Written by Ken Vantour/Photos by Paul Eastwood

The Glorious Sons rolled into Ottawa on Thursday night, (December 14, 2023) and gave a near 2 hour example of how a rock and roll concert should be.

I will admit, I’m an idiot.

I had heard of The Glorious Sons, but for some unknown reason, I never listened to them. There is no excuse, aside from my stupidity, and I apologise for that. However…

There is something special about showing up to a concert with no expectations, no preconceived ideas of what the music should sound like or how the band should act on stage. It is a journey into the unknown, with no idea what lays ahead.

For the uninitiated, and judging from the crowd at TD Place, I was the only one, The Glorious Sons are a Kingston, Ontario band that have been around since 2011. When I think of Kingston bands, it was always a one band town. The Tragically Hip put Kingston on the Rock N Roll map, but now there are two.

As the band kicked off their set with My Poor Heart, from 2017’s Young Beauties and Fools, one thing caught my eye. The band, although playing on a large stage in a hockey arena, positioned themselves as if playing a small club gig, showing the camaraderie of the members, and evoking an intimate connection with the audience. Singer Brett Emmons, with all due respect to the other 5 musicians, was obviously the star of the this show. From the onset, he controlled the crowd with a powerful, raspy voice that had the crowd singing along to every word. He didn’t talk a lot between songs, aside from the occasional, “How is it now?’ or “We’re The Glorious Sons From Kingston, Ontario,” but he didn’t have to. This band truly let the music do the talkin’.

Drummer Adam Paquette and bassist Peter Van Helvoort laid down incredible groove all night long, Pianist Josh Hewson, nestled on a riser at the back of the stage, added sweet layers to the songs, and took the spotlight several times, including the beautiful show-ending Amigo, from the band’s debut album The Union. The guitar duo of Steve Kirstein and Jay Emmons ripped TD Place a new one. The guitars were front and centre in the mix, loud and crunchy, which is exactly the way it should be.

As a Glorious Son newbie, I watched this show from a different perspective. Since I had nothing to compare the music to, I watched the crowd. This was a younger crowd that I am used to. Most shows I attend are of the classic rock genre. We old folks tend to sit, sing along and clap politely after each song. The classic rock concerts are incredible, but for a different reason than The Glorious Sons.

The crowd was INTO this show. The couple in front of me spent the evening dancing and singing. Their smiles, every time the band kicked into a next song, mirrored the faces of the thousands in attendance. The highlight of the night was definitely S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun. I have been to hundreds of concerts, but it’s been a long time since I have seen a crowd reaction like that…on their feet, singing every word, hands in the air.

On a. bit of a side note, I must admit, it’s nice to see a good ole Canadian rock band playing larger venues. Most of the bands from the Great White North are playing smaller shows in Ottawa, at place like Bronson Centre and The Brass Monkey. Those shows are always great, but it’s a good sign that a newer band, (I know, 10 years isn’t really new) is playing for a few thousand people is a good sign for Canadian rock music.

Simply put, The Glorious Sons in Ottawa was exactly what you want from a rock concert. It was loud. It was emotional. It was long. It was….well…GLORIOUS. For a new fan, hearing 20 new songs, and never once feeling bored at a concert, is the sign of a stellar band with great music.

The Blue Stones, a Windsor, Ontario duo opened the show with a 10 song set that seemed to drag on a bit. Guitarist Tarek Jafar and drummer Justin Tessier did their best to pump up the crowd, but in all honesty, sounded a bit too much like a Black Keys cover band. The music was good, but the crowd was obviously waiting for the Sons, and weren’t ready for the Blue Stones. Tessier even took time to tell the crowd that he hoped people would give ‘100 times more energy to The Gorious Sons,” before storming off the stage without acknowledging the crowd. Not the best way to win over new fans.

The following is a review from Maeve Smith. The Glorious Sons show was her first concert ever.

Attending my first concert of a band I’ve been listening to for eight years was an exhilarating and unforgettable experience. The moment the lights dimmed, the crowd’s anticipation heightened. The Glorious Sons live performance exceeded all expectations, leaving me with a very lost voice after all the cheering and singing along. Weeks before the concert, I had been preparing by keeping up with their social media and listening to their set lists posted. Time seemed to warp as the band played familiar tunes I had been hoping to hear. From the opening chords to the end of the final encore, the concert was a night so incredible that words can’t describe.

Maeve Smith

The Glorious Sons
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Thursday, December 14, 2024

Setlist

My Pooor Heart
Mama
Panic Attack
Mercy, Mercy
Kill The Lights
White Noise
The Contender
Speed Of Light
Pink Motel
Lightning
Dream
Josie
The Union
S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun)
Heavy
Everything Is Alright
Encore:
One Church Town
Sometimes On A Sunday
You Stay Young
Ruby