Tag Archives: Firefall

Live Review: Pure Prairie League, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Firefall, and Orleans at Indian Ranch

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Pure Prairie League; photo by Luca DePalo

by Luca DePalo, Contributing Blogger

Pure Prairie League, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Firefall, and Orelans

Indian Ranch, Webster, MA

August 23, 2026

For what started off as a rainy Sunday morning in Webster, Massachusetts, the weather gradually warmed up in the afternoon, setting the stage for an enjoyable day of live music at the Indian Ranch with Pure Prairie League, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Firefall, and Orleans.

The show was everything you’d expect it to be: an abundance of pop and country rock music that transported you back in time to a more free-spirited place. And sure, the members of these bands have changed over the years, with only one or two original members in each. However, each bands have retained their signature sounds and feels that produced their hit songs in the ’70s and still have fans eagerly returning to hear them perform over 50 years later.

Orleans; photo by Luca DePalo

Opening up the show was Orleans, performing a killer set as part of their ongoing farewell tour, which will continue through the end of 2026 and into 2027. Currently, Orleans is led by longtime bassist Lance Hoppen (who has been with the band since 1972), his brother and keyboardist Lane Hoppen (a member since 1980), Tony Hooper (guitar, vocals), Brady Spencer (drums, vocals), and Tom Lane (lead vocals, guitar).

After starting the set off with “Let There Be Music,” Lance introduced to the crowd, “Well, it looks like the weather has cleared out.” Lance continued, “We’re here to play some music and have some fun,” before slamming right into the band’s classic single “Dance With Me,” a song which by itself was worth the ticket price. Ending with “Love Takes Time” and their Billboard chart-topping hit “Still the One,” Orleans performed an incredible 40 minute set to start off a long day of dancing, rockin’, and grooving.

Firefall; photo by Luca DePalo

Then came Firefall, the most surprising band out of the four. Coming out with “Livin’ Ain’t Livin’,” the band decided to stay true to their roots, only performing songs from their first three records (their self-titled album Firefall, Luna Sea, and Élan), a decision which seemed to persuade the audience.

The Colorado-based band currently features Jock Bartley (guitar, vocals), as well as longtime members Sandy Ficca (drums), Steven Weinmeister (guitar, vocals), multi-instrumentalist Jim Waddell (saxophone, flute, keyboard, backing vocals), and the band’s newest member, John Bisaha (bass and vocals). Among hits like “You Are the Woman,” “Strange Way,” and “Just Remember I Love You,” Firefall brought the audience out of their seats!

Atlanta Rhythm Section; photo by Luca DePalo

Afterwards came Atlanta Rhythm Section, a band that came out swingin’ with “Champagne Jam.” Sometimes described as a southern rock band or as a more radio-friendly version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Atlanta Rhythm Section was one of many bands from that genre to hit the upper reaches of the charts during the late ’70s.

Hailing from the small town of Doraville, Georgia, the beginning of the Atlanta Rhythm Section can be traced back to 1970. Fifteen albums and over 50 years later, the band features the legendary original vocalist Rodney Justo, and I gotta tell you, he is still going strong! The band played all their crowd pleasers, including “Spooky,” “Doraville,” “So Into You,” and then “Imaginary Lover.”

photo by Luca DePalo

Finally, came Pure Prairie League. Jogging on stage, lead singer and guitarist Jeff Zona introduced the band and stated “Welcome to the country rock surface this afternoon,” before kicking into “Two Lane Highway” probably one of my favorite songs out of all the bands throughout the day. And I can’t forget about “Let Me Love You Tonight,” what an awesome song!

Other than Jeff, the band currently is carrying on the legacy of co-founder Craig Fuller, who retired from touring in 2012, with Scott Thompson (drums), Randy Harper (keyboards and guitar), Jared Camic (bass), and John Heinrich (steel guitar and saxophone), including all the members providing lead vocals. Overall (even with no original members), I thoroughly enjoyed the band’s set, especially with three songs from their latest album Back on Track. And ending with the crowd-pleaser “Amie” was just perfect!

