Local band has 'Fire' in its eyes

The Nielson brothers look mean.

They're metal. They're monstrous. And they're Mormon.

Brad and "little" brother Mark Nielson, both standing at 6 foot 5 inches, have been playing in bands together for years.

On Saturday, their band Fire in the Skies will play one of the biggest shows of its yearlong career when Warped Tour hits the Utah State Fairpark.

"We're really excited," said vocalist Brad Nielson. "We've gone to Warped Tour for years. The only reason we wouldn't be pumped would be because we might miss some of our favorite bands."

Brad Nielson, bassist Mark Nielson, guitarist Nic Gallant, guitarist Chris Kim and drummer Brett Parker will be sharing the multistage "rock band summer camp" event with heroes Parkway Drive, Suicide Silence and Bring Me the Horizon, as well as big-name bands such as Alkaline Trio, Pennywise and Andrew W.K.

Fire in the Skies scored the slot on the show by winning a Vans Warped Tour online contest. Other Salt Lake contest winners this year are The Sakai Incident, Hotel on Baltic, Written in Fire and electronic hardcore band Covendetta, which will be playing at the Salt Lake show for the second time in as many years.

The local-band schedule will be posted on the Warped Tour board at the fairpark Saturday.

For Fire in the Skies, the experience should provide an opportunity to make fans and impress some important people. Chelsea Grin, good friends and tourmates of Fire in the Skies, played the Salt Lake Warped Tour stop in 2008. Today, they're signed to a nationally renowned record label and playing to packed crowds across the country — which is something Fire in the Skies would love to be doing.

"It has nothing to do with being huge and famous," Parker said. "I just wanna make a living playing music."

That's been the goal for the boys since Day 1. Their tireless work ethic, expanding tour background and musical evolution are propelling Fire in the Skies to the top of the Utah heavy-band heap.

Unfortunately, not all of their contemporaries are excited about those strides, and some have harbored ill will toward them.

"I don't see why being in a band has to be a competition," said Brad Nielson. "Just because we might have a few more fans than another band doesn't mean we can't share the same fan base."

Little brother agrees. "I don't see a reason to beef," said Mark Nielson. "Playing with us gives them a chance to play for our fans, and vice versa."