 |
| Photo Credit: Mark Powell |
Man, it’s been a while since I’ve walked the cold, wet streets of Manchester for a gig. I had a feeling that this one was going to be good as well! Last year, I came across the Canadian rock band, The Commoners. Their 2024 album, Restless, was one of my absolute favourites of last year, and I’ve been meaning to catch them live for a while now, as they do frequent the UK quite a bit. So, this night was my opportunity to see what all the buzz is about. Rebellion is such a good venue for shows like these. Located next to Deansgate train station, Rebellion is tucked away and hosts some of the best nights for rock and metal in Manchester—the dark room, illuminated by the stage lights, has just the right atmosphere for rock shows. You’ve got to appreciate the stamina of some bands. This show was in Glasgow the night before, and after a long journey, they made it to Manchester. Also, they didn’t come alone. They brought the incredibly talented Candar out on the road with them. So, a great night of rock ‘n’ roll was going to lie ahead. So, let’s talk about it.
The lights dimmed, and the dynamic duo walked up on stage. They set up and got prepared to bring on one hell of a set. This was my first time checking out Candar, and I have to say, I was impressed, very impressed. The first thing I noted about them was the simple but effective blues rock. Even though there were only two people on stage, they made a hell of a racket. The crunchy guitar tone was thick and bluesy. It was a good combination of southern blues rock and post-grunge alternative rock. They were sharp and quick to switch between songs. The sharp snap of the drums was so satisfying. The drum work in particular was so captivating. Everything was so clean and effective. Each little fill, every cymbal flourish, it was just delivered with such a pep and with enthusiasm. Then you have the vocal performance. There is such sweet innocence to the vocals. They floated so well on top of the raw rock production. What shocked me was how she was able to make the switch from the sweet and elegant vocal style to the rougher and rawer performance to fit the mood of the song.
 |
| Photo Credit: Mark Powell |
I think that Candar displayed great fundamentals that led to excellent songwriting and performance. There was such beauty in the simple but effective rock. The combination of simple rock elements made for something special. From the way they played around with each other to their interaction with the audience. Their personalities shone through. Their playful nature and their casual stage presence made their performance all the more enjoyable, and the Manchester crowd clearly had a great time too. I loved this set so much that I rushed over to the merch table to buy some of their music. I think that’s how I know that I love a set. The fact that I just wanted to buy the music I had just heard performed. I would say with 100% confidence that this is a band you need to watch out for!
CHECK OUT CANDAR: WEBSITE | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK
After a small intermission, it was time for the main event. The stage was set up, and the crowd had filled out nicely. All the way from Canada, The Commoners took to the stage in Manchester, and to a rapturous applause. They immediately kicked it into high gear with their brand of southern blues-integrated rock ‘n’ roll. I just wanted to say this. After listening to them for a year, absorbing their records and wondering if they could pull off that sort of grandiose tone live… They absolutely did. They absolutely crushed it. Every moment from the first note of the guitars to the last crash of the drums, everything about this performance was textbook. When I didn’t think I could enjoy this band anymore, they pulled this performance out. Their music is this incredible blend of southern rock, blues, country, and soul. Each of those elements came through incredibly clearly. The rootsy slide guitar, the shiny keyboard tone, the groovy bass, the crash of the drums. It was just an almighty collision of tones and sounds; it just made for an impressive display.
 |
| Photo Credit: Mark Powell |
Their set was very efficient as they flowed from one song into the next. I really enjoyed how the closing riff of one song would flow into the start of the next song. It built this excellent cohesion between songs. It made the whole set feel complete, rather than just a collection of songs thrown together. I think it’s the bond between the band that really brought everything together. You could just tell that they love being on stage together as they work off of one another really well. The way they bounce off one another's energy was a joy to watch. All of that energy was felt in the audience. The band were giving back all of the love and support that the crowd were throwing their way.
Tying the whole set together was the vocals of Chris Medhurst. Man, can that man sing and sing and sing. His vocals hit the rafters and just kept on going. He wailed away like a calling from God. His vocals were so powerful that they overpowered the loud rock music. Particularly on songs like “Restless” and “See You Again”, which were my favourites from the Restless record. Medhurst was also excellent in communication with the audience. He projected so much confidence and was also measured and relaxed, in between the songs.
The Commoners put on an absolutely awesome setlist. There was an awesome mix of music from both of their records. They also snuck in some new songs into the setlist. What I really like is that they’re using their tours to test out new material and see if they get audience engagement. Which will only help them build bigger and better records in the long run. For the record, I quite enjoyed the new music they played in Manchester. The new material fits into the repertoire so seamlessly, and they felt like old standards already. Like I’ve said, the setlist was so well constructed that every song just fit so nicely into place.
The set wrapped up the crowd were just white hot, and the band were firing on all cylinders. This is the kind of show that Saturday nights were made for. Rock ‘n’ roll, good company, and the energy to give you memories for a lifetime. Guitar solos that fill your soul with good vibes. Vocals that command the crowd like a preacher to a communion. Drums that smash and crack. This was a pure rock show and, in my opinion, The Commoners are anything but common.
CHECK OUT THE COMMONERS: SPOTIFTY | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK
Did you like this gig report review? Consider supporting on Buy Me A Coffee
Also you can join me on SubscribeStar for future perks
Comments
Post a Comment