Fuel to play free acoustic show at Hollywood Casino Toledo
Written by Sarah Ottney | Managing Editor | sottney@toledofreepress.comBrett Scallions’ birthday is Dec. 21 — the day the Mayan calendar predicts as the end of the world in 2012 — but the Fuel frontman laughs off any suggestion he should be concerned.
“I take things like that with a grain of salt,” Scallions said during an interview with Toledo Free Press. “No one knows when the world will end. All we can do is live our lives to the fullest, prepare for the future and live day to day.”
For Scallions, living life to the fullest means making music.
Fuel will play a free acoustic show at Hollywood Casino Toledo at 9 p.m. Sept. 2. The show will be the final stop of a summer tour before the band returns to Los Angeles to finish recording an album set for release early next year, Scallions said.
“I can’t wait to do the show. That’s the last show of the tour and we’ll be playing an acoustic show, which is always a fun time for us. It’s more laid-back and relaxed, a chance to do our songs in a different way. Afterward, we’ll just be hanging out and having a good time,” Scallions said.
“A set list in an acoustic show is more of a reference guide than anything,” Scallions added. “We don’t really go by the set list. We just go up and play whatever feels good. We will play all the classics, the hits that everybody knows.
“We also have all the newer songs and some songs that aren’t released yet.”
Fuel sold 3.5 million albums and had a number of hit songs, including “Shimmer,” “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” and “Falls On Me.” Scallions left the band in 2006. The last Fuel record, “Angels & Devils,” was released in 2007. After Fuel later broke up, Scallions regrouped some of the members and toured as Refueled before negotiating with former bandmates to tour as Fuel again.
Scallions is the only member of the original group left in the band. Rounding out the current lineup is Andy Andersson on lead guitar and keyboards, Brad Stewart, formerly of Shinedown, on bass and Ken Schalk on drums.
Fuel
Scallions said he doesn’t have much contact with former Fuel members.
“Honestly we don’t really talk much,” Scallions said. “Our lives are just different now. I don’t hold any animosity toward those guys at all. They are doing whatever they need to do to lead good, happy lives and that’s great. I hope they are doing great. I do what I do and that’s being out as Fuel. That’s what I love. The fans are there and all is good. We’re having a great time.”
Scallions’ other band, World Fire Brigade, released its debut album, “Spreading My Wings,” Aug. 28.
Scallions and Sean Danielsen share vocal duties for the group with Danielsen on guitar and Eddie Wohl on keyboard. Andersson and Schalk of Fuel, Rob Caggiano of Anthrax and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam also play on the record.
“You’re always excited to put out new music. That was a really fun record to make. It happened very organically,” Scallions said. “It’s a much heavier record [than Fuel]. It’s still very melodic and singalong type music, but it’s a much heavier record for sure.”
Scallions said he hopes Toledoans come out Sept. 2 to help Fuel finish their tour.
“We have some of the greatest fans in the world and they’ve been out partying with us and having a blast. It’s been fun,” Scallions said. “We have a lot of passion for music and for performing. We just try to make it a fun getaway from reality. That’s why fans come out to shows, period, whoever is playing.
“I hope people forget about any kind of frustrations they may have in their lives and just rejoice in the music and have a good time. I want people to come out and release themselves, get engulfed in the moment and sing the songs. Crowd participation is always a must. Just get away from whatever your life entails and just really enjoy being in freedom for a while.”
For more information, visit fuelrocks.com or www.hollywoodcasinotoledo.com.
Tags: Fuel, Hollywood Casino Toledo
