The Center for the Arts presents
Friday, February 3
with Michael Lee Firkins opening
8:00PM, $25 members, $28 non-member
Limited theater seating available on a first-come first-served basis. Standing room in front of stage.
Music legends aren’t born easily. It has to be just the right band, with just the right sound, coming along at just the right time. That band was Montrose, and that sound was heavy, melodic, no-holds-barred rock and roll.
The critics called them “a scorching outfit…” “incredibly impressive…” “part [Jeff] Beck, part Led Zeppelin, and three-fourths nitroglycerin…” “sheer rock and roll ecstasy.”
The original Montrose remains the stuff of rock and roll legend, the ultimate stateside power trio with vocals. The songs are a virtual greatest hits of American hard rock: “Rock the Nation,” “Bad Motor Scooter,” “Space Station #5,” “I Got the Fire,” “Jump On It,” and the immortal “Rock Candy.” The fans have been begging for more ever since.
But Ronnie Montrose has always followed his heart. Ever anxious to take his music to the next level, in 1979 he founded the trailblazing band Gamma, a group whose trio of ahead-of-their-time albums were an explosion of guitar and synthesizer pyrotechnics anchored by a bluesy edge.
Between and beyond these band forays, Montrose the player devoted himself to exploring instrumental guitar music on landmark albums like Open Fire and The Speed of Sound. Fans periodically clamored for another taste of the original Montrose power trio format, but he wouldn’t revisit Montrose
– that huge, heavy sound; those rich, pealing riffs — until the time came when he could do it with total conviction.
That time is now.
Montrose has returned full force, playing the tunes that rocked a nation with heart-thumping, foot-stomping, fist-pumping energy. The legend has been reborn.
Michael Lee Firkins was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1967. Born to musician parents, his father was a lap steel guitarist and his mother a pianist, he started playing acoustic guitar at the young age of eight. Mostly self taught, he also took lessons at a local Omaha music store. Learning the songs of the times, Michael was heavily into Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath.
By 1979 Michael was electrified, he soon played in local bands and in church from the age of 12 until 18. In 1985 Michael started touring the country in cover tune bands. Frustrated with cover tunes, he eventually went back to Omaha and began teaching guitar.
For the next few years, Michael’s musical influences were expanding. Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Albert Lee, and Danny Gatton were among the list of new favorites. As Michael continued to grow musically, he recorded a 5 song demo of instrumental guitar tunes that showcased his guitar playing. The 5 song demo was sent to Guitar Player Magazine talent scout Mike Varney who signed Firkins immediately. A release of his first album was soon to follow.
In 1990, Michael released his self titled debut album on Shrapnel Records. This release showcased Michael’s signature sound of rock blended with country, blues and jazz. With the strength of this album, Michael’s first release sold more than 100,000 copies. This well received album also landed Michael the winner of the “BEST NEW TALENT” reader’s poll in Guitar for the Practicing Musician and also runner up in Guitar Player Magazine’s “BEST NEW TALENT” readers poll. He was also hailed as “ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS OF THE NEXT TEN YEARS” by Guitar for the Practicing Musician. As Michael’s music was also popular in Europe, Firkins won the Edison Award, which is Holland’s version of a Grammy.
Michael went on to release 3 more records for the Shrapnel label. The second album, The Howling Iguanas in 1994, (Blues Bureau International) was a blues rock record echoing past influences. The third, Chapter Eleven, followed in 1995. This record had even more diverse music styles including a cover of Duke Ellington’s “The Mooche”. Cactus Cruz was the last recording for Shrapnel in 1996. It’s a blues rock explosion of guitar where Firkins plays the theme from Sanfred and Son!
Michael’s current release “Blacklight Sonatas” features Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta) on Drums, Kai Eckhardt on Bass, as well as guest appearances by Matt Abts (drums,Gov’t Mule), Andy Hess (bass,Gov’t Mule), Chuck Leavell (keys,Rolling Stones), Michael Bland (drums,Prince) and Steve Evans (Bass). Lookout for Michael’s 2011 release TBA featuring Matt Abts and Andy Hess (Gov’t Mule) and Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones) on Magnatude.