Album Review: Firefall – Friends & Family

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photo courtesy of Hello Wendy PR

Album Review of Firefall: Friends & Family (Sunset Blvd. Records)

A classic rock band delivers an album of classic rock covers. Yeah, it’s been done before. But when it’s done well, it can be a fun listening experience. As expected, Firefall delivers first-class renditions of, in this case, thirteen lucky songs.

You’ve certainly heard Firefall hits from the ’70s, songs like “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” and “Strange Way.” Founding member Jock Bartley (lead and acoustic guitar, vocals) appeared on all of those hits. In the current Firefall line-up, Bartley is joined by Steven Weinmeister (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Jim Waddell (sax, flute, keyboard), John Bisaha (lead vocals, bass), and Sandy Ficca (drums). Though Bartley is the sole original member in this line-up, all except Ficca have been in the band since the 20th century.

On Friends & Family, Firefall pays homage to several of its favorite ’70s bands by covering some of their hits. (Technically, the Heart song covered was a 1985 hit, but they were also a ’70s band.)

image courtesy of Hello Wendy PR

The thirteen tracks on this disc (and the original band) are: “Long Train Running” (The Doobie Brothers); “Part of the Plan” (Dan Fogelberg), “What About Love” (Heart), “Can’t You See” (Marshall Tucker Band), “In The Heart Of The Night” (Poco), “Angry Eyes” (Loggins and Messina), “Simple Man” (Lynyrd Skynyrd), “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” (The Byrds), “World Turning” (Fleetwood Mac), “I Got A Line On You” (Spirit), “Chest Fever” (The Band), “Colorado” (The Flying Burrito Brothers), and “Ooh Las Vegas” (Gram Parsons). There aren’t any weak cuts on this disc.

If you’re a fan of the song being covered, unless you’re overly protective of the original, you’ll enjoy the Firefall version. Of course, I have some favorites of my own.

The opening guitar noodling of “Long Train Running” is a great way to start the record. Firefall’s harmonies serving this song well, as do Bisaha’s lead vox, with just enough gravel and power to push the song forward but the ability to deliver a light touch where song requires.

Firefall’s rendition of “What About Love” is very cool, with the flute opening – and the flute’s usage elsewhere in the song – offering a slightly different vibe from Heart’s version. Obviously, the male lead vocal is another difference, though that difference is much less impactful on the song’s overall feel, to be honest, than the flute usage. There’s a more midtempo flavor to the song overall when compared to Heart’s heavier-rocking rendition, and Firefall deploys some bigger harmonies. Upon casual listen, Firefall’s cover doesn’t feel very different, but when you take all the little changes one-by-one… well, that’s the cool thing about a well-done cover.

The bigger, richer, more rockin’ version of “In the Heart of the Night” is another of my favorite updates. The ever-so-slightly grittier lead vocals, fuller sound bed, and more prominent keyboardwork in Firefall’s version are my favorite adjustments.

photo courtesy of Hello Wendy PR

Firefall seems to be having a lot of fun during “Simple Man,” playing it with the fierce energy you’d expect from a live performance of this song, whether by Skynyrd themselves or by any of a zillion other bands covering it.

Finally, I love the way Firefall ends the disc with the raucous, party-atmosphere rockin’ atmosphere of its “Ooh Las Vegas” cover. Leave ’em smiling and wanting more? Firefall certainly does!

Those were my five favorites on the disc. I’m sure your top five would differ. Mostly, though, this album is a neat trip back to the ’70s. On the one hand, a music fan could just make a playlist of the originals. However, covers by a talented band like Firefall can bring new elements and different twists to great songs, and that’s why cover songs – and cover albums – can be so much fun.

Looking Ahead

Firefall has several upcoming dates listed on the “Tour Dates” page of its website. This month, the band is one of the acts performing on the ’70s Rock and Romance Cruise, sailing from Fort Lauderdale on March 15th. Other currently booked dates cover a broad swath of the United States, so check the band’s website to see if and when they’ll be near you.