Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds 27th July 2024
Just occasionally I get the sense that I am somewhere much bigger than where I am. I’ve had that feeling in the New Roscoe – a pub in Leeds – listening to Chuck Prophet play a set that belonged to a stadium. Tonight the rock show The Commoners puts on seems much larger than the Belgrave Music Hall; loud, together, polished, energetic. A lesser band would whinge or be put off by the sparse audience but The Commoners reward those present with a full scale, full volume performance, full of the stagecraft they’ve clearly worked on. The mix of rockers, ballads and dancers is really good with no particular standout, just an overall sense of being in the moment, listening to a larger than life band.
The band works to a regular setlist, playing the same songs each night and has arranged them to a point where they know what will happen – the drum solo (of course there is a drum solo) follows the pattern where the band knows exactly where to come back in. Elsewhere, the tighter than tight show sees the band playing off each others’ strengths and making the most of the stage. They are blessed with a collective approach to writing and performing, with Chris Medhurst a proper show-boating front man acting as ringmaster on vocals and guitar. Ross Citrullo on lead guitar isn’t a big mover, remaining focussed on wringing out powerful notes. Adam Cannon provides muscular drums and Miles Evan Branagh favours the classic organ sound on his Yamaha keyboard. One highlight is a song by Ben Spiller (bass) which has speedy bass and a rapid dancing beat, shifting a lot of feet. He has the bass high on his body and plucks the strings with his fingers in a perky, beaty style.
This is a Canadian band from Toronto who channel a pure Southern Rock sound that could be a time machine from the 70s. The spirit of The Black Crowes is strong here and the sensation is of being swept along by forces beyond my control. A very impressive live performance, rewarding everyone that made the effort.