Review: Live, Fuel ignite 1990s modern-rock radio nostalgia at Pittsburgh show

If you closed your eyes Friday night, you might have been able to flash back to 1995 when Live’s “Lightning Crashes” ruled modern-rock radio.

A much-revamped version of Live, with support from fellow Pennsylvania rockers Fuel, played Friday at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, with only original singer Ed Kowalczyk left to lead the way.

That didn’t stop Kowalczyk and company from taking a pleasurable jaunt through Live’s greatest hits, of which there were many, especially from 1994’s “Throwing Copper,” which sold more than 8 million copies in the U.S. alone.

After hitting the stage in white jeans, a black T-shirt, a weathered jacket and sunglasses, Kowalczyk and Live launched into “Hold Me Up,” a track that hadn’t been officially released until 2019’s 25th anniversary reissue of “Throwing Copper.”

Besides that, Live didn’t play anything newer than 2001’s “Overcome,” which gained popularity as an anthem after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Kowalczyk’s powerful voice didn’t sound as if it had aged much in that time, as he was able to hit the high notes in songs like “Pillar of Davidson” and “Lakini’s Juice.”

Other early highlights included a jangly “Pain Lies on the Riverside,” a dynamic “S**t Towne” and a gentle “Turn My Head.”

After a spirited version of “White, Discussion,” which saw an enthusiastic Kowalczyk bounding all over the stage, the band took a quick encore break before returning for four more songs, including “Overcome” and a crunchy “Lakini’s Juice.”

“I Alone,” arguably Live’s second biggest hit, led into their ubiquitous “Lightning Crashes.” The crescendo of the song was a fitting way to end the night with a big crowd singalong on the chorus — probably just as they did nearly 30 years ago.

The 52-year-frontman took control of the band in June 2022, firing the rest of the original band — guitarist Chad Taylor, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey — who had been there from the start in 1984 in York. Tension had grown over a business partner, interpersonal disagreements and many other allegations (fully detailed here by Rolling Stone). Kowalczyk himself had an ugly split from the band in 2009 — including several lawsuits — but returned in 2016 for a full reunion.

Nowadays, the band consists of Kowalczyk with touring support from guitarist Zak Loy, drummer Robin Diaz and bassist Chris Heerlein (who had a substitute Friday).

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Fuel, which opened the show, is no stranger itself to lineup turmoil or radio success.

Lead singer Brett Scallions, who departed in 2006 and returned in 2010, fronted a version of the band until 2020, when he left again. Founding songwriter/guitarist Carl Bell and longtime drummer Kevin Miller reformed a new version that year, now playing alongside singer/guitarist Aaron Scott (who competed on Season 19 of “The Voice”), guitarist Mark Klotz and bassist Tommy Nat.

Scott looked at home fronting the band, which broke out nationally with “Shimmer” in 1998 after being based in Harrisburg. Their music sounded heavier Friday night, with Bell unleashing on several solos before the band closed their set with “Hemorrhage (In My Hands),” their biggest hit from 2000.