Photos and review by Amanda Daubert – The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey is an ionic venue known for hosting bands on their way up and Saturday night was no exception. Taking the stage that has hosted Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Joat Jett, hero Bruce Springsteen, and so many more, The Glorious Sons were ready to carve out a place for their band in this line-up of epic stars.
Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, this six-piece powerhouse of a group is everything you want and need in a good ol’ fashion rock band. Frontman Brett Emmons is the epitome of a dirty rock ‘n’ roller in all the best ways. Taking the stage with his long hair and bare feet, fueled with an incredible passion, powerful vocals, energetic stage presence – running from one side to the next, chanting scream-it-back choruses, and then slowing it down for emotional ballads, you are guaranteed to never see the same performance twice. Flanked on both sides by two incredible guitarists and vocalists, you have Brett’s older brother Jay Emmons and talented singer-songwriter – Chris Koster. Putting the true heartbeat into every song is drummer Adam Paquette. Supporting on bass is the talented Peter Van Helvoort who also fronts the amazing band Darling Congress. Then rounding out the stage on the keyboard and guitar is the enigmatic Josh Hewson. While these are six individuals, when placed on stage, they truly become one and magically embrace their fans – whether it’s a dirty club of 300 in the states, or a stadium of 14,000 in their hometown, they transform their souls into one with their fans in the most beautiful way possible.
This magic, the emotional connection between the band and its fans, is not lost on its diehard fan base – The TGS Amigos. With a group of almost 6,000 members, fans of The Glorious Sons travel from province to province, state to state, and country to country, hosting their own meet-ups, spending hours together outside of venues, building this incredible family unlike anything you’ve seen with other bands. True fans of The Glorious Sons are adopted into the most inclusive, dysfunctional, supportive, and crazy family that only fuels the cult-like craze that follows this band.
As the band hit the stage for the last show of a quick six city run through the US, die-hard Amigos lined the rail, an excited crowd filled the room, and as the lights went down the energy went through the roof. Kicking off the night with a statement that rings all too true at the end of a tour, Brett declared “I need to rest my poor heart,” to which the crowd replied, “I think I’ve taken it too far,” and off the night went. The band’s setlist played up to the high energy of the crowd featuring “White Noise,” “Wild Eyes,” “Young King,” and “Daylight,” only slowing it down briefly for “Hide My Love.”
The band ended the main set with a set-list staple in “Mama,” featuring both an incredible sing-it-back chorus and Brett’s iconic harmonica solo. Walking off the stage the crowd went wild, cheering for just a little bit more. Returning to the stage for their final encore of the tour, fans were treated to “Kill the Lights,” “I Want Ya,” power-ballad “Pink Motel,” and the emotional “Everything is Alright” which pulls the crowd in for a promise that “Everything is alright, if only for tonight.”
With no tour dates on the books, fans are hoping for an album release announcement, as the band has been in the studio over the last few months presumably working on their fourth full-length album. Here’s to hopes of a new album, tour, and a blazing road to future success for The Glorious Sons….So, how you doin’ now?
