Charlotte rock quintet Temperance League starts its Fridayafternoon with a performance at Raleigh’s Hopscotch Festival today beforewinding back across the state to headline its album release party at SnugHarbor tonight. It follows that gig up with another Saturday at NoDa’s ChopShop, which hosts the mammoth three-day God Save the Queen City 2 festival. While some bands might scoff at the mere travel or debateabout oversaturating the market, Temperance League seems to take an old schoolapproach - play. That old school philosophy permeates many aspects ofthe band, including its new self-titled LP. Yep, LP. The 11-track album is out on vinyl and digital download only. That’s just how the grouprolls. It previously released a handful of 7” singles.
The sound of the new album follows that old school mentalitywhile heading away from the group’s political garage rock beginnings and morein the direction of recent singles like “I Don’t Wanna"/“But I Have To.” WhileI absolutely love some of those early rabble rousers like “No Jobs/More War”and “Ain’t Nobody Listening,” the full-length comes across as a cohesivecollection.
Like its previous singles the album was recorded by famed NCproducer Mitch Easter (R.E.M.) at his Fidelitorium Studios in Kernersville.
Frontman Bruce Hazelis frequently compared to Jersey’s favorite son and admitted influence BruceSpringsteen (Hazel also hails from there), and he puts his Bossiest footforward on the opener “Pursuit of the Past” before reaching deeper into therock n’ roll canon with the aforementioned combo of “I Don’t Wanna” and “But IHave To.” I could imagine a girl group like the Ronettes singing the former, whilethe latter rides a sort of `60s psychedelia groove as, if willing, TemperanceLeague could offer a grittier take on the music of psychedelic movies like “Beyondthe Valley of the Dolls.”
Along with Hazel, Temperance League includes anall-star lineup of locals in Shawn Lynch, Chad Wilson, David Kim, and EricScott. Its members are connected enough to the local music scene to draw acrowd, but to its credit those crowds keep returning as the group’s soundcontinues to evolve.
Although the record is deeply rooted in old rock n’ roll,classic garage rock, and the `60s, `70s and early `80s, it hits on so manydifferent facets of those decades that it’s never stuck in one simple genre. “(I) Dreamed Last Night” is a crooner that imaginesElvis fronting the Byrds.
“Your World” and “Homecoming” both connect to the sort ofgrand anthem that Springsteen does well and are elevated by the guitar work and“oooh, ah” style backing vocals. “Bigger Things” echoes that format by building tension and hope with a repeated melody. All of these elements seem tocome into the play on the breakup track “Our Romance” (which is in the runningalong with “Your World” and “Homecoming” for my favorite). That song bridges jangle pop, Byrds-like harmonies, girl group arrangements, and thatBoss-like longing that comes across in the sustain of a guitar phrase.
Appropriately “Moving Forward” (as well as “Don’t Give Up”)is probably the most contemporary track on the record with its distorted guitarand climbing feel.
You can grab a copy and catch the band's free show Fridayat Snug Harbor with Mark Crozer& the Rels, Hungry Girl, and Loose Lugnuts or tomorrow during God Save theQueen City 2 at NoDa’s Chop Shop. Tickets for the latter are $15 or $30 for aweekend pass that includes performances from 40 bands. Or if you don't have a record player, the album is available for download here.
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