On Tuesday, February 23 Ontario rock/metal band Monster Truck came through Victoria with British rockers The Temperance Movement in tow.
The Temperance Movement are touring supporting their new album, White Bear; they drew the crowd onto the dance floor by the end of the first track. Lead singer Phil Campbell bounced and swayed around the stage belting older tunes like “Only Friend” and “Take It Back” from their self-titled debut album. Their two guitarists passed solos back and forth, both boasting their talent playing slide guitar, which is a prominent style on White Bear.
The band left the crowd excited with anticipation for the headliners, which soon turned into incessant chanting for “Mon-ster Truck!” Drum kits and guitars were rearranged and exchanged as a sea of rockers closed in around the stage. The lights dimmed and Monster Truck filed onto stage.
Lead singer Jon Harvey bent into his bass guitar with fast-paced riffs to carry the sporadic and uncontrollable solos by guitarist Jeremy Wilderman, who bounded around the stage and onto the front row of speakers. The crowd quickly turned into a mob of headbanging fans that jumped back and forth with the solid and steady drumming that pounded through the air.
Keyboardist Brandon Bliss and drummer Steve Kiely carried each song from their seats, the latter behind a kick drum painted with the nickname “Cool Steve.”
The lively and energetic frontmen shook long untamed manes over their frets as the crowd mirrored the enthusiasm tenfold. The band of four, promoting their newly released Sittin’ Heavy, wowed the already-eager audience with a slew of fresh tracks. Under the shifting lights and billowing smoke they put on a show to solidify their name in today’s rock and metal scenes.