CONCERT REVIEW All that was needed was Fuel to fire up new Valley rock venue

Opening band Magna-Fi performed at South By Southwest in March.
By DEBORA SHAULIS
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
LIBERTY -- Maybe rock has found a home in the Mahoning Valley after all.
Like the storybook Goldilocks in search of the most comfortable bed in the three bears' house, local concert promoter Eric Ryan Productions has been trying out sites for concerts when Ryan's home base -- The Cellar in Struthers -- is too small for the job.
First was Three Doors Down and Seether last fall at YSU's Beeghly Center. Then in March came the Sno-Core tour with Trapt, Smile Empty Soul and Finger Eleven at Struthers Fieldhouse. Neither place was built as a concert venue, so those buildings have their too-hard and too-soft issues.
Friday night, four-man modern rock band Fuel played at the MetroPlex. At last, and at least from the audience's standpoint, it felt just about right. The acoustics were fairly good. The space was large enough for the hundreds upon hundreds in attendance. There was room for a few hundred more folks, yet no one should have felt too far removed from the stage. Many attendees were close enough to see the sweat fly from the face of lead singer Brett Scallions.
Having Fuel headline here before playing May 21 at X-Fest in Cleveland is a boost to the Valley's self-esteem. The band has had a great deal of radio air play, as evidenced by its hit-laden set list. Early hit ballad "Shimmer," the long-lasting song "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" and, from more recent times, "Million Miles," were performed. Fuel also isn't so big as a headliner (yet) that it needs to perform for 8,000 fans at Eastwood Field in Niles, so this was an affordable evening of music and worth the admission.
Fuel, once based in Harrisburg, Pa., makes its music with a team approach. There were no solos to blow you away Friday, but an overall sound that was solid, passionate and addictive. Playing snippets of "Stairway to Heaven" and other songs wasn't the only way Fuel demonstrated a bond with Led Zeppelin. Fuel, like Led Zep, played big chords but with a more modern, metallic attitude.
Opening acts
One of the joys of going to live shows is the discovery process that comes with listening to opening acts. A pair of good ones played Friday night. December Son showed a great deal of professionalism during its set, and its songs and sound were in step with what's hot on modern rock radio. December Son is among the bands featured on Ohio Music Review's "diverseCity" CD, volume two, which will be available for downloading by month's end.
Magna-Fi followed, sounding a little edgier and more distinctive. Some have compared the sound of this Las Vegas-based pop-rock band with Trapt and Foo Fighters; the latter seems to be a decent comparison, but Magna-Fi is no copycat.
Magna-Fi played in March at South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, and will perform many more times with Fuel through June. Its upcoming debut CD is titled "Burn Out the Stars."
Eric Ryan Productions announced Friday it will bring another show to the MetroPlex soon, featuring Three Days Grace.
shaulis@vindy.com