Pennsylvania Musician Magazine

by Cindy Rutolo Dietrich

February 1999

Fuel "Live at The Silo

By as early as Dec, 9th the tickets were sold out. Last month, Sony 550's newest recording stars made what can only be called a triumphant return to The Silo stage in their adopted home state of Pennsylvania.

Fuel had some home for Christmas from Canada and Europe. The Silo show was part of their U.S. tour. Fuel would go onto play the Chameleon Club and other Pennsylvania venues. The response to this band, took the Silo by storm.

"Bittersweet" had just gone gold and "Shimmer" was still in heavy rotation on the mainstream rock track. But more importantly to many of the female portion of the teen crowd that would gather, was the fact that the band: Brett Scallions/lead Singer, Carl Bell/guitar, Jeff Abercrombie/bassist, and Kevin Miller/drumer, - had just made "Teen Magazine's" Hottie band list. Right smack on the same page as the Goo Goo Dolls. I think that's when it dawned on my niece, Shannarose, that what I do, had something to do with the sold out all-age Silo show all her friends were dying to go to.

Could the first time Fuel played at the Silo, really been a mere two years ago, I wondered. Boy, what a change a little time and a lot of fame can make. I was happy to have helped pave the wave for that first Silo show and budding fan base through this magazine and my column and on Y-102 radio. And remembered making my way down to the Silo's 'Green Room' only to find it dead empty except for lead singer, Brett Scallions, who'd just finished scampering into his striped pants for the evening. I remember thinking even then, eerily enough, that I would recall that moment later if they ever got famous. The did, and boy do I.

Flash forward to this night's post-Christmasa show: I wondered what it must feel like to return two years later to that same stage, and now have your fans, literally at your feet. I want to mention the kindness we received from Fuel's publicist, Thanh-Thanh Dang of Ultimatum Music who took the time to invite us for both a preshow and follow up call. Extending the same courtesies to our magazine and this lowly reviewer, as one might for a monster mag publication like Rolling Stone. It was deeply appreciated.

Fuel's 'good people' and they've always surrouned themselves with good people... After I made the rounds, saying my hellos to John Harris and others along the way, my niece, Shannarose (yea she got to come) and I settled in. I knew I'd find Greg Epler, Media Five vice president and band manager (whom I attribute much of Fuel's success to), keeping an ever watchful eye and 'ear' on things by the soundboard.

Openers, Clove, had just completed a successful set and Pound/Island Records described by a record rep as a "baby national band" put on a resoundingly good set to a crowd that was enthusiastic to say the least. By the time the headliners hit the stage, the teen crowd was almost hysterical.

10:50pm - Sandwiched in between a sea of hardcore Fuel fans and Greg Epler's chair at the soundboard, I watched and waited with the rest of an anxious, overheated teen audience - so packed to the gills they had to take out the tables on the 1st floor to accommodate the standing room only crowd - for the band.

Tension was mounting and just as it was peaking, appropriately enough, Fuel burst forth, taking the stage like the stars they've become, to one of the loudest, most thunderous applause I've heard yet at this club.

"Feels good to be back in Pennsylvania!" Brett shouted. The crowd roared. Brett walked across the stage and the crowd roared. And then they began... and the crowd roared. This crowd loved this band. And from the moment they took the stage, they band threw love right back at them.

Brett leaning down, out and low over the crowd often, to slap the deliriously happy fans hands raised in every possible salute. An adoring audiece sang along, screamed along even at times with their new hit single, "Bittersweet", and most of the rest of their "favorite" cuts from "Sunburn."

Yes, these were Fuel fans.. Not just any crowd showing up for any national act. Brett's black shiny pants, were throwing off the lights reflected in their shine. Drummer Miller was heated, bare backed and raw... and Carl Bell, looking lean and hungry like a wolf, sounded just as good as he looked. Playing taunt, clean, mean riffs. With Jeff Abercrombie cheerfully acknowledging the crowd, and basking and jamming off the audience's vibe.

It was an electrifying show. And I was glad not to be stuck in the "soup" of Fuel fans moshing up front - a throbbing, pulsating, vibrating sea of Fuel fans feeding off the raw energy raining down upon them.