In the sprawling lexicon of rock ‘n’ roll, The Glorious Sons are scripting their own chapter.
Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, the band has announced their ambitious North American
“Glory Tour,” heralding the arrival of their latest single, “Mercy Mercy.” This sonic odyssey began n Pittsburgh on September 6 and will span 57 cities, culminating in a hometown New Year’s Eve extravaganza at Kingston’s Leon’s Centre.
In an exclusive interview, Brett Emmons, the band’s charismatic vocalist, delved into the
intricacies of tour life, the therapeutic power of their music, and the invaluable lessons from sharing stages with legendary acts like The Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam.
“Exercise is critical. I’ve been doing a lot more for this tour,” Emmons began. “I’ve quit smoking, too — or let’s say, I’ve cut back dramatically. The objective is to take care of my voice. You’re juggling responsibilities, whether that’s family back home or interviews like this, but at the end of the day, it’s about adapting.”
The band’s schedule is tightly packed. According to Emmons, apart from a three-hour window of downtime, their days are filled with sound checks, VIP meet-and-greets, and, of course, the nightly show. “My brother has it even worse. He’s managing four bands while also being in this one. From dawn till dusk, he’s on calls,” Emmons disclosed, emphasizing the rigors of their regimen.
While the demands are high, for Emmons, the road feels like home. “I find myself happier on the road often. When I’m back home, I become this guy who makes a plethora of lists just to give myself a sense of purpose. If I’m not writing music, I get restless, pondering, ‘What do I do now?’”
The Glorious Sons are not just another rock band; they are a group deeply rooted in personal stories that resonate universally. This profound duality is evident in their latest single, “Mercy Mercy,” a song Emmons co-produced with Frederik Thaae. The track delves into themes of redemption and the ceaseless struggle for self-improvement, offering
a vulnerable yet empowering narrative. The song, according to Emmons, serves as “a testament to our ability to conquer our own self-imposed limitations and harmful narratives.”
A raw chronicle of resilience and redemption, “Mercy Mercy” serves as an incandescent
introduction to the Glory Tour. Produced by Emmons and Frederik Thaae, and released in
partnership with Warner Music Canada, the single delves into the intricacies of the human experience with the band’s signature blend of authenticity and musical ambition. “Mercy Mercy is a testament to conquering my own struggles, letting go of harmful narratives,” Emmons said. “It’s about the depth of human struggles, the relentless pursuit of personal
growth. The song demanded to be heard.”
“The song started with a riff that I would just play over and over again,” continues Emmons. “It was in Nashville when I realized I was about 30 at the time and I just wanted to put that struggle of me against the world in my mind and just kind of move on. ‘Mercy’ is essentially a song about maturity and accepting who you are while taking life as it
comes.”
Emmons not only serves as the charismatic vocalist of The Glorious Sons, but also played
a significant role as co-producer of “Glory,” the band’s upcoming fourth studio album.
“It was a natural progression,” Emmons explained. “I had been so close to these songs for so long that there was no way I wasn’t going to have a significant hand in how they turned out. To have someone like Frederik in the room, who has been a long-standing collaborator, meant that I didn’t have to be heavy-handed. We had a cohesive vision, and I had a lot of opinions about the songs.”
This nuanced approach to music-making reflects the band’s evolving sound. From their debut to their recent works, Emmons stressed that the sound may change, but the band’s core remains consistent.
“It’s always going to be the same band with just a different twist from album to album,” he noted. “I’m the type of guy who wants to react to our past selves from album to album. For instance, if this album is anthemic and softer, the next one could be more bare bones and crunchy. We change, accept that change, and continue forth.”
Despite their soaring popularity and commercial success, The Glorious Sons have taken a step back from the immediate hit-seeking approach, aiming instead to create a cohesive body of work that stands the test of time.
“It should be about following your heart and hoping for the best,” Emmons opined. “We’ve been very lucky, but I don’t want to be sitting here 50 years later looking at songs that I don’t really like. I want to be looking at bodies of work that I’m proud of and that stand the test of time.”
Born from a year defined by isolation and introspection from the COVID-19 pandemic, “Glory” finds Emmons channeling a newfound self-awareness into a work of sweeping,
emotional and musical range. “I don’t want to put an exact number on it, but we recorded well over 40 songs for this album, apart from the ones that made the cut,” Emmons recalled. “It took a really long time to find the writing voice for this album. It was about halfway through the pandemic that I cracked the code with ‘Glory.’ It became a stream
of consciousness, an internal journey because the external world was unavailable.”
As for the musical development, Emmons attributes the band’s evolution to more than just
individual growth. “When you’re shaping the sound of an album, it’s six guys coming together, fitting their puzzle pieces into one big thing,” he said. “Everyone goes through changes during that period. While I might evolve, so might Jay, my brother. His style of playing might change slightly, adding another layer to our collective identity.”
Fans also have more music to look forward to in the future. Emmons hinted at the existence of unreleased tracks from the “Glory” sessions, saying, “Some of the songs that didn’t make the album are very exciting. There’s talk of B-side stuff, but we’re still only a month out from releasing ‘Glory.’”
Band transitions have also contributed to the tour’s narrative. Steve Kirstein, the band’s new guitarist and a long-time engineer for the group, has seamlessly fit into the existing ecosystem. “It’s a fragile thing, a band. You can’t just bring in any good player and expect things to work out,” Emmons explained. “We knew with Steve that he wasn’t going to walk all over people. He was the next man up in our minds.”
It’s not just about the music for The Glorious Sons; it’s about the shared human experience. The album’s title, “Glory,” captures the essence of the band’s collective and individual journeys. “One of our best friends, Craig Turner, used to say, ‘Well, that’s the price of glory.’ It’s a beautiful way to describe life,” Emmons revealed. “This album
was about people who are close to me, about the isolation we all felt. That’s the price of glory, and it’s a price we’re willing to pay.”
The live performances, as Emmons sees it, are vital in interpreting songs from their forthcoming album “Glory.” “The live aspect is paramount,” he insisted. “When we started, we had no idea what a producer was. Our job was to play in bars and ensure that the audience came back. A good show for me is one where I’m drenched in sweat, having
moved around the stage knowing that the crowd had an amazing time.”
Sharing a bill with iconic stars has been enlightening for the band. “You always learn
something,” Emmons said, recounting the time they opened for The Rolling Stones. “Mick
Jagger, at 75, had this incredible stamina and command over the stage. He taught me the essence of pacing yourself while also taking control. But most importantly, the third time we supported them was our best performance because we didn’t put undue pressure on ourselves. We savored the moment and were genuinely grateful.”
As The Glorious Sons set out to conquer the fall and winter, with highly anticipated dates in London on December 2 and Kitchener on December 16, their journey is more than just a tour; it’s an ever-evolving narrative that encapsulates the essence of modern rock. And Brett Emmons and his crew are prepared to deliver their most authentic, unapologetically ambitious chapter yet.
Check out theglorioussons.com for their full tour dates.
As seen in the October 2023 issue:
