Fuel (hardcore band)
Fuel | |
|---|---|
| Origin | San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1989–1991 |
| Labels |
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| Past members |
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Fuel was a short-lived Bay Area post-hardcore musical act that created both personal and political songs, something that was unique during the "first wave" of emo in the 1990s. Fuel had a sound akin to the mostly East Coast bands on Dischord Records, especially Fugazi,[1] with twin guitars and dueling rough post-hardcore vocals. In fact, it is noted that Fuel was often jokingly referred to as "Fuelgazi."[2][3] Fuel's style resembled the D.C. sound of many Dischord bands.[4]
Fuel featured Sarah Kirsch (then known as Mike Kirsch) of Pinhead Gunpowder on guitar/vocals, Jim Allison on guitar/vocals, Aaron Arroyo on bass, and Jeff Stofan (also of Monsula and the White Trash Debutantes at one time) on drums.
Fuel released one LP in 1990, first on Cargo Records then repressed by Ebullition Records.[5] The album was produced by Kevin Army. Army audio engineered the albums of punk bands such as Operation Ivy, Green Day, and The Mr. T Experience. In addition, Fuel put out an EP "Take Effect" on Lookout Records, also in 1990. In the fall of 1991 the band also released a split 7-inch with Canadian band Phleg Camp on Allied Records. The CD release Monuments to Excess collected the LP, the Take Effect EP, the band's portion of a split EP, and some tracks that had appeared on compilations.[4]
In 2008, Alternative Press named Fuel as a group of significant interest in its profile of "23 Bands who Shaped Punk."[6] Fuel's album Fury was the main inspiration for the vocal style of Antioch Arrow.[7] Jason Black of Hot Water Music and The Draft contributed a testimony for the article citing musical influence.
Members
- Sarah Kirsch – guitar, vocals
- Jim Allison – guitar, vocals
- Aaron Arroyo – bass
- Jeff Stofan – drums
Discography
Studio albums
- Fuel (1990)
Compilations
- Monuments to Excess (1995; reissued 2000)
EPs
- Take Effect (1990)
References
- ↑ Review of Monuments to Excess, Allmusic
- ↑ Vinyl Retentive: Fuel - avclub.com
- ↑ The Onion’s AV Club reviews Fuel
- 1 2 Staff pick: Fuel - Monuments to Excess - PunkNews, July 10, 2007.
- ↑ Fuel - Monuments To Excess LP - ebullition.com
- ↑ Kyle Ryan, "Fuel", in "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped Punk". Alternative Press No. 240 (July 2008), p. 108.
- ↑ Justin Pearson, Aaron Montaigne (December 17, 2024). Cult & Culture Podcast Episode 48 feat. Aaron Montaigne of Heroin, Antioch Arrow, etc (podcast). Event occurs at 16m. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
For me, the DC thing, well also I started listening to the Birthday Party pretty early and stuff like that, I feel like that kind of bled into sort of like Antioch Arrow. When Antioch Arrow first started, me and Mac were like, "yeah let's sort of do a band and I want to sing because that Fury record came out... and his vocal delivery was so fire... he inspired me to copy him