Forest Fire

Forest Fire, from Brooklyn NY, is a 4-piece indie/folk/rock band featuring Mark Thresher, Myisha Battle, Adam Spittler, and Jeremiah Stewart, whose sound is best described as "homegrown hymns for those with no religion."

Their first release, the Psychic Love Star EP, was released on Catbird Records in early 2007.

*There is also a different band called Forest Fire.

In the beginning it was the lightning-fast guitar work, M-80 drum solos and a simmering bass that kept the flames stoked for Forest Fire. Influenced by guitar greats Eric Johnson and Greg Koch, the sophistication of their original compositions and masterful covers from Metallica to Joe Satriani placed Forest Fire at the forefront of teen bands back in 2002 when they released their debut self-titled CD.

Like Johnson and Satriani, the early Forest Fire passed up vocals in favor of guitar-based explorations. And still they drew their peer group as well as a lot of 30 and even 40-somethings brought up on Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton.

Word got around. The power trio became known for euphonic hard rock characterized by soaring melodies played over gut-wrenching metal riffs. They began building a broad range of tunes, adding vocals, but letting their instruments steer the creative process. “We refuse to cling too tightly to our hard rock roots,” says spokesman, primary songwriter and guitar player Evan Johnson. “We each have our own tastes in music from fusion and hip-hop to blues and jazz, which allows everyone to bring new ideas to the table.”

Legendary WAMI Producer of the Year Gary Tanin drove down to Racine to hear them play in 2002. Tanin’s ear recognized the raw talent and he began working weekly with the young musicians, taming their individual tendencies and helping them build a cohesive sound. “Gary has helped us to make more sense. The songs just sound more intelligent,” Johnson told a Milwaukee reporter.

Working with industry-respected Tanin of MultiMusica in Milwaukee took Forest Fire to the next level and opened bigger live performance doors. Tanin helped them land a spot at Summerfest, where they were promoted as the youngest band to play the rock stage. “Hey, this kid is 17 years old and he’s playing songs that people twice his age can’t play. He can basically choose his direction. It’s rare for me to run into someone that capable,” Tanin said at the time. Summerfest Entertainment Director Bob Babisch must have heard the same quality and saw the band pull people in to the Mountain Dew Rock stage. Forest Fire was given a Big Gig slot two years in a row.

Soon after, Forest Fire was recording at Smart Studios in Madison co-owned by Butch Vig of the grammy-winning band Garbage. Their second CD “Lighter Fluid” was a collaborative effort with drummer Nick Johnson’s hypnotic rhythms and solidifying bass lines from Shane Verywey working off Johnson’s original melodies. The 8-song CD contains 5 originals, two Eric Johnson covers and a unique arrangement of Eric Clapton’s “Driftin’ Blues.”

No sophomore slump wrote a local newspaper music columnist about the CD’s 2004 release. “Subtle nuances and textures are springing up like brush fires around the blaze that is Johnson. It may be impossible to tame Forest Fire by their next disc.” Forest Fire entered the family of regional talent distributed by Rockit Records in 2004.

While mind-boggling speed and precision on the guitar are still at the forefront, ‘Lighter Fluid’ proves concept-based original songs as much as hotcha-gotcha chops stoke the band’s passions.
The following band members are ready to escape college drudgery at a moment’s notice:
Evan Johnson - guitar, songwriter, vocals
Nick Johnson – drums, songwriter
Shane Verwey – bass, vocals