Manchester Club Academy. 22 November 2013.

Way back in 1997 I heard an utterly brilliant, epic pop-rock record by a young Scots singer/songwriter called Phil Campbell. A couple of years later I became involved in the online music game and immediately tried to make contact with Campbell to talk about the album (that still remains in my top ten favourites list) and to catch up on more recent work.

I couldn’t find him. He had disappeared without trace.

It took another couple of years before I found him but this time through his new three-piece band White Buffalo. I at last established the true story about that album entitled Fresh New Life, his relationship with troubled record label EMI, and the seamier side of an industry that entrapped him…

It seemed for a long time that I was virtually the only one talking about this wonderful talent and reviewing several consistently good records released by the band. Eventually Capbell went solo again and released another three wonderful albums one of which pricked the interest of the Sunday Times that devoted substantial space to him and his music. But then he seemed to disappear again eventually turning up back in his hometown of Glasgow where his most current musical incarnation was formed.

The Temperance Movement are a blues rock band formed in 2011 by Glasgow-born Campbell and guitarists Luke Potashnick (ex-Rooster and Ben’s Brother) and Paul Sayer. The rhythm section consists of former Jamiroquai bassist Nick Fyffe and the Australian-born drummer Damon Wilson, who has played with the likes of Ray Davies, The Waterboys and Feeder. The band released their “Pride EP” in 2012, and their eponymous debut studio album was released on 16 September 2013.

Phil Campbell — vocals
Luke Potashnick — guitars
Paul Sayer — guitars
Nick Fyffe — bass
Damon Wilson — drums

The eponymous debut long-player received universal acclaim and in this age of reduced volume sales of hard copy managed to reach number 12 in the charts. The band has spent the last year touring relentlessly and in the process won gongs for the best new rock band. Tonight’s show I believe is their last in 2013 and I’m delighted to witness them play live at last.

Supporting the band is a young singer/songwriter from Utah called Joshua James. And what a support he proved to be!!! James was backed by three other musicians and backing vocalists and on any other night could have been the lead act - he was that good.

James was an object lesson in homespun Americana story-telling and the most expressive delivery. It was all so natural for the young man with music obviously running through his veins. Vocally he was excellent and able to travel the vocal range with ease. Songs actually meant something with wonderful lyrical quality and a passionate, sincere delivery that had the audience eatng out of his guitar-laden hands. He connected easily with spoken and sung tales and of his religious upbringing and a song from the TV series Sons of Anarchy (one of two of his songs used in the show). He ended the set with a Spanish language tribute to The Temperance Movement with whom he had shared the stage for several months.

Rarely have I witnessed a support act so in tune with the lead band, and an act that has prepared the audience so well for what was to follow. Credit also must be given to to his backing musicians who much of the time provided the most delectable vocal harmonies.

While the massed ranks of The Temperance Movement mounted the stage, the audience grew to capacity in yet anotehr sold-out show for the band. Eventually Campbell arrived decked out in his fur-collared coat and wearing abundant facial hair. This was not the clean-cut, quite static rocker I had seen years earlier but someone who seemed at peace at last and ready to rock his little socks off.