-produced tracks on the internet. In order to play live, they recruited keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Adam Thomas Smith and drummer Samuel Toms. Temples' second album, Volcano, was released on March 3, 2017.

A day before headlining at the Bowery Ballroom, Temples performed an invitation-only seven-song mini-set at the Rose Bar at the Gramercy Hotel. As on the rest of the tour, Temples opened with "Colours to Life" and "A Question Isn't Answered," before introducing a new song, Roman God-Like Man." In all, the set consisted of five songs from the band's 2014 debut and two new songs, including the album opener, "Certainty." The musicians are young, but they mastered an old psychedelic rock sound. Skipping in and out of a wash of shoegaze effects, Temples cascaded noodly guitar leads behind fading vocals. The arrangements had a penchant for hypnotic trance, but did not dwell too long on any stoner groove for the listener to get lost in it. Temples gave a remarkably fresh facelift to a vintage sound.

Visit Temples at www.templestheband.com.