By Stevie Connor. Photo Credit: JC Polien
Following their special guest slot on Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton’s “Death Wish Blues” October 2023 UK Tour, Canada’s hottest classic roots rock band The Commoners have added a one-off headline show at The Bourne Music Club on Wednesday 1st November.
The Commoners will perform tracks from their current album “Find A Better Way” which includes the singles “Fill My Cup,” “Find A Better Way,” “Too Much,” and “More Than Mistakes.”
Offering their own blend of rock and roll, southern blues, and roots music, the Toronto-based four-piece band are known for their high-energy riffs, soulful vocals, and rich harmonies. The result is an electrifying and authentic Southern-style rock experience.
The band is comprised of Chris Medhurst (lead vocals), Ross Hays Citrullo (guitar), Ben Spiller (bass guitar), Adam Cannon (drums), and Miles Evans-Branagh (keyboards).
“Find A Better Way” was produced and mixed by the band’s guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo, while the title track single was mixed by award-winning record Australian record producer Kevin Shirley (Joe Bonamassa, Black Crowes, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin).
Possessing a sound tapped from the oaken belly of a whiskey barrel, The Commoners hail from Toronto, Canada. Nurturing their distinctive blend of blues, rock and roots, the Commoners accentuate their signature sound with high-energy riffs, soulful vocals, and rich harmonies that take the listener on a journey through a Southern-style rock experience. Their sophomore album “Find A Better Way,” grabs your full attention from the first note.
The opening lines, “If I scream at the top of my lungs and stamp my feet ’till the floor comes undone,” immediately triggers the wild ride that follows. Reminiscent of highly respected bands like Free, Blackberry Smoke, Black Crowes and Rival Sons, The Commoners have crafted an authentic collection of unforgettable songs that strike the perfect balance between old and new.
Possessing a sound tapped from the oaken belly of a whiskey barrel, The Commoners are a four-piece Roots-Rock outfit from Toronto, Canada. Offering their own blend of a tried and true musical mixture, the group pepper their sound with high-energy riffs, soulful vocals, and rich harmonies that combine to take the listener on a journey through a Southern-style rock experience.
The group was cobbled together over the course of a decade, restructuring, and adapting through numerous obstacles to form the unit as it exists today: Chris Medhurst (vocals/guitar), Ben Spiller (bass), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), and Adam Cannon (drums). Often joined by their friend, organist Miles Evans-Branagh, The Commoners unite under a shared dream: to write, perform, and share music that is an authentic nod to the greats who paved the way before them.
“The Black Crowes are a big influence for us. Derek Trucks, Marcus King, and the Allman Brothers, of course. These are the bands that we wear on our sleeves as we aspire to create our own music.”
Channeling their deep respect and admiration for Roots/Rock trailblazers, The Commoners incorporate rhythmic stylings inspired by Motown’s groove masters, and emotive vocals akin to Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, to capture a sound that is very much of the here and now. Their 2022 release Find A Better Way is an album that demands attention from the first note. The opening lines “If I scream at the top of my lungs, and stamp my feet, ’til the floor comes undone,” immediately inform that a wild ride lies ahead. Recorded in Toronto at RHC Music and produced by guitarist/producer Ross Hayes Citrullo alongside executive producer Renan Yildizdogan, The Commoners crafted a record which strikes the perfect balance between new and old, fresh, yet familiar.
The album’s lyrical themes drill into the essence of humanity: love, regret, ambition, and fear. Circling the forever challenge of doubt vs. desire, The Commoners place themselves into the shoes of the everyman. The result? Nine tracks that act as a comfort and companion through all of life’s trials and tribulations, with melodic solos, soaring organ, and a punchy rhythm section to drive the messages home.
Drummer Adam Cannon says, “Music, like so much in life, is about the exchange of energy,” and The Commoners make more than a fair trade. Striving to present an impactful, memorable, and downright exhilarating live experience that accurately represents their recorded works, the band carries the listener over spirited choruses and group chants, before returning them back to earth in need of a shot of something smooth. You can expect to leave fully satisfied, sweat drenched, and heart racing, a good time guaranteed—just what we all need. As a collective, we find ourselves emerging into a changed society, with uncertainty looming and shadowing the future.
On their new album, The Commoners remind us that music has a unique ability to heal, a medicine of extraordinary merit, and balm for the soul during dark times. Every major movement in history gave rise to change makers, and The Commoners are taking their stand, here to lead and inspire us all to Find a Better Way.
FOLLOW THE COMMONERS