FIREFEST - DAY # 3 - Sunday, Oct 23rd, 2011

[MrSexx]

Day # 3:
- NEWMAN
- WHITE WIDDOW
- ALIEN
- KANE ROBERTS
- MITCH MALLOY
- CONEY HATCH
- UNRULY CHILD

1, 2 & 3 – NEWMAN, WHITE WIDDOW & ALIEN

Once again I was back after the great artists… I had very little time to get some more interviews, for this being the last festival day, most of them would be leaving, and I would be leaving back for Brazil on the next morning. So all the time I could get to dedicate to the bands I really wanted to see on this day… well, I would just have to sacrifice not attending some of the shows.
From what I heard, Newman played a short but very efficient set. I can’t really say I either know a lot about them or even had the interest to get to know them more. I saw them offstage and they were really nice guys to the people who were after them. It is worth mentioning they were on the bill to replace Far Cry, who had been announced to be the first band on the last day, months ago.
White Widdow is the same case. I think I saw some of the guys wandering around, but I can’t really tell. From what I knew, they played a set with nothing really interesting or special, just like Houston did on the first day. Being the music freak I am, I’d surely know them better if they were better than average. I can’t say how their show was, I was not there.
Alien is another band that I was never really interested in knowing in depth, but all I know is that all of them are really nice people. I had two friends with me that were Jim Jidhed fanatics, and he was such a nice guy to them. From what I got to know later that day, Alien was without a doubt among the best attractions of Firefest 2011. After hearing this I was a little frustrated for not being able to check them out at least.

4 – KANE ROBERTS

I got to meet Kane Roberts one day before his gig at Firefest. I had been in contact with him, and he was always really nice. Meeting him was awesome, he’s such a cool and funny guy! He also agreed giving me an interview and it rocked!!!!!! I was super anxious about seeing him perform not only songs off his classic “Saints & Sinners” album, but also a couple of Alice Cooper songs he recorded back in the 80’s.
He was one of the most expected attractions of the festival for sure, for his being away from music for so long. The band who was backing him up was Talon, whose own show I was unable to see, but then I had an idea of how the band sounded. Eric Ragno, keyboard player who released a project called China Blue featuring Tony Mills also played with him.
It was great seeing Kane Roberts back onstage after so many years. His set was mostly based on the epic “Saints & Sinners” album, with a few other songs more. Great anthems like “Wild Nights” and “Rebel Heart”, the MTV hits “Twisted” and “Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore” and the classic Alice Cooper songs “Freedom” and “Prince Of Darkness” were the highlights of the show.
Kane Roberts really put a great set list together, nobody can deny that. I just think that he and Talon just didn’t have much to do together. They were good musicians, but it was clear that they were insecure playing the songs on the set. Kane Roberts himself is a little out of shape, maybe for being away for too long. I do think he is a great singer, a great songwriter and one of the best guitar players of his era, but for this show he wasn’t prepared enough, I guess. It was a little disappointing seeing another guy playing the leads while Kane would only play the rhythm guitar sometimes… and there were three guitar players onstage!!!! Well, all I can say is that Kane alone could have done all the guitars, if he was really prepared to do it. For this being his first solo show in years, let’s give him a break. All of us know how great this guy is, and what he can really do. Although everyone saw a Kane Roberts they refused to accept, these same people just have to recognize that it is great having him back on the business after all. Just give this guy some time and he’ll shred as he did on his glory days.

