Concert Review
FireHouse
Braun’s Concert Cove
Akron, NY
Friday August 30, 2013
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Firehouse finally made an appearance to the Buffalo area to play at Braun’s Concert Cove, Friday evening. The long wait between visits was well worth it despite being almost six years since the band had last played here and even longer since their last real studio album.
Comprised still of original core members, singer CJ Snare, guitarist Bill Leverty and drummer Michael Foster, the band continued to make up for lost time with the fans. The band was also joined by bassist Allen McKenzie who has helped solidify the lineup for the past nine years. Surprisingly the gap between visits had no effect on the band as they sounded as vibrant as ever and was no worse for wear.
The band came out of the gates with a hard driven “Shake & Tumble,” before launching into “All She Wrote,” a song that generally has been etched into the second slot played at every show since the band’s inception. A pair of rarely played songs in “You’re Too Bad” and “Rock On The Radio” brought us up to the first rest of the evening for Snare as vocals for “Holding On” were turned over to Leverty. I’m not sure Snare needed much of a break but Foster and McKenzie also each took a turn on vocals during the show.
Following a hard charging “Highway To Hell,” from Akron, Ohio native McKenzie, the band closed out the show with four of their biggest songs including “Overnight Sensation,” top five single “Love Of A Lifetime” and show closer and the song that became their first charted single “Don’t Treat Me Bad.”
FireHouse has a great bond with their fans. Judging by the line of fans who waited to meet the band after the show it suggests that what the band is doing is working. This is one of the hardest working bands who are always trying to improve the quality of their show. Let’s hope it doesn’t take a long passage of time to see them come through town again.
Set List
Shake & Tumble
All She Wrote
You’re Too Bad
Rock On The Radio
Holding On (Leverty on vocals)
When I Look Into Your Eyes
Door to Door (Foster on Vocals)
Hold Your Fire
Walk Away
Highway to Hell (Allen McKenzie vocals)
Overnight Sensation
Love Of A Lifetime
Reach For The Sky
Don’t Treat Me Bad
Special thanks to Ross Catalino for setting us up to review the show
