Underrated UK quartet Temples are touring to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album, Sun Structures, and they recently played Union Stage at The Wharf. A collection of fuzzy, upbeat psychedelic-pop, the album went Top 10 in the UK but had a harder time making a dent on these shores. But the band has put in the work, touring the States on numerous occasions, including six previous DC shows since 2013. I saw them at U Street Music Hall in 2020 and thought they were fab. 

At Union Stage on Oct. 16, their 14 song set featured all 12 songs from Sun Structures and two recent singles, 2020’s “Paraphernalia” and 2023’s “Gamma Rays.” They wisely switched up the order of songs from the album for the set, something I am very in favor of. It lets the band set the tempo and allows the night to flow better. 

The chugging rhythm of “Keep in the Dark” and the soaring riffs from “Mesmerise” sounded great and were standouts. I felt that the album works much better in a live setting. The record is a great listen, but it’s lacking a low end and hearing those riffs and choruses with live drums really propels the songs to new heights. Shoutout to drummer Rens Ottink.

Watch the official music video for “Mesmerise” by Temples on YouTube:

Opener Alex Henry Foster put on a very interesting set to start the night. He and his band sound like White Lies if they used The Cure’s Disintegration as a north star instead of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures. They filled the stage with band members and tons of equipment and played a total of four songs in their allotted 30 minutes.

Setlist:

Sun Structures
A Question Isn’t Answered
The Golden Throne
Colours to Life
The Guesser
Test of Time
Move With the Season
Keep in the Dark
Sand Dance
Fragment’s Light
Mesmerise
Shelter Song

Encore:
Paraphernalia
Gamma Rays

Here are some photos of Temples and Alex Henry Foster at Union Stage on Oct. 16, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Kyle Gustafson.

Alex Henry Foster