The annual Firefest show in the UK has made more than a name for itself in the time it’s been around. They continue to flourish in a weak economy and waning melodic rock community. They have also made a habit of coaxing long-lost bands out of self-imposed exiles to perform again, even if for just one more time.
Last year one of those long-lost bands by the name of SARAYA was set to appear at the 2010 edition of the show when just a couple months prior to the show the reunion fell apart. The promoters scrambled and contacted keyboard player Charlie Calv from another one of those long-lost acts, fellow New Jersey band SHOTGUN SYMPHONY. The group was no stranger to Europe and UK festivals as they had twice played the Gods of AOR Festival during their heyday of the 90’s. It was at that second Gods appearance that the band played their last show and the members went their separate ways.
Being from NJ, I was a fan of the band back in the day and just shortly before the Firefest invite came about I had contacted Charlie Calv about doing an interview for RockEyez for a “Back in the Day” feature on the site. It was set to be a “where are they now” type interview and would just talk about the history of the dormant band and let people know what the members where up to nowadays. Then out of the blue the band that was nothing more than a memory was about to play again at one the world’s best melodic rock festivals!
As fate and timing played out, I had the chance to work some with the band prior to their appearance at Firefest as they wanted to get some new press photos taken and I was only too happy to help and have the chance to connect with a band that I had many fond memories of.
I did some photos for the band and they even invited me to one of their rehearsals the week before they left for Nottingham. They sounded unbelievable that day at rehearsal and having the chance to see the band run through the set as it would be played at Firefest was a unique experience. I wish I could have been there at Rock City on the afternoon of October 30, 2010 to witness the full-on show, but sadly I couldn’t make the trip from the US.
Now thanks to the great (and passionate) folks at Firefest, Everyone can at least hear the powerful performance that this band put on that day. “Highway To Tomorrow - Live At Firefest 2010” is now available (in limited edition form) on CD and you could do your melodic-self a huge favor if you check this live disc out. It is also available as a digital download at your favorite (legal) digital download site. Not only do you get to hear the band perform the complete debut album from start to finish and get the track “Believe In Me” (from their last album “Sea Of Desire”) thrown in for good measure but you get a brand new studio track that the band has recorded in 2011. That track, “Can’t Get Over”, is a cool mid-paced track and it’s nice to hear this talented bunch of musicians can still crank out quality music. Charismatic singer Tracy White leads the band and you can hear that he hasn’t lost anything in the bands downtime. The other members (Charlie Calv (keyboards), Mike Maino (guitars), Ed Avila (bass) and newcomer Chris O’Hara (drums) have all evidently kept their chops up too as the set is played with conviction and sees them sounding better than ever on this disc. That’s quite an accomplishment from a band that hadn’t been active in over 8 years and had just a handful of rehearsals under their belt prior to the show!
There is talk about more activity from the band in both concert and recorded form and after hearing this live disc (and witnessing them in rehearsal) it really makes me hope the band will be back to active status in 2012. This bands talent is undeniable and shows through on “Highway To Tomorrow – Live At Firefest 2010” and I’m glad this show was preserved on disc so it can be re-lived over and over anytime I’d like!
