Ignite The Fire

Since its beginnings nearly a decade ago, the Maryland band, which also includes singer Jack Gurecki, guitarist Michael Nelson and bassist Holly Smith, has touched countless lives. Their music has been played around the world from the United States to the United Kingdom, and from Australia to Brazil, and they have shared the stage with such bands as Three Days Grace, Bad Wolves, In this Moment, Theory of A Deadman, Pop Evil, Black Stone Cherry, among many others.
The band's music has been streamed thousands of times on top digital platforms such as Spotify, and the band has been named a Band to Watch and one of the top 20 artists of the year. One of its singles, Criticize, from the last EP, Trial and Triumph, was chosen song of the year by Z98 and iHeartRadio.
"They have evolved from, 'Oh, Ignite the Fire is on the show we should go see them,' to 'Ignite the Fire is on the show. We GOT to go see them,'" says Rocky Marr of Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews and the Marr Army Radio Rock Show.
The newest member is Smith who joined in 2017 and is the only female band member in a genre still much dominated by men. As such she has been enthusiastically embraced by Ignite the Fire fans who thrill to her energetic and physical live performances. As one fan posted on the band's Facebook page, "When I grow up I want to be Holly." Or, as Baker says, "Her kicks onstage are amazing."
"It means a lot to me when someone comes up and says what an inspiration I am to them, especially, the young girls," says Smith. "If I could tell 14-year-old Holly what she has done in the past year and a half since I joined the band I am sure she would be like, 'Shut up. Get out of here. Really?'"
With Smith in tow, the band created its usual "magic" in the studio says Gurecki.
Musical influences for each band member range from rock to blues to progressive to EDM. And that's a good thing, says Dove. "They bring elements to their music that make you feel like you're in a different world," he says. "They take you on a musical journey. Their spectrum is huge as far as genres and everything. But it works."