3 Doors Down & Fuel

3 Doors Down play an amazing acoustic version of "Be Like That" during their show at the Electric Factory.

Performers: 3 Doors Down, Fuel, and Oleander

Where: The Electric Factory

When: Thursday, March 8th, 2001    8:00 PM

     3 Doors Down, Fuel, and Oleander.  Let me say that one more time.  3 Doors Down, Fuel, and Oleander.  With a lineup like that, what more could you ask for?  This triple bill delivered electrifying rock to the jammed-tight crowd in the factory.  Starting off the show, Oleander brought their California rock to Philadelphia, Pa.  The band, named after oleander bushes, including Thomas Flowers (vocals, guitar), Doug Eldridge (bass), Ric Ivanisevich (guitar), and Scott Devours (drums), did not stir much crowd involvement.  The quartet produced a short set with some tracks off their new album , Unwind, including "Are You There," which is currently blasting on radio stations, and the single, "Why I'm Here," off their gold debut February Son.  To those unaware of the sound of Oleander, including some of the crowd at the show, you should definitely give their new album Unwind a listen.
     Thunder, lights jolting about the stage, and the number three shining through light brought the next act into their set.  Being a rock show, that was all the special effects you would see from 3 Doors Down, the five-piece band from Escatawpa, Mississippi.  The group, made up of frontman Brad Arnold, guitarist Matt Roberts, bassist Todd Harrell, guitarist Chris Henderson, and drummer Richard Lyles, delivered a powerful performance to the crowd.  Their routine included songs off their triple platinum effort, The Better Life, along with an acoustic set.  Three songs into their set, 3 Doors Down exploded the venue with "Kryptonite," the Billboard Music Awards Rock Track Of The Year.  Later on in the show Arnold explains, "This next song is about following your dreams," before the inspiring lyrics and rich sound of "Be Like That" are heard acoustically.  3 Doors Down even played a song not available on record -- "Dangerous Game," produced by Alex Lifeson of Rush, which included a drum solo by Lyles and Arnold.  As the show progressed, the words and heavy-hitting chords of "Duck and Run": "This world can turn me down, but I won't turn turn away,"  got the crowd moving.  Ending the excitement 3 Doors Down closed with "Loser." 
     Co-headliner Fuel, based out of Harrisburg, Pa, set off the venue as Brett Scallions (lead vocals, guitar) busted onto the stage in a full coat, hat, and sunglasses, Kid Rock style.  Hard-hitting, emotion-filled rock is what the quartet, made up of Brett Scallions, Carl Bell, Jeff Abercrombie, and Kevin Miller, brought to the people that night.  On tour promoting their new release Something Like Human, Fuel also hit the audience with some tracks from their platinum debut, Sunburn.  "She calls me from the cold, Just when I was low, feeling short of stable,"  the words to "Shimmer," had the crowd jumping up and down and singing along.  Giving the fans a taste of their favorite music, Scallions started off the encore with an attempt at Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" without much success.  Also, Scallions and Bell sung one verse of "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd before Scallions realized it was time to call upon the more familiar sound of "Innocent."  Other songs during the set included "Jesus Or A Gun," "Empty Spaces," "Bad Day," and "Down."  Fuel ended the show in a frenzy, releasing the much anticipated "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" to the crowd.  The sweaty packed crowd sure got what they paid for-- a taste of the sound of Oleander, an acoustic showing from 3 Doors Down, and the non-stop energy and power of Fuel.  Three acts all with a unique sound ended the work day at the factory with an unforgettable show. -Todd Wojtowicz

Click on the artist to see photos from this concert:

3 Doors Down     Fuel     Oleander

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