Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
After lapping up the applause on their guest slot on 2023’s acclaimed tour by Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, Toronto-based rockers The Commoners made good on their promise to “Come back real soon…” with a burst of 9 shows in 10 days.
Built around appearances at both Maid Of Stone, and Steelhouse festivals, the run of dates includes 7 headline shows where the band could bring to life the songs created for the freshly-released third album ‘Restless’.
No stranger to these shores over the last 18 months or so, the hard work has paid off, and fans of their brand of Southern-meets-Roots rock could finally get to witness the band in a headlining capacity, and judging by how many are squashed into tonight’s impressive venue – which actually is a series of Caves – the band has found an audience this side of the Atlantic.
Keeping it red and white with a maple leaf in the middle is fellow Ontarian, singer/songwriter, and guitarist Madison Galloway, who with that surname (‘place of the foreign Gaels’) must have some local ancestors.
Armed with a gorgeous custom-painted Fender Telecaster (which is changed throughout the set for an equally gorgeous Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin), Madison takes to the stage and launches into ‘Freedom’, one of many tracks featured tonight from her recent self-titled album. Something about the opening lyrics hit home, especially since this maiden voyage to the UK was crowd-funded: “I’m a wandering soul on a rambling road” – it doesn’t get more Southern rock than that. Southern rock is a term to be used loosely however as there is more of a bluesy-country-rootsy feel to Madison’s music, and during moments of ‘Freedom’ (a few tips of the hat here and there on Madison’s guitar parts to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’), one could be witnessing a harder-edged Sheryl Crow, albeit a harder-edged Sheryl Crow who can wail on the guitar – the immaculate ‘Hatebirds’ would make a great track on Crow’s next album and put an extension on Casa Galloway.
‘Love Like Yours’ is an early highlight and like a lot of Madison’s output it constantly changes tact within the song: the opening Aerosmith-like strut grows into a blues-rock growler where George Love behind the drumkit is controlling the tempo expertly. Aided and abetted by Love, and Nik Hirst on keyboards (his keyboard fills mean that when guitars are being changed there is none of that uncomfortable dead space, the intro to ‘The River’ is especially effective), Madison is quickly at home in front of a crowd where many will be hearing her material for the first time.
Although it is quite bizarre that there are a few rows of seats at the front of the stage in what is usually a standing venue, the audience is appreciative and pays attention to Madison; especially when she breaks out a harmonica during a delicious bluesy jam on the intro to ‘Whiplash’, another highlight of the evening and one of the standout tracks on the new album. Ending with a blistering version of ‘Open Your Eyes’, Madison Galloway leaves the stage having done enough to make fans turn around and head to the merch stand to pick up a copy of the album. Job done.
Along with “It’s not you, it’s me”, “The new album is our best yet” is perhaps the most over-used phrase in circulation today. It is not just a cliche for The Commoners, proven by the fact that the band plays the new album ‘Restless’ in its entirety. Not many bands would have the balls to attempt that, never mind pulling it off, but the Canadians do have the balls and do pull it off.
Opting to eschew playing the set in the same order as the album the band launches the 90-minute set with the barnstorming riff-rocker ‘Shake You Off’ where the keyboard sound from Miles Evans-Branagh is just as crucial as the glorious lead guitar work of Ross Hayes Citrullo. A constant joy to watch, Citrullo plays his guitar ala Jimmy Page: slung lower than a snake’s belly. The pickup selector switch on his Gibson is getting a proper workout and at times, Citrullo makes it look effortless; the rocket-sized riff that launches his first solo is Ace Frehley/Tom Scholz-sized and goddam it set your phasers to stun because we have lift-off.
Everything tonight goes through the somewhat appropriately named Adam Cannon behind the kit, with ‘Who Are You?’ being a fantastic lesson in how much a drummer can control the moment, and Cannon’s work is exemplary. Non-fussy and reliable as all good rock ‘n’ roll drummers should be, Cannon links up well with bassist Ben Spiller to form a formidable partnership, the perfect example of this would be the slow-burning ‘Body And Soul’ which at times is hypnotic. Chris Medhurst is rapidly becoming one of the best among the new batch of rock vocalists today and his soul-bearing performance during this one is at times astounding. Resisting the urge to go overboard, it’s almost as if he has more in the tank if needed. One of the highlights of the new album, it is special witnessing it grow wings in a live setting.
The pairing of ‘Restless’ and ‘See You Again’ one after the other is sublime. The epic title track is staggering. A prime example of how much the band has grown over the last few years and how far the songwriting and songcraft have come along in that time. Destined to be one of the songs of the year, it is beautiful. As is the song that follows: ‘See You Again’. The gentle, melodic acoustic guitar intro would be fine on its own, but Evans-Branagh’s subtle keyboard sounds help build the song into a heartfelt ballad. Add the towering ‘Deadlines’ (like the magical The Band-esque ‘Fill My Cup’ that follows later, it’s taken from 2022’s ‘Find A Better Way’ album) and an utterly gonzo rendition of ‘The Way I Am’ into the mix, and it makes for an exhilarating 20 minutes or so.
‘Restless’ is an emotion-packed album full of heartfelt moments; none more so than the aforementioned ‘See You Again’ which is a tribute to Adam Cannon’s father who passed away when the band was on tour in the UK in 2023. Not a sound was heard from the crowd when Cannon introduced the song and pointed out how much of a personal dilemma it was for him whether or not to fly home to be with his father, and how it was the support of his bandmates that got him through the difficult time. This theme continues with the rare inclusion of ‘Restless’ closing track ‘All That We Have’ which is performed solo by Medhurst and an acoustic guitar. Honest, reflective, and, tonight, especially poignant, it is dedicated to someone in the audience who is well-known to many and is facing something unimaginable to most of us. Tender and touching, it is a classy gesture from a classy band.
The future is bright, the future is red and white with a big bloody Maple leaf in the middle.
Connect with The Commoners, HERE
All images – Dave Jamieson
