Temples at Webster Hall

Vocalist/guitarist James Bagshaw and bassist Tom Walmsley met when they were in rival bands in their hometown of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. The duo later performed together in the Moons, then developed a home studio project called Temples in 2012. As Temples, Bagshaw and Walmsley uploaded four self-produced tracks to social media and, when the songs earned industry attention and popular acclaim, formed a band so the songs could be performed live. Temples presently consists of Bagshaw, Walmsley, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Adam Smith, and new drummer Rens Ottink. Temples' third and most recent studio album is Hot Motion, released on September 27, 2019.

Postponed from November 2019, Temples headlined at Webster Hall tonight, the second night of the band's tour. The band's synthesizer-loaded second album disappointed many fans, so the set was comprised mostly of songs from the guitar-rocking first and third albums. Growth was evident. In years past, Temples sounded like a nostalgic throwback to rock's early psychedelic era, but this tour demonstrated that the band has taken ownership of its vintage sound and sprouted expansively from its roots. The big hair and outmoded wardrobe assigned the visual impact to a time some 50 years ago, and some low-fidelity guitar sounds accentuated this time imprint, but the music no longer sounds like an old recording. Floating-on-air pop melodies, tight harmonies, chiming guitars, kaleidoscopic riffs, skuzzy glam grooves, and dreamy vibes redefined and transcended the original psychedelic era. The only drawback was that the musicianship and arrangements were so precise, especially in the early part of the set, that it seemed like every note was carved into an inflexible template. A few songs towards the end of the performance seemed looser and gave the band increased dynamic presence. Five decades ago, psychedelic music was the bridge between traditional pop music and the new rock movement; today, Temples sits on the dividing line again, but overall tilts more to the pop side.

Setlist:

1. The Howl
2. Certainty
3. A Question Isn't Answered
4. You're Either on Something
5. Colours to Life
6. Holy Horses
7. The Golden Throne
8. Oh the Saviour
9. Hot Motion
10. The Beam
11. Context
12. Keep in the Dark
13. Atomise
14. Shelter Song

Encore:

1. Sun Structures
2. Mesmerise