Sounds on the Square featuring Temperance League

Overview

Sounds on the Square is back to highlight the best comedians and musicians in the Charlotte area! Featuring clean comedy from Todd Riley to open the show and music from Temperance League, this free outdoor event will have socially distanced seating for the first 50 guests on a first come, first served basis. Face masks will be required per state mandate. Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase by card only (cash will not be accepted). A live stream of these events will also be shared on our Facebook page!

Temperance League

Temperance League has been overturning the old-guys-can’t-rock notion since solidifying as a sextet three years ago, and they’re doing so at a pace that should shame many younger acts, kicking out blitzkrieg jams on a relentless basis.

The band has proven one of the most consistent and prolific rock bands today.

From its Punky political beginnings to forays into ‘60’s Rock & Roll, ‘70’s Garage Rock, Springsteen-ian earnest rock and Elvis Costello-ish, working class New Wave, the band’s sound has continued to evolve.

The two-guitar attack of Shawn Lynch and Chad Wilson tears through muscular rhythms-delivered by drummer David Kim and bassist Eric Scott and ably decorated by keyboardist Jay Garrigan. Singer Bruce Hazel’s impassioned vocals at the fore, the group unleashes hook after hook.

The sophomore album, aptly titled Rock and Roll Dreams quickly ensured that their reputation as a charismatic, compelling live band would now include the notion of them also being studio savants. It wound up on numerous regional publications’ and critics’ Best-of- 2013 lists.  It also earned Temperance League their first arena appearance with the legendary Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.

As energized as their albums sound, it’s live that the Temperance League really plugs into its strengths. The live chops are formidable, having been honed in some of the Queen City’s best bands of recent years, including Lou Ford, Benji Hughes, Les Dirt Clods, the Fence Lions and Buschovski, among others. It’s a veteran lineup, in other words, playing music we traditionally associate with younger generations.

Heading toward the back end of their first decade together, the band’s songs seem tighter, their hooks bigger, their steps surer than at any point previously—you sense that Temperance League keeps finding new ways of reaching that sweet spot.

Temperance League’s sound remains gutsy and melodic but they have clearly upped their songwriting and arranging games.

Todd Riley

Todd Riley has excellent stage presence and a must see comedic voice. He was featured in the Oddball Festival 2014, and Comedy Central's Up Next Nationwide Contest.

He has been seen opening for Headliners Rob Schneider, Jon Lovitz, John Witherspoon, and several comics from the former Chelsea Lately show.

Some of Todd's best weekends have been spent at the Comedy Zones, Zanies, The Punchline in Atlanta and an occasional appearance, back where it all started, at the Columbus Funnybone.