Cities Under Fire tonight at MHS

It’s not often that an award winning music group comes to Malta.

Tonight Cities Under Fire will play at the Malta High School Auditorium at 8:00 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Da’Vision Youth, the youth group of the Malta Aasembly of God Church and the admission is FREE.

Their newest single “Love in Motion,” has been the most played Canadian song for the month of December and November on More Radio and Music, a station that is considered Canada’s Christian Radio Authority.

Their sophomore and current album entitled “Bright Light,” was released in 2012 and was nominated for the 2013 Canada Gospel Music Awards Rock Album of the Year and 2013 Western Canadian Music Awards.

The Alternative Rock / Pop band won the 2011 GMA Canada Modern Rock / Alternative Album of the Year for their first album Lukewarm Love and the group has been traveling around the Northwestern States and Canada since the band’s formation in 2008.

Lead vocalists and guitarist David Millar is a founding member of the band called to shed some light on the show and the band.

“We do stuff with acoustic guitars, and electric (guitars),” Millar said.

If he would compare the sound of his band to another it would be Switchfoot, an alternative Christian rock band that is popular in the U.S.

Millar and his band mates grew up in North Battleford, Saskatchewan (seven hours North of Malta), but Millar lived in Iowa for several years before moving back to his hometown to start the band in 2006.

The band officially started in 2008, and is packed with talent.

The other current members of the band brothers Andrew (drums), Jardeth (lead guitar) and are Bronson Hemmerling (bass), who also play in their family band Canada’s Double Portion.

Double Portion won the 2014 Canada GMA award for Southern Gospel Song of the Year in November.

Cities Under Fire have been on a week-long tour, that kicked off in Glasgow on Saturday, December 27 at Glasgow Evangelical Church.

The band then traveled to Spearfish, South Dakota at Countryside Community Church for a two-day youth event.

The band formed to encourage and provide an alternative positive spark to the music industry.

“We never set a certain age, but we do play a lot of high school aged (events),” Millar said. “High school to college age would be our branch of audience.”

As far as the name goes former bass player, Roryck Baptiste came up with the name unbeknownst to the other members (David, Andrew and Jardeth) at the time.

“Our first show, we were trying to decide on a name and I woke up one morning and saw on Facebook that we were named Cities Under Fire,” Millar said. “It just stuck with us since then.”

Baptiste ended up leaving the band after a year to attend medical school.

“We decided to keep the name in his honor I guess,” Millar continued.

After going through several bass players, eventually the band brought Bronson into the fold, after he was of age.

“Bronson grew up and joined the band,” Millar said. “He’s been with us for the last two years.”

Though Millar isn’t a Hemmerling, he is family.

“Andrew the drummer is married to my sister now, so we’re all one big family. We’re all brothers,” Millar said.

Being that the show is on New Year’s Eve, Millar gave a New Year’s resolution.

“I would just say to take advantage of moments in life and not always be looking for the next best thing,” Millar said. “To soak up today and really live in the moment.”

Millar noted that the band really wants to be an encouragement to all who come, especially the youth.

“We want people to walk away and be excited about life and encouraged,” he said.

In between present and past bands the group has been on and off the road for most of their lives.

Cities Under Fire travels in a 15 passenger van, giving the band and their crew just enough room for the often long trips they take.

“Touring has it’s highs and it’s extreme lows, I guess you could say,” Millar said. “It’s not as glamorous as everyone might think, but once you’re on stage it’s worth it.”

He went on to say, that in order to do what the band does, you have to really love being on the road, being away from family and friends.

The show here in Malta marks the last trip the band will make this month due to the fact they will be writing and recording more music for an unknown future album, that will be released in the near future.

Their hit single Love in Motion can be found and purchased on Itunes, as well as at their show. Their full length albums are available as well.