Cities Under Fire

Written by admin on 13 October 2010

Manitouwadge Families Rock Out to a Different Beat

Cities Under Fire at the Manitouwadge High School Auditorium, Photos K.Hunter

[cincopa A8JA3S6cw6Y_] MANITOUWADGE, ON– Tuesday, October 12th music fans gathered at the ManitouwadgeHigh School to enjoy a performance by Christian Rock band Cities Under Fire currently on a 13 day tour of 10 Northern Ontario towns promoting their debut full length album ‘Lukewarm Love’ which was released this summer. The band, brought in by Bethany PentecostalAssembly, put on a great show, and kids crowded the stage to dance or sing along in true rock style . For the most of the younger ones, this was a first opportunity to enjoy the lights, smoke and volume of a rock performance though judging from the crowd’s reaction, both during the concert and afterwards when the band had a meet and greet in the school’s lobby, it will certainly not be their last.

Parents commented that they enjoyed the opportunity for their kids to see Christianity and worship from another perspective; “It’s great for these kids get to see how cool it is to love God!’ said Vickie Russard, who came to enjoy the show with her son and daughter.

After the performance, Bethany Pentecostal Youth Group organizers, Suzanne and Brian Matheson took the stage to draw names for the free door prizes – Cities Under Fire posters and paraphernalia.

Jardeth Hemmerling

Fans of Christian music may have recognized Jardeth and Andrew Hemmerling (guitarist and drummer respectively) and their manager (a.k.a Duncan, father of the Hemmerling family) from performances in White River and Manitouwadgeearlier this year by Canada’s Double Portion, the group they perform in along with their parents, 7 siblings and vocalist/instrumentalist Amy Olson.

Cities Under Fire is a group of regular guys who have a passion for God and a passion for music that impacts youth in a positive way. *Andrew & Jardeth Hemmerling, the groups drummer and lead guitarist, have grown up on a tour bus traveling down the road withCanada’s Double Portion. While touring in Iowa Andrew became friends with David Millar, a young man with a heart full of songs. David, a promising guitarist, and his sister Cheilon headed North to their roots in Saskatchewan in 2006. June 2008 is when Cities Under Fire was created and in June 2009 Andrew and were married. Cities Under Fire realize that music is a gift that can carry many different messages. They are here to present a positive message full of hope and faith in a life changing God. Their own personal relationship with the Lord motivates their desire to make a difference in this world. They’ve had opportunity to perform in all four Western Provinces as well as the U.S. in October of 2009. Their self titled EP contains all original material with straight ahead rock tunes and heart stirring ballads.