The Glorious Sons
In an era of over-polished pop and algorithm-fed playlists, The Glorious Sons stand out like a barroom brawl in a boutique coffee shop. Hailing from Kingston, Ontario—a town with its own storied musical legacy—the band blends classic rock swagger with blue-collar storytelling and a deeply human vulnerability.
Their songs aren’t built for trends. They’re built for the long haul.
Frontman Brett Emmons doesn’t just sing—he unloads. Whether it’s on a confessional ballad like “S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun)” or the gritty drive of “Panic Attack,” Emmons delivers vocals that crack, rasp, and soar with raw conviction. The band—made up of Jay Emmons, Chris Koster, Adam Paquette, and Josh Hewson—builds a backdrop that channels everything from Springsteen and Petty to The Hip and The Stones.
Their breakthrough came with 2014’s The Union, and by the time Young Beauties and Fools (2017) dropped, The Glorious Sons had become a go-to live act on both sides of the border. Their Juno wins and sold-out tours haven’t changed their DNA: this is still a band that plays like they’ve got something to prove.
If you’ve ever seen The Glorious Sons live, you know: it’s chaos. It’s catharsis. It’s a sweaty, shirtless Brett Emmons pacing the stage like a man unburdening his soul. The songs take on new life in concert—more urgent, more unpredictable.
And it’s that live-wire energy that’s earned them a die-hard fan base, from Canadian festivals to US arenas opening for The Rolling Stones and Twenty One Pilots.
With their 2023 album Glory, the band stripped things back again, tapping into a more reflective, nuanced sound—without losing the rawness that defines them. It’s the sound of a band maturing, but refusing to settle.
Even as rock music morphs into background noise in the mainstream, The Glorious Sons are doubling down on storytelling, guitar riffs, and live performance. They’re not chasing trends. They’re chasing truth—and their fans are along for the ride.
Essential Tracks for First-Time Listeners:
“Everything Is Alright”
“S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun)”
“Josie”
“Panic Attack”
“Mercy Mercy”
Quote to Remember:
“We're not perfect, but we're real. That’s always been the point.” – Brett Emmons
