Reviews & testimonials
Reviews & Testimonials
Amir Amozig Review of Fired Up Band
Was your week less than satisfying, leaving you in dire need to have musical joy fill up your cup? In such a case the optimal remedy on Friday night was to head to Biggs Vaudreuil and get electrified with the phenomenal FIRED UP!
Yes indeed Brothers and Sisters, while I am always eager to go see my absolute favourites, I always cherish new opportunities to explore the pool of immense talent in our local circuit to experience bands for the very first time. I can assure everybody that reads this review, that if you have your precious treasures for the ultimate Rock n Roll dance party cover bands, that nucleus will stretch and expand to include Fired Up. Yes, they are that good.
Fired up is comprised of very well established, well experienced musicians going back decades but as a project it was only formed approximately 5 months ago. And already you are seeing their impact on their growing audience. They are appearing at Biggs, Brasserie des Rapides, Mayfair, Ribfests, Omnivore etc., the buzz is spreading and as Buffalo Springfield would say, there's something happening here. With the show I witnessed tonight, the writing is on the wall that what we have seen so far is only the beginning of bigger and greater achievements for this band, and rightly so.
Their bassist Robbie Cohen was a very actively gigging Montreal musician all throughout the 80's and early 90's. He was in an original band called Cold Front that played downtown, all over Quebec, outside of the province and also in the States. He then exited the music scene to get married and start a family. But as we see time and time again, you can take the musician out of the scene, but you can't take the scene out of the musician, and Robbie returned to playing in bands shortly before 2010. That's why for those of us who didn't have the privilege of seeing Robbie live in the 80's, us late bloomers have been awarded a new chance presently. To complete the rhythm section, Robbie is paired with Jonathan Maldoff behind the kit that he knew from back in the day. Maldoff is a solid in the pocket player with great groove and feel, and if you saw how energized the dance floor was during the performance, then you have an accurate indication on how Jonathan and Robbie gel as players. Add to the mix a brilliant guitarist from Bulgaria, Detelin Lyubenov "Dido", and from The Netherlands Bernice Frans as the band's badass Diva with killer pipes and palpable charisma, and you have the combined elements for a totally unforgettable thrill ride.
Both Detelin and Bernice are recent arrivals to Canada, moving here from their home countries between 4-5 years ago. Detelin was working professionally as a guitarist in Bulgaria for at least 30 years, and you can tell by the way he plays he is hugely influenced by Eddie Van Halen. Detelin has the finger tapping technique mastered accompanied by a very similar tone as Eddie. Bernice mesmerized Dutch audiences in an all girl cover band called Steam Sister that played packed venues all over the country. And she is already taking Montreal by storm not only with Fired Up but with two other bands (STRUM and Voluntold). It's an honour for Canada to welcome these enormously gifted artists to our shores and may their current success propel them to unprecedented horizons.
Fired Up succeeds not only with their exemplary musicianship but also with impeccable song choices. In a Fired Up show you will hear endless classics of the 70's, 80's and 90's, some newer material and also some gems from the 60's. They create a perfect balance between the familiar and the rarities. These two domains are essential for captivating the spectators and keeping the show fresh and unique.
So everybody, I know I got you all interested in Fired Up. What do you say? Let's explore further, let's meditate, contemplate and calibrate.
Set 1
1. Bruce Springsteen-Dancing in the Dark (not your typical cover of this hit song. They begin with a slow intro setting the ambience, just guitar and vocals, and then after one verse and chorus, the drums and bass kick in.)
2. Alanis Morissette-You Oughta Know
3. Billy Joel-You May Be Right (Robbie singing lead. One of my all time faves)
4. Pink-Who Knew
5. Meredith Brooks-Bitch
6. Queen-I Want to Break Free (I adore this song. Detelin's solo was nothing short of divine. He doesn't try to mimic Brian May's solo but adds many textures and layers. And Bernice singing Freddie, instant goosebumps.)
7. The Police-Roxanne
8. The Beatles-Ticket to Ride (Detelin singing lead. The rendition was totally rocked up, not an attempt to replicate the original.)
9. AC/DC-Dirty Deeds (but inspired by the Joan Jett version)
10. Pat Benatar-All Fired Up (Obviously this was included in the set.)
11. Rod Stewart-Hot Legs
12. Roy Orbison-Pretty Woman (but inspired by the Van Halen version)
13. 4 Non Blonds-What's Up
14. Blink 182-All the Small Things (Detelin singing lead)
15. AC/DC-You Shook Me All Night Long
Set 2
1. Janis-Piece of My Heart
2. ABBA-Mamma Mia
3. Donna Summer-Hot Stuff
4. Eddie Cochran-Summertime Blues (totally re-invented with a Power Pop/almost Post-Punk feel. Detelin singing lead)
5. Cheap Trick-I Want You to Want Me
6. Beatles-I Saw Her Standing There
7. CCR-Proud Mary
8. David Lindley-Mercury Blues (Robbie singing lead)
9. The Monkees-I'm a Believer
10. Maneskin-Beggin' (This was one of the evening's educational moments for me. I was not previously aware of this song. I learned that this band won Eurovision for Italy in 2021 and this song is a Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons cover!)
11. Bryan Adams-Summer of 69 (Robbie singing lead)
12. Billy Idol-Rebel Yell
13. AC/DC-Highway to Hell
14. Billy Idol-Mony Mony
15. Guns n Roses-Sweet Child of Mine
I saw your jaws drop to the ground. Check them out and your jaws will drop to the ground first hand. Everybody that saw them for the first time were immediately converted to become Fired Up diehards.
Bravo a thousand times to Robbie, Bernice, Detelin and Jonathan! You knocked it out of the park and I look forward with bells on to see you again soon.
Many thanks to Robert Boyer for the fabulous picture you see above.