Today, Canadian Roots-Rock band The Commoners have released their new album The
Commoners - Live in the UK to coincide with their UK and European tour. Riding
high off the strength of their previous releases, Find A Better Way and
Restless, the UK and European tour takes in a four-week tour across five
countries, The Commoners: Live In The UK was recorded when the band were on tour
in the UK in 2024. Released by Gypsy Soul Records, the album is available on CD
and vinyl HERE, and digital HERE. Mixed and mastered by The Commoners’ lead
guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo at RHC Music in Toronto, this album features nine
tracks from the Find A Better Way and Restless albums, featuring extended
intros, outros, solos, and brand new never-before-heard parts of the songs.
And that quote is what I love about The Commoners. The recorded product is just a blueprint for what comes on the live stage. The band weave sonic tapestries with all songs kicking hard with the rhythm section of Ben Spiller on bass and Adam Cannon on drums the rock that it all builds from and where the improvisation starts from . Miles Evans Branagh on keys gives depth to the mix and adds plenty of keyboard flashes too. Ross Hayes Citrullo riffs effortlessly and mixes slide and fast fingered soloing and fiery add ons tempered with beautiful slower solo passages that at the flick of a switch increase the pace .Chris Medhurst on vocals and guitar is a great front man with a melodic tone to die for that shows off best on the last album title track Restless that here sits mid album and all the band shine with the slower pace slide guitar solo from Ross a thing of beauty. See You Again starts on a strummed guitar intro and Chris vocal the builds tempo through the slide guitar solo mid song and band interplay before it drops to a whisper then back into all of the band band outro.
Shake You Off is a great album opener full of pounding drums and keys and guitar flourishes and a big chorus and a wonderful guitar solo from Ross and a lot heavier than on album
The Way I Am shows the way the band just go with the flow and the groove with an extended intro and then Ross soloing fast and the rhythm team holding it all together before the main guitar riff kicks in meshing with the keys.Huge chorus built for stadiums too.
Who Are You starts on a big guitar riff and a mid pace groove laden verse that leads into a backing vocal led chorus and back to the groove and the fantastic production lets each band member be heard. Love the extended outro guiatr solo under the vocals too.
Devil Teasin' Me is rock n'roll at it's finest with Ross's guitar intro teasing us before the whole band kick in and a lengthy Ross guitar solo in the first verse so unlike the recorded product. The big main guitar riff kicks in and Chris leads us all in the huge chorus with great backing vocals too. I love the the way the band have such a great groove and feel and their interplay shows a near telepathic instinct.
Find A Better Way ends the album in style with a big guitar riff and chorus and a perfect way to end a live album that shows The Commoners in their favourite place.
Live On Stage and they are back in the UK very soon so go see them you wil not be disappointed.
The Commoners May UK Tour
May 28: Faversham, The Old Brewery Store
May 29: Southampton, The Joiners
May 30: Lincolnshire, Call Of The Wild Festival
May 31: Chester, The Live Rooms
June 1: Newcastle, The Cluny
Further info: www.noblepr.co.uk/press-releases/the-commoners/live-in-the-uk.htm
