It has been five long years since singer Phil Campbell left The Temperance Movement and the band went on hiatus. Having watched the band from the start I was gutted and no matter how many Phil solo shows, Byson Family gigs or even seeing the main man play in a piano bar, that sprinkling of stardust was missing.

As band members left TTM along the way things waned and Phil carried too much of the burden and finally broke, but finally the boys are all back together and tonight showed the precise magic that this band encapsulated.

The roar when those five guys walked onto a Glasgow stage once again was incredible. This show sold out in minutes and forced their hand in booking another venue but rather than cancel this one we got an intimate show once again and the packed crowd from all over the UK was treated to one of the best TTM shows I have ever witnessed.

The boys did not strap on their gear or sit behind the drums as soon as they arrived, no they gathered centre stage with just one acoustic guitar. They took in the applause and with huge smiles on their faces broke into “Chinese Lanterns”. A very personal song to me and in this setting it was sublime, especially as they gathered into one beautiful five-man chorus. The love for the audience and each other was obvious…the boys are back.

From a very personal song to one of the best tracks they ever wrote in “Only Friend” and like catching up with an old friend I have a beer in my hand and the hugest smile on my face, life cannot get better, or can it?

The place erupts into hollers of whoah oh oh as “Take it Back” kicks off and I do not think I have ever seen a happier crowd in my life. This is what we have all missed. In just three songs the boys have nailed their colours to the mast and you automatically realise once again how many incredible songs this band has and what an individual vibe they always had, oh, and how much have we missed that Dad dancing?

We move onto the A Deeper Cut album with “Built-in Forgetter” and “Caught in the Middle” and the high-tempo numbers have your feet dancing in the little space you have around you in this crammed venue. It is back to the start with “Pride” and OMG this nearly had tears streaming down my face. The band are on fire and Phil sounds incredible, is this as close as you can get to heavenly enlightenment?

With “Get Yourself Free” we have our first taste of White Bear and it is gorgeous. It is followed up with the Rolling Stones homage in “Another Spiral and we catch our breath and bathe in the fact the band has not missed a beat in the five-year absence.

The songs come thick and fast and the feeling of elation rises with each passing song until we end the main part of the set with a breathtaking version of “A Deeper Cut”. We have had Phil shake his maracas, and pull out the harmonica, but now it is time for the acoustic and this stripped-back number is every reason we fell in love with this band. They held something special in those lighter moments, no dancing, no thumping drums just sheer power held under the surface just waiting to burst forth, and when it flows it is blistering.

After a short break, the band returned to huge applause again but it is not just applause, it is recognition, it is thanks and it is a wrong righted. Every one of us is grateful just to witness this band in full flow again.

The encore starts with a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and that brilliance was only just topped by “Midnight Black”, and welcome back old friend…has it really been five years since I shouted Puppy Dog at the top of my lungs?

The band bows out on “Serenity” as if to tip their hat to the crowd. Glasgow was always integral to this band. We threw our love at the band from the off and we accepted seeing them live less and less as they conquered the globe. We always knew they would come back to us and the appreciation shown to the band at the end of the show was us saying thank you and welcome home.

The first thing most people said as they were leaving tonight was thank Christ I have a ticket for the Barras next month. For the ones who don’t, they will be begging, borrowing, or stealing their way to a show under those hallowed stars.

Yes, The Temperance Movement are back and they are better than ever. There may be so much water under the bridge but you could tell from every one of their faces that they knew this was where they were destined to be, as for us, we were just waiting, and in 18 songs those five years have disappeared and the world is a much better place.

All forthcoming live dates can be found, HERE

Review and all images – Ritchie Birnie