Canadian roots rockers The Commoners stand tall as a great example of how old school guerilla tactics can still work in the modern music era. They’ve made several rallies over here to the UK, undaunted by support slots alongside headline club dates, delivering much needed good vibe classic rock sounds on grass root level while reaching the wider masses via rock radio.
Slipping somewhere within that Black Crowes milieu that drifts between Southern rock stylisations and Humble Pie pizzazz, how exactly this kind of music influenced these hairy-faced Canucks is a too obvious question that no one’s actually asked yet. That they continue to wear those influences without shame on their latest album, Restless, is to the listeners’ advantage.
Thematically, The Commoners’ songs tend to be about being a free spirit while expressing family values and the bonds of friendship while holding to the truth. They’re optimists despite us living in dark days, and so they offer us some much needed sunshine in their songs. That they rock, you can be assured, though, on Restless there are a fair few that if not calmer, take a more reflective, occasionally folksier route. The quality stays on an even keel regardless.
Opening with the winding rock and soul of ‘Devil Teasin’ Me’, previously out as a single; lead singer Chris Medhurst’s pleading cries delineate that Faustian bargain made since Robert Johnson’s crossroads deal became stock-filed legend. Mind you, it’s also worth remembering some Ian Hunter’s sage words on ‘The Ballad Of Mott’: “Oh, I wish I’d never wanted then, What I want now twice as much”. That Medhurst delivers his interpretation of this now admittedly time-worn tale with explosive passion, while strong harmony vocals as instruments weave in and out charismatically sets the scene for the rest of the album.
“Alright!” shouts the frontman as the rock ‘n roll attack of ‘Shake You Off’ boogies out your speakers, mixing Stones and Humble Pie attitude in equal measures and great delight led every step of the way by Hayes Citrullo’s loud and proud guitar. A big riffed high energy rock ‘n roller where you’re never quite sure if The Commoners are running from the law or a woman gone wild, but either way want to jump on board to escape alongside them.
A little bluesy, somewhat freewheeling, like mid-period Zeppelin heading down south, ‘The Way I Am’ acts as statement of intent; good guys with troubled souls, and gets further embellished in title track ‘Restless’ – A slide guitar homes in over a slower emotive country rock tune, that constantly threatens to reach out as an epic, and may well become one should we get a live album in future years. While acoustic guitar and organ play their part in this number, bass and drums are just as important as the music dances towards conclusion, fading with a piano coda.
That piano gets rocking during the call and response attack of ‘Gone Without Warning’. Gritty, boiling with tension and some snazzy guitar, both slide and picked. It features a heavy hitting chorus with soulful backing vocals by Chantal Williams, alongside those of bassist Ben Spiller and drummer Adam Cannon. Frankly it would make a good cover for an Elton John and Bryan Adam collaboration. ‘Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down)’ is another good time Stones/Pie mash-up delivered with attitude, and we need say no more.
‘Body And Soul’ is a curious one, a sultry rhythm section sets the tempo, while wilder near-psychedelia wailing guitar plays over and about, going through various moody changes; it’s not dissimilar to Rival Sons, sonically comes over well, and really felt different as part of their set when they toured the UK a while back earlier this year. I also caught The Commoners live when they toured in 2023, and that night was blighted with sadness for the band. News had reached them earlier that drummer Adam Cannon’s father, Greg, was dying. “Adam was faced with the impossible decision if he should fly back to Canada to be with his father in his final moments,” Medhurst has reflected. “Greg, being a drummer himself, wanted nothing more than for Adam to keep going and make the family name proud. But the decision still weighed heavily on Adam and the band, as nothing felt like the right path forward.” I saw them live in Birmingham; the day news reached of the man’s passing. “The decision was made for us.,” said Medhurst. “We played for Greg that night and have continued to do so every night since.
‘See You Again’ is a song inspired by and dedicated to Greg,” the singer continued. “It’s also a message that each of us has been able to contextualise within our own lives, honouring the memory of people we’ve loved and lost. It’s a tribute that stretches across the sands of time as an ode to those who are no longer with us.” It succeeds. An acoustic ballad that grows with a warm swelling heart. Keyboard player Miles Evans-Branagh’s organ and piano contributions cannot be faulted, Medhurst’s voice powerful and emotive, those well-crafted harmonies ever present, and if you think a ballad lacks percussive power, Cannon proves you wrong. You may treat it simply as a love song, and it works well as one, for those seeking something deeper, it delivers on that score too.
You could quite easily mistake ‘Too Soon To Know You’ for a Black Crowes number, though possibly more subtle, less ego-driven. Suitably so, since it’s a tale of a person changing, or not being the same as when last you saw them. It moves a little whimsically through ballad styled changes, shifting between electric and acoustic before driving hard towards a soulful conclusion. Restless concludes with ‘All That We Have’, just Medhurst singing over strummed acoustic chords. A hymn for disbelievers, if you will. It rounds the album off well, its statement of concern timeworn, imbued with love, frustration, and integrity.
Not as immediate as Find A Way, the album where many of us discovered The Commoners, but considered listening gives some deep rewards. Without wanting to come across too pretentious, that’s why we need bands like The Commoners who can help light the way for us during our darker days.
- Reviewed by Paul H Birch.
- Restless is released via Gypsy Soul Records and is available now (from here).
- Official Website | Facebook | X | YouTube Channel
Track List:
- Devil Teasin’ Me
- Shake You Off
- The Way I Am
- Restless
- Gone Without Warning
- Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down)
- Body And Soul
- See You Again
- Too Soon To Know You
- All That We Have
