FireHouse performed at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on Saturday, August 13, 2022.
FireHouse was a kick-ass band who, unfortunately, came along at the tail end of the 80s rock scene and never quite got to make the impact that they should have in mainstream music. That didn’t stop the group, however. They’ve maintained a worldly following, recording hits like “Don’t Treat Me Bad,” “All She Wrote,” “When I Look Into Your Eyes,” “Shake and Tumble, and “Love of a Lifetime.” Though formed on the East Coast of the United States, the band’s biggest followings have always been in foreign markets, including Southeast Asia and Europe.
The band has been active in some shape or form since 1989, always featuring singer CJ Snare, guitarist Bill Leverty, and drummer Michael Foster. Classic bassist Perry Richardson departed the band circa 2000; his position has been filled by Allen McKenzie since around 2003. In more recent years, Richardson has become a member of Stryper.
This was my third time seeing FireHouse in concert; I’d previously seen them at Count’s Vamp’d in 2014 and at Vinyl inside the now-defunct Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (now Virgin) in 2015 alongside Eric Martin (of Mr. Big), The Babys, and Bobby Blotzer’s version of Ratt. The International Westgate Theater is, by a substantial margin, the largest venue I’ve ever seen the band in. The hotel/casino was originally known as the International, becoming the Las Vegas Hilton for the next four decades or so, briefly called LVH, and having been called Westgate since 2014. It’s perhaps best known for being the concert venue in which Elvis Presley played residency dates in the latter decade of his life, a reason vocalist CJ Snare seemed proud to take the stage there. The venue has hosted many concerts and events over the years, including RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT during its first two years in Vegas.
This was the first, and to date, the only time I’d seen FireHouse in which they were the only band on the bill. The show started at 8:00 PM with doors opening roughly an hour earlier, and ran until approximately 9:30 PM, with the band rocking the Vegas stage for about an hour and a half. Being the only band on the bill was beneficial because it allowed the group to use their own decor and video screens/presentation, truly letting them make the stage theirs. This included backdrops to either side of the drum kit with the band’s “Fire Hat-Wearing Skull” mascot and a huge background video screen showing off various imagery from the band’s past, as well as the band name/logo plus said mascot.
The show started with a display of all the band’s albums on the video screen, which appropriately enough, burst into flame. Technology can help a band if used appropriately, though it can be an eyesore and a distraction if poorly implemented. FireHouse did this right; the band members remained the stars of the show, but these decorations and video elements helped set the scene without stealing it from the performers. One particularly memorable moment of the evening came from a photo montage of sorts showing the band on tour and in their travels, sharing many memories over the years. It was a great flashback showing the group’s world travels and how their following certainly isn’t limited to American shores.
The setlist was quite strong, consisting of roughly 15 tracks including solos. All the obligatory hits were played throughout the evening, but the band scores points for widely spacing them out amid a sea of great deep album cuts as well. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know the FireHouse discography like the back of my hand the way I’m sure some people in the room did (the fact I saw some people singing the lyrics to every single song certainly made me feel a bit inadequate as a fan!) The audience was enthused from start to finish; although the theater has seats, I didn’t see too many people sitting down. FireHouse knows how to get a crowd pumped. I went into this gig as more of a casual fan, but certainly walked out a bigger one who’ll be hunting down their discography in the coming weeks and doing my homework.
When it comes to “Best Vocalist” awards and talk, it’s blasphemous that CJ Snare’s name doesn’t come up more. Not everyone from rock’s past ages gracefully as far as their vocal abilities do, but this guy sounds as good as he did 30 years ago. Looking like the long-lost son of Freddie Mercury and Seneca Crane from THE HUNGER GAMES (if such a thing were possible), this guy was “in your face” from start to finish, never letting up or taking a break even one second that he was on stage. He’s got the look and the pipes to back it up, even over three decades since the band’s conception. It’s been a long time since we got a studio album from FireHouse, but if the band decides to record one, they won’t need any studio trickery to make Mr. Snare sound good. He rocks the live stage as few of his generation still do.
Not to be outdone are the other members of the band. Bill Leverty got a chance to do a guitar solo where he showed off some crazy “tapping” moves that even the late Eddie Van Halen would have been proud of. It seems like this guy got a chance to show off in every single song, and I welcomed it with open arms. The newest member of the band, bassist Allen McKenzie (admittedly not really new since he’s been in the band for coming up on 20 years) was no less enthused and energetic than his bandmates. Drummer Michael Foster is yet another underrated man of his era, with him also getting a solo to show off his prowess behind the skins.
I only had two minor issues with the show. First and foremost, CJ Snare did a great “acapella” moment singing part of Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.” My issue here is, the guy sings so good, why not let him get a full song to do this? This was a definite tease that left me wanting more. The other minor issue was the lack of encores; when the band ended the show, that was all she wrote. But I gladly would’ve listened to another two songs or so; with the band’s extensive back catalogue, they certainly had plenty of material to choose from. That said, the show was already two songs longer than some of the other recent setlists I’ve looked at from them online, so no major complaints there. This was a killer show, period.
FireHouse has a strong worldly following, yet this is still a band that never got the mainstream acceptance they deserved. It was great to see them as the sole band at a show, rocking a larger venue than I’d seen them in before, complete with technology and backdrops to suit the mood. From start to finish, there wasn’t a single dull moment, and I can say with all sincerity this was one of the best nights of rock and roll in Vegas in 2022 so far; don’t be surprised if this one pops up on my Best of the Year list!
If you have a chance to see FireHouse live, don’t hesitate to buy the tickets. They won’t treat you bad.
All photos by the author.