I don’t have HBO Max (yet), but I’m really tempted to start paying the $9.99 a month for two reasons. 1. This Euphoria show is generating a lot of controversy. As history has proven, if it’s controversial, it’s worth checking out. 2. Everyone and their mom is going on about Peacemaker. Not just because it’s directed by superhero screenwriter kingpin James Gunn and stars WWE titan turned cinematic darling John Cena, but because it’s entire soundtrack consists of 80s glam metal. I’m not just talking about the usual suspects either that one can expect when Hollywood throws together a timepiece of the era (i.e. Mötley Crüe, Poison, etc.). I’m talking about bands like Pretty Boy Floyd, Vain, and Firehouse, whose 1990 classic “Don’t Treat Me Bad” is enjoying quite the resurgence thanks to this series. With all that said, it was “totally rad” to see Firehouse smack dab in the middle of this renaissance, and with Enuff Z’Nuff in tow. Here’s how it went down.
Enuff Z’Nuff
The evening began with local legends Enuff Z’Nuff. I’ve always said that the only reason they got put into the glam metal category was because of their looks. Musically, they lie somewhere between The Beatles and Cheap Trick, with maybe a touch of Mott the Hoople: classic power pop with hard rock guitars. The Fabs’ influence was especially evident during their set, which consisted of half Beatles covers. This was in promotion of their latest album, Hardrock Nite: an entire collection of Beatles covers. At first I was a tad skeptical. The Beatles are my favorite band of all time and their songs are sacred to me. Clearly they are sacred to main-man Chip Z’Nuff too, because the band really did them justice. EZ honored the spirit of the original recordings, while adding their own signature twist. Put these 50+ year old classics next to EZ standards like “Baby Loves You” and “New Thing”, and the Lennon/McCartney formula becomes even more apparent in the writing of Chip Z’Nuff and former singer/songwriting partner, Donnie Vie.
Setlist
- “Magical Mystery Tour” (The Beatles cover)
- “The World is a Gutter”
- “Kiss the Clown”
- “Baby Loves You”
- “Cold Turkey” (Plastic Ono Band cover)
- “Eleanor Rigby” (The Beatles cover)
- “In the Groove”
- “Jet” (Paul McCartney and Wings cover)
- “Back in the U.S.S.R.” (The Beatles cover)
- “Fly High Michelle”
- “New Thing”
Firehouse
Enuff Z’Nuff warmed up the stage, but Firehouse proceeded to absolutely scorch it (pun fully intended). This was my first time seeing them, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. The band took the stage all guns blazing with a one-two punch of “Rock on Radio” and “All She Wrote”. They managed to maintain this high energy level for the entire show, only throwing in their hit ballads as obligatory breathers and crowd pleasers (i.e. “Love of a Lifetime”, “When I Look into Your Eyes”, “I Live My Life for You”). When they weren’t encouraging the crowd to wave their phone lights (the tacky 21st century replacement for lighters), they were unleashing some downright wicked musicianship on deep cuts like “Overnight Sensation”, “Helpless”, and “Hold Your Fire”. Bill Leverty is an absolute guitar virtuoso, the rhythm section of Michael Foster on drums and Allen McKenzie on bass is tighter than a Chinese finger trap, and rumor has it C.J. Snare’s supersonic vocals blew out the power grid two towns over (sorry Batavia). Yes, this may have been my first Firehouse show, but it won’t be my last!
Setlist
- “Rock on Radio”
- “All She Wrote”
- “Shake & Tumble”
- “Oughta Be a Law”
- “When I Look into Your Eyes”
- “Lover’s Lane”
- “Home Is Where the Heart Is”
- “Don’t Walk Away”
- “Overnight Sensation”
- “Love of a Lifetime”
- “Helpless”
- “Hold Your Fire”
- “I Live My Life for You”
- “Don’t Treat Me Bad”
- “Reach for the Sky”