SETLIST:
- WILD NIGHTS
- TWISTED
- FREEDOM
- DOES ANYONE REALLY FALL IN LOVE ANYMORE
- I WANT IT AGAIN
- DANCE LITTLE SISTER
- FIGHTER
- GUITAR BREAK
- PRINCE OF DARKNESS
- REBEL HEART
- TAKE IT OFF

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5 – MITCH MALLOY

I also met Mitch Malloy one day before his show. What a guy he is!!!! Not only an incredible singer and songwriter, but also a great person! He was very nice and agreed to give me an interview to some time till after his show. Being a longtime Mitch Malloy supporter, his was also one of the shows I longed for the most. Having watched his DVD that was recorded at last years’ Firefest, I could barely believe I would be able to catch him live this year so far!!!!!!!!
I had no doubt that Mitch would put on a great show. I discovered that the band who was backing him up was an Italian band, and I wondered if they could be tighter than the band who played with him last year. I also had the chance to by his new “Mitch Malloy II” CD, which was being sold at the Firefest merchandise desk… His best since his debut album and one of the best releases of the year so far.
Mitch got onstage with his classic “Mission Of Love”, breaking into the new song “Falling To Pieces”… by checking this one out I was sure that if he played songs off the brand new “Mitch Malloy II” CD, they would be awesome!!!!!!! And then lots and lots of classics followed: “Stranded In The Middle Of Nowhere”, “It’s About Love”, “Anything At All” (his big MTV hit) and “Our Love Will Never Die”, one of my all time favorites, were the highlights. Compared to the show he played last year, which I saw on DVD, this years’ was much better. The band was brilliant and played the songs as they have been recorded, note by note. Mitch was right choosing this band to back him up, and he sang even better now… Wow, Mitch Malloy live!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!!!
He also played 6 new tracks off the new album which really, really rocked. Songs like “Carry On”, “Love Song”, “I’m The One” and closer “All My Friends” proved to be as good as the songs on his debut CD. It is just clear that Mitch hasn’t aged, and has finally got back to the type of songwriting that made him one of the best singers and performers around.
After the Unruly Child show, I met Mitch again, who was with some really nice relatives of his, and he made sure I got the interview he had promised me (which all of you will read really, really soon!). Once again, one of the best shows of this year Firefest edition, without a doubt.

SETLIST:
- MISSION OF LOVE
- FALLING TO PIECES
- STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
- OVER THE WATER
- IT’S ABOUT LOVE
- CARRY ON
- I’LL LOVE YOU STILL
- LOVE SONG
- OUR LOVE WILL NEVER DIE
- I’M THE ONE
- FOREVER
- ANYTHING AT ALL
- ALL MY FRIENDS

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6 – CONEY HATCH

Actually I had never paid much attention to Coney Hatch. I knew they were a classic rock n’ roll band, and I was stupid enough not to get to know them in depth before. Because I was not a fan of the band, but hearing so much talk about them, I had to check them out. And you know what? They were the biggest surprise I had during the whole festival. Big songs, great hooks, a very good vibe during their 70 minute set. Carl Dixon was great. A great singer, a great performer. I didn’t really think they are an AOR band, but neither was Warrant. The other guys in the band also rocked hard, and then I could see the real reason why a lot ( I mean it!) of people were there to catch them live. Once again, something I regret, not becoming a fan earlier. They’ve got my respect for the great gig they put on, and I definitely look forward to getting to know their material better. In short, the most surprising show of the event. They were an excellent choice, indeed.

SETLIST:
- WE GOT THE NIGHT
- DON’T SAY MAKE ME
- YOU AIN’T GOT ME
- STAND UP
- FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
- LOVE POISON
- SHE’S GONE
- WRONG SIDE OF TOWN
- TO FEEL THE FEELING AGAIN
- HEY OPERATOR
- GIRL FROM LAST NIGHT’S DREAM
- FALLEN ANGEL
- FANTASY
- NO SLEEP TONIGHT
- DEVIL’S DECK
- MONKEY BARS

