Firehouse Austin’s Fuel Room Review
Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Aaron Keker
THE FUEL ROOM, Libertyville, Illinois – Yesterday, it might have appeared that I stepped into the Delorean and went back in time to the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, but I didn’t.
As FireHouse performed, I couldn’t help but think of three changes that have occurred with them over the years.
The first change is vocalist C.J. Snare has a shorter style haircut than the below the shoulder “hippy style” that your girlfriend’s or fiancé’s parents would be scared to have sitting in their family room.
The second change is FireHouse has a new bassist in Allen McKenzie, who joined FireHouse back on October 23, 2003.
The third change is FireHouse was released from their contractual obligations about twelve or so years ago with Epic Records.
Currently, FireHouse is in between labels and they are in discussions with several companies about securing a record deal.
FireHouse opened their evening with “Rock You Tonight.” As the song concluded, C.J. and his band mates were greeted with a boisterous saloon welcome at The Fuel Room in Libertyville, Illinois.
Just like every other rock vocalist, C.J. dedicated several songs to the ladies, which were “Oughta Be a Law” and “Shake & Tumble.”
FireHouse performed a majority of their set list from their platinum album Firehouse and soon to be platinum album Hold Your Fire. They performed their popular rock ballads like “All She Wrote,” “Love of a Lifetime,” “Don’t Treat Me Bad” and “When I Look into Your Eyes.” Of course, the audience sang alongside C.J. on these popular ballads.
I was shocked that FireHouse didn’t perform their other popular ballad “I Live My Life for You.” I believe the women in the audience would have gone hysterical like they did on “Love of a Lifetime,” “Don’t Treat Me Bad” and “When I Look into Your Eyes.”
Another shocker was that FireHouse did not perform any songs acoustically like their album Good Acoustics. Maybe C.J. and FireHouse do not perform any songs live acoustically?
If they had played several songs acoustically, I believe it would have intensified the Pre-Easter celebration even further. Nevertheless, the audience, as well as myself, enjoyed watching the modern time capsule of FireHouse.
In conclusion, I am mystified how FireHouse, who won for Best New Hard Rock/Metal Band at the 1992 American Music Awards by beating out Nirvana and Alice in Chains, to having a double platinum album in FireHouse and soon to be platinum album Hold Your Fire were released so easily from their contractual obligations with Epic Records. If a representative of Epic Records would have heard the energetic enthusiasm of the audience and the near flawless performance of FireHouse, the label might not have released them so easily. Below is the set list from The Fuel Room in Libertyville, Illinois.
The Fuel Room Set List:
1. “Rock You Tonight”
2. “Lover’s Lane”
3. “All She Wrote”
4. “Oughta Be a Law”
5. “When I Look into Your Eyes”
6. “Shake & Tumble”
7. “Another Thing Coming”
8. “Door to Door”
9. “Overnight Sensation”
10. “Love of a Lifetime”
11. “Reach for the Sky”
12. “Don’t Treat Me Bad”
