Ahh, Bannermans—my home from home! Here we are for the 10th-anniversary tour of Sons of Liberty, but first up, we have Kit Trigg. The boys kick off with the rocking “Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of,” with some raw vocals but killer guitar licks on the Flying V. The rhythm section is going full force in the back—a strong start. Next up are a couple of guitar-heavy tracks: the rocker “Making It” and the groove-laden “Light at the End of the Tunnel” from their Goin’ for Glory EP. My favourite tonight is the bluesier “Snake in the Grass,” with its smooth vocal harmonies and a guitar riff straight out of the Sons of Anarchy theme.
Among the setlist tonight is the “Walk This Way”-infused “Down to Earth,” which is deliciously gritty. The set also includes a couple of well-played covers—”Oh Well” and “Proud Mary.” Kit Trigg is a young band with solid potential, delivering an enjoyable set that has the boys clearly enjoying themselves. Sons of Liberty even joined them on stage for the finale. Go catch Kit Trigg live if you’re into classic rock; you won’t be disappointed.
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Now for the main event: the Sons of Liberty. Celebrating their 10th anniversary, the band has a fabulous new album out, The Devil is in the Detail, with Russ Grimmett on vocals. Russ brings excellent energy and proves himself a great frontman. Naturally, tonight’s set leans heavily on the new album, with eight songs aired. They start with “Time to Fly,” and Russ lets loose with his powerful vocals while Fred Hale kills it on guitar alongside Andy Muse. Meanwhile, Steve Byrne on drums and bassist Mark Thomas keep the groove tight—a fantastic opener.
The momentum builds with “Light the Fuse” and “Tertulia Time” before we dip into earlier material with the Southern rock-infused “Beef Jerky Boogie,” a standout live song with killer guitar work. Going further back, they bring in another Southern anthem, “Brotherhood.” As a massive Southern rock fan, I love these tracks, and it’s clear the crowd does, too. “Damned if You Do” swaggers us into some favourites from Animism, including the charismatic “Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief” and the rocking “Up Shit Creek,” followed by “Damaged Reputation” with its killer guitar licks and catchy chorus.
Moving back to the new album, they deliver the swaggering groove of “Turn This Tide” and the mellow “Hawk Men Come,” with stunning vocal harmonies across the band. “What’s A Man Supposed to Do” follows with an infectious beat that has everyone bouncing and smiling. Then, “Libertine” leads into the emotionally charged, guitar-laden “Walk With You,” which sweeps us along with soulful playing and vocals.
The boys close out this tremendous set with the stomping rocker “Ruby Starr,” a nod to the legendary Black Oak Arkansas. Sons of Liberty never disappoint, and tonight they absolutely rocked the place, clearly enjoying every moment. This was my first time seeing them with Russ on vocals, and he’s absolutely killing it. Sons of Liberty are always worth catching live, so see them when you can—you won’t be disappointed. I’m heading home, humming “What’s A Man Supposed to Do” as it’s still stuck in my head!
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Photos by Gary Cooper
