Comprised of former Flying Burrito Brothers members Rick Roberts (vocals, guitar) and Michael Clarke (drums), former Spirit member Mark Andes (bass), guitarist Jock Bartley, guitarist/vocalist Larry Burett, and keyboard player David Muse, Firefall’s members largely met on tour with other bands or in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. Following Firefall’s formation in 1974, the group began performing in local clubs and bars, and produced a promotional demo tape in 1975.
A subsequent performance at The Other End in New York led the group to sign with Atlantic Records who issued Firefall’s self-titled debut album in May 1976. Led by the single “Livin’ Ain’t Livin’”, the record earned positive reviews and ultimately earned gold certification. The album’s second single, “You Are the Woman”, became a smash hit single reaching the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, following which the band toured in support of Fleetwood Mac.
Released in July 1977, the band’s sophomore album “Luna Sea” featured collaborations with Cuban percussionist Joe Lala and future Eagles member Timothy B. Schmit. Rising to No. 27 on the Billboard 200 and aided by the No. 11 single “Just Remember I Love You”, the record was once again followed by non-stop touring. Thanks to their touring with Fleetwood Mac who were at the peak of their success, Firefall also became extremely popular, however tensions had risen between the substance users in the group (Rick, Larry and Michael Clarke) and the non-substance users (Bartley, Andes and Muse).
The band’s third album “Elan” proved their most successful to date earning platinum certification, however following its release Firefall’s popularity began to dwindle. Despite attempts at changing the band’s sound, Firefall burned out, with Bartley forming Firefall Acoustic in 1994 for the album “Messenger”. Under the same moniker the group released the tribute album “Colorado to Liverpool: A Tribute to the Beatles” in 2007, following which Bartley continued to tour as Firefall alongside musicians Steven Weinmeister, Sandy Ficca, Bil Hopkins, and Chris Ball.
Formed in the rural town of Doraville, Georgia, US, the band first surfaced in 1970, out of the remnants of the groups, the Candymen and the Classics Four. After a local recording studio opened, Bobby Bule, head of the facility, began arranging the session band, inviting Rodney Justo (vocals), Barry Bailey (guitars), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards) and Robert Nix (drums) to take the position. Having appeared on records for other artists, the session band decided to forge their own career, becoming the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
With Bule acting as manager and producer, they began to record their own original material, achieving a more radio-friendly sound to Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers. Their first releases, "Back Up Against The Wall" (1973), "Third Annual Pipe Dream" (1974), "Dog's Days" (1975) failed to make much of an impact. However, with the new addition of Ronnie Hammond, replacing Justo, the band found a winning formula, gaining significant airplay on radio stations in the South. On their 1976 album, "A Rock and Roll Alternative," they managed to score a Top Ten hit with the single "So Into You," breaking into the national market.
Atlanta Rhythm Section continued to find commercial success with their next releases, finding a Top Ten album with "Champagne Jam" in 1978, featuring two hit singles, "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight" and "Imaginary Lover." The band then embarked on several extensive tours, becoming one of the hardest working bands in the business. However, their commercial success was not set to continue, with their subsequent albums failing to make any hits, instead only decreasing album sales.
The band decided to split following 1981's "Quinella," reuniting intermittently for live performances and tours. In 1999, a new studio album appeared, "Eufaula," helping to continue the band's legacy to a new legion of fans. Since the releae, the band continued to tour and perform at festivals, finding their music often the topic of cover versions by country artists, such as Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd and Charlie Daniels.
The first time we saw Firefall was probably over 20 years ago at an Arts and Crafts show in Irving, TX, and really liked them. Then the next time we saw them was at One World Theatre (OWT) here in Austin about three years ago. Although we enjoyed the concert, it seemed to me, that they had just "thrown together" the group w/o a lot of rehearsal. They were good, but not "great." On Friday night, they were "tight," and awesome. A thoroughly satisfying concert. OWT, please bring them back...
Southern rock band, Atlanta Rhythm Section along with visionary Lynyrd Skynyrd helped to popularise the genre by bringing it into the mainstream. Formed in 1971 having previously been in different local Georgian bands, ARS went on to recording an astonishing thirteen studio albums featuring some of their greatest hits: ‘So In To You’, ‘Imaginary Lover’ and ‘Spooky’ which helped launch them to the forefront. During their career, the band played extensively across the country spreading their inspired southern rock to a wide spectrum of audiences and ultimately winning them over. Having built their reputation largely through their live performances, ARS have perfected the art of delivering exceptional shows. There’s an infectious energy that the band possess which seems to work its way into any crowd. Even if you aren’t familiar to any of the material, you can’t help but find yourself having a little boogie along. Dean Daughtry’s vocals eloquently intertwines with the wavering electric guitars, singing with passion and heart playing songs like ‘Angel’, ‘Do It Or Die’ and ‘I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight’. With emphatic and mesmerising guitar solos, the crowd watch it adoration as the intricate jazz infused melodies fill their ears. Atlanta Rhythm Section have a timeless and enchanting sound which really comes to life in their performances.
Orleans are the kind of band that one should respect whether you’re into their brand of Seventies pop-rock or not. The last two years or so of their career have been some of the most inspirational (By the way, how many bands who formed in the early two-thousands can say that with a straight face, let alone those who formed in the early seventies, as Orleans did?) in the face of great tragedy, as founding member, singer and guitarist Larry Hoppen took his own life after a long struggle with depression. After deciding that it was what he would have wanted the band to do, the remaining members of Orleans continued touring and have since been playing the best shows of their four decades in the music business. With far more vim and vinegar than is expected from a group of men in their sixties, each of their big hits, from Dance With Me to Still The One all the way through to Love Takes Time sound immaculate. Special mention must go to the bands harmonies, which can still send chills down any given spine at a hundred paces. Every show of theirs has had an extra significance since 2012 for obvious and understandable reasons, and as a band they’re better than ever. In all this is truly a show to see at the next chance you get and discover a band with far more to offer than history seems to remember. Highly recommended.