Well Im back from my big Fuel audition. Everything went very well and the guys in Fuel were very cool and great to work with. Everything went very fast and kinda flashed before my eyes.
Mark and I got there a few minute early and had to buzz in at Swing House. (swinghouse.com is a recording studio / rehearsal hall). We first buzzed the buzzer and got a recording asking us to leave a message. Oh shit.. I need to get in. I started to leave a message saying why I was there when a lady finally came to the gate and let us in. Shheeewww! She led us into the building and to a room which I first thought would be the lounge or something but it ended up being the room where the band was. Cool!
Carl and Jeff from Fuel came up and said hi and asked me where I was from and if I was in a band. I gave them a rundown on what band I was in and that I was from Dayton and that we (Beautiful Sinner) had just had a show with Trapt in Indianapolis and that I have been in bands and performing live for most of my life. The butterflies were going full tilt about this time and I said I was nervous and excited to be there. Jeff (the bass player) told me to relax and that they had personally screened everyone in the auditions and that they already knew I could sing. Carl then introduced me to the drummer Tommy Stewart who was the original drummer for Godsmack and was filling in for they during some of there last shows and the auditions. More nerves! The rest of the room consisted of a guy on camera, their manager, a couple of guys sitting on a couch watching, and a girl. Maybe a girlfriend of a band member or one of the guys there.
They originally told me to learn 4 songs. Hemorrhage, Jesus or a Gun, Shimmer, and Man in the Box by Alice in Chains. At the audition they told me to pick two of those songs to do with the band. The rehearsal space had a small stage and was set up like a show would be. They had a video camera on me the whole time and were recording everything. I said I would start with the song Hemorrhage and off we went. By this time my mouth had dried out and I was nervous but I just did my thing. I jumped around and treated it like a show and went up to each guy in the band like we had been jamming forever. They were really receptive and jammed out with me. I kept looking over a Mark coz it was nice to have a familiar face in the room and it made me feel more comfortable. We finished that and they asked me what song I wanted to do next. I went with Jesus or a Gun since it was a bit heavier and off we went again. I flubbed part of one line in the third verse but I THINK I covered it well. I figure by the third verse they will have decided whether they liked me or not so maybe that will slide. Hopefully.. After that song everyone in the room clapped and seemed to like what I had done.
Anyway, once we were done I asked them if they would accept any CDs. Carl said sure hed like that so I gave him a stack of compilation CDs I put together for the occasion that had a few tunes from every band I was in and a few acoustic demos. I was glad he took them coz I was hoping that they would listen to them later and be able to hear a little bit more of what Im about and what I can do. I then asked if I could get a photo together so everyone back home would believe that was even here. He laughed and said sure. After that I had to go out to a table in the hall and fill out some paperwork. It had simple stuff like name, age, if I could tour for weeks at a time, if I played any other instruments, what equipment I had, and then further down it said: If this dont work out would you be willing to do the Judas Priest Boys of Leather show....? I answered maybe! Hahaha and the next question was: Who do you think should have their own reality show? I answered: Me being the new singer of Fuel of course!
After that they snapped a photo to put with the paperwork and I was on my way out. The guy to audition after me was the singer from Lit. I wasnt sure if it was him at first but he was standing there and I thought he looked familiar and some one called him A.J. Later I looked up the Lit website and sure enough his name was A.J. And it was him. Weird stuff!
Mark and I headed for the door and outside was the Bass player Jeff. We talked for a few, said our goodbyes, and shot another photo with Mark and I and we were off. All this happened in about 45minutes. My head was spinning and it was all a blur.
I feel I did the best I could and was happy with my audition. My nerves were off the hook but you cant really practice for that. Now I just wait and see what happens. Obviously I hope they pick me but I think there were a lot of great singers there that weekend and some were even singers for already famous bands so at least I was in good company. The rest is up to fate....
Jeremy Knedler