Article and Photos by: Linda Carlson
Indianapolis, IN – It was something of a sleepy Sunday night in Indianapolis. The streets were quiet, the traffic was light. The HI-FI, a secluded spot for enjoying intimate musical performances, filled steadily for an evening of indie rock that spanned the UK (Charming Liars), Canada (The Glorious Sons) and … Cleveland (Welshly Arms).
The Glorious Sons were slated as an opener for Welshly Arms, but gave a performance more than worthy of a headliner. These Canadians have been gaining momentum and fans, with their current radio hit “S.O.S.” (Sawed-Off Shotgun) getting regular play on rock stations.
The band performed on the cozy HI-FI stage, a trademark for the venue that encourages intimate engagement between performers and audience. There is no photo pit, and fans line up with the edge of the elevated stage. With band equipment for the headliner sharing the stage, there was little room for movement, yet somehow front man Brett Emmons managed to move about with a captivating, almost child-like elegance, pivoting unpredictably on pointed, twisting barefoot toes. He meandered playfully across the stage as he sang, leaning on bandmates with a closeness that was quite exquisite.
The Glorious Sons’ songs share stories from Emmon’s youthful perspective, at the same time complicated and simple. These are songs that are easy to connect with, honest and pure.
Keep your eye on these guys. Their music is refreshing, and their live performances are worth the price of admission, whether as opener or headliner. You will not be disappointed. They are performing extensively on the West Coast and Texas throughout October, then shifting to performances in Canada in November. Check their website for specific tour dates: http://www.theglorioussons.com/tour/.
