concert reviews

june 20 1997 jamfest '97, hersheypark arena
submitted by: cory kelso

Although I witnessed it from the very rear of the Hersheypark Arena, I must say that Fuel totally rocked the house. So much, in fact, that I feel (as I felt even before the show) Fuel should've headlined and closed out the show, not the Bloodhound Gang (no offense meant to the latter band, who also put on an entertaining show). Frontman Brett Scallions' stage presence is really incredible. He's definitely a born performer and his voice is as powerful as any other instrument on stage. The band kicked off the show on a proper note, with "Mary Pretends", a loud song that has been getting a good deal of airplay recently. They rolled on from there mixing in a few new songs with stuff off of their "Porcelain" album (which I strongly recommend to anyone who likes 'alternative' music. The big finish came with "Ozone Baby", the song that I really came to hear. Just before they began the opening riffs, Brett invited five Elvis impersonators all decked out in the classic Elvis garb, with Christmas lights strung about them. They danced around on stage with Brett and it was a totally awesome scene, if not just for the utter surprise of it. It exposed a side of the band I hadn't seen or expected--and I mean this in the nicest way--and that is their total genius as performers. And as today is July 5th, and I'm fresh from the slightly underattended Bush concert at Hersheypark Stadium, I can't help but think that Gavin and Co. would've done better to let Fuel open the show in front of an obviously hometown crowd, instead of opting for their Trauma/Interscope pals Souls. But as it stands, I'm still on the lookout for my next opportunity to see Fuel live again.
Later - Cory

january 29 1998 wanda's, mechanicsburg, pa
submitted by: ramona troutman
Fuel gave a farewell performance on January 29, 1998 which brought down the deck at Wanda's. By farewell, I mean they will be gone for about three months, according to bass player Carl Bell. The are taking a West Coast swing before their release of Sunburn, which is due out March 31 on Sony 550 records. A full house cheered and sang along with such songs as 'Shimmer', 'Bittersweet', 'Ozone Baby', and the house-rockin 'Mary Pretends'. Like Jeff Watson stated, they also sang 'Revolution,' which was outstanding. If you have not seen them, hopefully you can catch when they return. Wish them luck and buy the album called SUNBURN, which should be released March 31, 1998.
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march 14 1998 springfest 98, ski roundtop, pa
submitted by: zack hair
Anyone who was unable to see Fuel perform at Springfest, along with the Jellybricks, 2 Skinny Js, and Orange 9mm, I am truly sorry. No review of the performance will be able to reflect the amount of sheer energy and euphoria felt by those present. Once again, I am sorry.
After seeing the 'Brix play to a crowd of maybe forty or so people in the auxillary parking lot just off the base of Roundtop's Minuteman slope, and 2 Skinny Js play to eighty people, I began to wonder if the hometown crowd would grow once Fuel took the stage. Any doubts I had were immediatly crushed when Carl, Brett, Jeff, Kevin, and company backed the Fuel bus to the stage and began to set up. My friends and I waited patiently at front center stage, pointing out details like the band's pair of immaculate new amps, the weights being placed on Kevin's drums to keep them from tipping, and Brett's choice color of nail polish- metallic blue-purple. After a short delay (the sub-forty degree temps weren't very condusive to guitar tuning), the band started.
The show's setlist order escapes me now, but they played 'Untitled,' 'Shimmer,' 'Mary Pretends,' 'Jesus or a Gun,' 'Bittersweet,' 'Sunday Girl,' 'Sunburn,' 'Song For You,' 'New Thing,' and closed with an unbelievable version of 'Ozone Baby.' The end of the next-to-last song was still ringing when Brett stepped to the mic and said, "We have one more." The next moment, Kevin started the drum line, and I grabbed my best friend and flung him across the crowd, erupting the largest and best pit of the set. When the bridge of the song ('My sun on you...') was reached, the band slowed down to maybe fifty percent of the normal tempo, with Brett stretching each syllable out, making myself and other look around and think, 'Oh, my god.'
Fuel ended their set, and most of us stood in front of the stage, eyes dazed in disbelief, merely thinking, 'Oh, my God.'
One word decription of the show: Un-fucking-believable.
Note: Injuries suffered by me during the set: four bruises (bicep, hip, elbow, knee), seven abrasions (both knees, elbows, hands, shoulder), one chipped tooth, two sprained toes, and one concussion (I slammed my head off some other guy then off the ground. But it was fun.).
Later ---- Zack

-- Samuel L. Jackson quote