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7 – UNRULY CHILD

So the time had come!!!!! Even though I went to Firefest to catch all these great artists live, Unruly Child was the band that I was not only the most curious to see, but also they have the great Marcie Free on vocals. I had been in touch with her and the other Unruly Child members even before their great last album, “Worlds Collide” was released. I’ve been a Marcie Free huge fan since her days with King Kobra (I remember buying their first album when it was released, back in 1984), and I never really thought I would meet her. Let’s say that you don’t really believe you’ll ever be able to meet your favorite singer ever… and she was one of the kindest, more respectful and sweet rock stars I have ever met! I did meet her one day before the show, and I also met drummer Jay Schellen (also a big fan of his, since his days with the band Hurricane). I met the other guys on the same day of the show, early in the morning. All I can say is that they were such nice people, and it made me even more proud of being a Marcie Free / Unruly Child fan. Bassist Larry Antonino also gave me a very nice interview, which all of you will have the chance of reading later.
After the Kane Roberts show I was a little apprehensive about not Marcie Free not being prepared enough for the gig, just like what happened to the great Kane Roberts. But I was quite positive about her performance with Unruly Child and, no matter what, it was a dream come true, since she had been away from a stage since 1993.
The band hit the stage with “Love Is Blind”, off their “Worlds Collide” album. It was a feeling that I’ll never forget, seeing the original Unruly Child back together. The band was loud, powerful and tight – one couldn’t expect less, as all its members are top musicians. Marcie Free was a little uncomfortable during the first two songs, but later it seemed it was just another show from a band that has been playing for years and years now. Remember it was their first show together since the epic “Unruly Child” debut album. The two tracks that came next, also from “Worlds Collide”, where the great “Show Me Your Money” and the hit single “Very First Time”, and by this time Marcie Free had the whole audience in the palm of her hand.
They played then a couple of tunes off their great very first record, which brought fond memories of those days. Some other tracks off the last album followed, showing the band’s charisma and musicianship. It was a nice surprise when they played the ballad “To Be Your Everything” (one of my all time favorites), followed by Jay Schellen’s drum solo, and then bassist Larry Antonino played his own. Larry was surely the best bass player in the whole festival. He could show that he is not only a great melodic rock musician, keeping it simple and playing the songs as they should be played, but also a very versatile musician. The audience went crazy with his bass solo – I am personally against solos, but Larry’s was one that was just memorable.
Marcie was back onstage and delivered great live versions of tracks off their albums, such as “Rock Me Down Nasty”, “Talk To Me” and the great “Who Cries Now” (another personal favorite of mine). The encore was just perfect, and they played “On The Rise” and “When We Were Young”, and it was obvious that they closed the festival day in great style.
Pictures of the band were taken and some video cameras were seen, so we do expect that the Firefest Crew got their perfect, amazing and historical live show recorded. It would be a blast having it released on DVD. Long live Unruly Child, long live Marcie Free, the best singer ever.

SETLIST:
- INTRO / LOVE IS BLIND
- SHOW ME THE MONEY
- VERY FIRST TIME
- TELL ANOTHER LIE
- LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS
- WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
- KEYBOARD SOLO
- YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
- GUITAR SOLO
- TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING
- DRUM SOLO
- BASS SOLO
- ROCK ME DOWN NASTY
- NEVERLAND
- TALK TO ME
- WHO CRIES NOW
- ON THE RISE
- WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

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In short, this year’s Firefest was obviously the best edition ever. The best bands one could ever ask for, and I thank them all again for eveything. And not only because I was there, but also because of the great casting that Kieran Dargan, Sue Ashcroft and Phil Ashcroft ever put together. These three people not only made a three-day music festival work out great, but they were also wonderful to me and, as I could see then, to any press person and fan attending the shows. They made it all work like a clock, schedules on time. Never before had I seen an event with such great organization – and I’m talking about schedules, time, location, merchandise. It was just perfect, in all ways. I’d really like to thank Kieran, Sue and Phil again, from the bottom of my heart, for everything they did, from organizing the event, for the casting, and for treating me, my friends from Brazil that went on this adventure on the other side of the globe with me, and all the other people from the crew and from other countries that were there, just like gold.
It’s really hard to understand that Firefest is still considered to be a small festival after all. Who needs events like Sweden Rock Festival and Rock In Rio once you’ve been to Firefest?
That’s all folks, I just hope next year’s casting is as good as this year’s was, and I’m looking forward to go back there, as many times as I can.

Criss Sexx,
From Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
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