Firecracker Betty lights up Bucks music scene

How about a trip to the Bahamas? Sounds fun, right? How about a trip to the Bahamas with two of your favorite cover bands? Sounds pretty amazing, right? That’s just what two local cover bands are doing this month.

On Sept. 23 to Sept. 30, Firecracker Betty, along with local favorite Stems & Seeds, will be heading down to the Bahamas to play at a rock festival at Viva Fortuna Beach on drand Bahama Island. Firecracker Betty wasn’t always a globe-trotting rock cover band, however.

About four years ago, friends Howard Durann and Phil Vainer were playing in Durann’s basement. After more than six months of doing so, Durann and Vainer set out to find some members to complete their band and take it to the next level.

After placing an ad on Craigslist, they found James Carson and some other members. The five-member band, originally called Back Stage Past, evolved with the addition of Blair Johnson and Dan Taylor, and Firecracker Betty was born.

The guys came together with one thing in mind -- they all wanted to play great music and have fun. They love to play the “B” sides of great artists from the 60s through today’s current hits. They all wanted to play high energy, classic rock with a twist that you can dance to.

The band makes use of lasers and lights to add to their show. They play in the Bucks County area largely in bars (they frequent the Temperance House), as well as corporate events, private parties, benefits, holiday parties and promotional trips.

“We like to go, have fun, and get people’s mind off of their problems for a little while,” Durann states. “When people get out and put down their electronics, they can have fun interacting and dancing, which helps the bars and their employees. It helps everyone out. It reminds us that at 40, you’re not dead and it’s okay to go out and have a good time. We throw beads, light up bracelets and sometime even shirts out crowd. We just want everyone to relax

and have a good time.”

The addition of Firecracker Betty on the local music scene has been a rousing success. In only a matter of four years, this basement-born band has come a long way. In addition to their trip to the Bahamas, you can see them locally on Oct. 6 at a benefit at Snipe’s Farm in Morrisville. Taylor and Durann also host an open mic every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at Kellen’s Station House, 1033 Bellevue Avenue, Langhorne.

You can find Firecracker Betty on Facebook and on their website, www. firecrackerbetty.com.