On Saturday night, when there was a bevy of gigs on offer, the humble Corner Hotel in Richmond played host to an absolute dream team of a line-up. With a crowd ranging from 18 to at least 60, you would’ve thought that there was about to be some kind of iconic band reunion – instead, everyone had brushed off their leather jackets and chucked on their paisley shirts for groups bands of 20-something year-old boys.
Opening act The Frowning Clouds charmed their way into everyone’s hearts with their dreamy 60s-esque pop songs and cheeky attitudes. ‘Shoe Suede Blues’and ‘Mayan Calendar Girl’ were received well, sending a few old-timers hip shaking. One of Geelong’s best kept secrets, the five-piece thanked everyone for coming out early and chucked in a merch advertisement to the surprise of one of their guitarists (“We’re selling merch?”). The only downside was the crowd size – a little disappointing seeing hardly anyone turn out for a local act with an impressive sound.
Deep Sea Arcade were next, blowing the roof off with a prodigious set. Predominately performing material from Outlands along with a couple songs from their forthcoming sophomore LP, the Sydney act oozed confidence as they staggered around stage. A little intoxicated and with a bassist who could pass as a doppelgänger of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, the band were a fitting warm-up act to their UK counterparts.
Soon enough Temples took the stage, and the screams of young women in the front row accompanied them. With frontman James Bagshaw’s luscious locks, it wasn’t impossible to see why.
The freshly crowned princes of psychedelia showcased their debut Sun Structures to the delight of many – a trip back to the roots of 60s low-fi rock. “Thanks so much for coming along to see us,” drawled Bagshaw. “We’re surprised to see we’re received so well over here. This is our first time in Australia. Thank you so much.”
When describing their sound, it can be difficult. Picture a mash-up of Tame Impala, The Who, and Procol Harum and you’d be pretty close. Armed with Silvertone guitars and a load of distortion, ‘A Question Isn’t Answered’ packed a punch, reverberating off the walls and filling the entire venue with rich sounds. Brimming with audience interaction, ‘Sun Structures’ was much in the same nature – a little slack on the synthesisers, but still proving to be successful.
‘Move With The Seasons’ teleported Temples to another level, and it was then that it became clear that the four-piece could deliver this monstrous album as well on stage as it was recorded in the studio.
Sealing it all with an eight-minute version of ‘Mesmerise’ and ‘Shelter Song’ (which ignited a mosh), it then became perfectly clear that the young gentlemen have a big future ahead – probably the reason why they played Coachella, SXSW, and are set to take the stage at Glastonbury and Reading Festival this year.
Setlist
Colours To Life
Prisms
Sun Structures
A Question Isn’t Answered
Ankh
Move With The Season
Keep In The Dark
Sand Dance
Mesmerise
Shelter Song
