Canadian band enjoying Glorious year

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This article was published 15/11/2018 (2865 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been quite a year for Kingston, Ont.,-based rock group the Glorious Sons.

Since the release of their sophomore album, Young Beauties and Fools, in October 2017, the five-piece has been on a roll, to say the least. Their single, Everything is Alright, peaked at No. 1 on the Canadian rock charts, they took home the 2018 Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year, they filled an opening slot for the Rolling Stones in France this summer, and their newest single, S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun), is holding strong in the Top 10 of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts, opening up more opportunities to tour south of the border.

A signifier of their success, the band needed to add a second show in Winnipeg due to high demand; they will be at the Burton Cummings Theatre on both Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17, and Saturday’s show is sold out.

Guitarist Jay Emmons says it’s been an intense journey since the album came out last year, but the group is enjoying all the new opportunities that have landed in their laps as part of it.

“It’s been a really great year, I mean it’s been kind of a wild ride, but it seems like everything we would have wanted to happen is happening for us. When we released the album was kind of the beginning of all that,” Emmons says.

Scrolling through the band’s Twitter page is the best way to understand why fans have latched on to the Glorious Sons — it’s all in the live show. Known for their raucous energy and old-school rock ’n’ roll attitude onstage, the guys certainly leave an impression.

“We don’t have plans, we don’t script it or anything like that, so it’s taken time to develop and it’s kind of reckless and dangerous and brings that element back into rock ’n’ roll, which doesn’t really exist as much as it used to, so I think that’s what people are drawn to with the live show,” Emmons says.

But it’s not just about the spectacle.

Emmons’ brother, Brett, is the principal songwriter in the band, and pours himself into his lyrics, revealing many details about his personal life and both the successes and struggles he has faced. (Earlier this year, Brett also announced that he has become sober, admitting that he struggles with alcohol abuse.)

Emmons says it’s not uncommon for fans to approach the band or reach out via email or social media to share how some songs have helped them through their own hard times.

“Brett is very talented at really drawing people in and making them feel like he’s been there before because all the songs are so personal, about the ups and downs of his last few years,” Emmons says.

“It’s nice to know the music is helping people.”

The Glorious Sons have spent much of the last few years on the road and don’t have plans to take an extended break any time soon; momentum is strong and demand is high, so there are already tours in the works for much of 2019 after they get a few weeks off over the holidays.

“Every day is different on the road,” Emmons says.

“Some days you feel like just going home and having a normal life and some days you feel like you’re the luckiest guy in the world.”

erin.lebar@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @NireRabel